Leisure Activities: The Positive Effects Essay

Introduction

The core purpose of this essay is to present an analysis of the interview results gathered from two participants on leisure. The two people interviewed were Sam, a 27-year-old female of Filipino Asian-American origin, and Johnson, a male aged 28 years Asian-American but Vietnamese. Sam is a full-time worker who spends 3 hours per day on leisure activities such as video games. On the other hand, Johnson is a part-time server and a student who spends 4-5 hours per day on leisure activities, such as playing video games with friends and watching TV shows.

Findings

Overall, the findings from the research participants suggest that leisure is a form of self-care and relaxation integral to mental well-being. Sam and Johnson both dedicate at least 3-5 hours per week to leisure activities and feel that Americans generally have less time for leisure due to their strong work ethic. Sam stated, “America has an intrinsically cultural bias towards a heavy work ethic which distracts them from leisure with close ones.” Neither of them felt that their age, gender identity/expression, or race/ethnic identity affected their leisure or access to it.

Covid-19 has affected leisure in some way by increasing leisure time or making it more accessible. Johnson noted, “It increased it, to be honest,” when asked how Covid-19 has affected his leisure. Sam and Johnson both expressed that they could explore other avenues or other hobbies if they had more time, and Sam added, “Everyone would feel the same way if they had full-time jobs.” This shows that people have the will to indulge in more leisure activities but lack time to do so due to their demanding jobs.

The participants also reported that their age, gender identity/expression, or race/ethnic identity does not affect their leisure or access. This indicates that leisure activities are accessible to everyone, regardless of their identity. Sam said, “Acts of leisure are fairly accessible to people like me.” Furthermore, both participants reported that they do not have trouble differentiating work from leisure. Johnson explained, “Being a server at such a busy place in the bay area makes it impossible to mix these things.” These people are aware of the distinction between work and fun time and understand the latter’s importance, although they may not do it as often as required.

Moreover, both interviewees reported understanding the need for leisure and taking time to perform such activities. Sam said, “Sometimes feeling stress from work → not enough time to relax.” This indicates that leisure is important to her to manage stress. Similarly, Johnson said, “My leisure activities are usually more relaxing and stress-free.” Both participants feel that there is not enough time for leisure in America due to the strong work ethic and the lack of value placed on leisure. Sam noted, “America = strong work ethic, not enough time. Doesn’t value leisure like other countries.” This indicates that America does not provide a proper environment for its citizens to have spare time to do self-care activities. Sam acknowledged that work was the primary obstacle for her, while Johnson shared that stress from work, debt, and school was the primary hindrances for him.

Discussion

One of the core items from the interviews is that leisure is an important part of self-care and relaxation. This finding is supported by Russell, (2017, p. 50), indicating that leisure activities can help reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall well-being. For instance, engaging in leisure activities for at least one hour per week was associated with lower levels of perceived stress (Rech et al., 2018, p. 305). Similarly, a study found that engaging in leisure activities was associated with increased positive affect, which indicates a positive mood (Russell, 2017, p. 67). The findings from the interviews support these research findings, as both participants reported that leisure is an important part of self-care and relaxation.

Another item gathered from the participants is that work, debt, and school are major constraints that prevent people from having leisure. According to Russell, (2017, p. 21), leisure is often compromised due to competing commitments and demands. Work, family obligations, and other responsibilities can interfere with leisure activities. Work can be a major source of stress and can often interfere with leisure activities. Bakker & de Vries (2020, p. 18) found that work can lead to stress and anxiety, which can interfere with leisure activities and prevent people from engaging in them. Additionally, long working hours can lead to decreased leisure time and increased stress levels, which can harm mental health.

Moreover, people with higher levels of education and more demanding occupations were more likely to suffer from time poverty, defined as having limited time for leisure activities. (Bakker & de Vries (2020, p. 12) found that people with economic constraints, such as debt and financial insecurity, were more likely to experience time poverty. People with higher levels of stress and anxiety were more likely to experience time poverty, as they often prioritized their work and other commitments over leisure. Geographical barriers can prevent people from engaging in leisure activities, as some activities may not be available in certain areas. Other barriers, such as physical disabilities, mental health issues, and lack of transportation, can also prevent people from accessing leisure time (Rech et al., 2018, p. 307). Some people may struggle to find activities that are enjoyable or that provide stimulation. Financial constraints can also prevent people from engaging in certain leisure activities, such as travel or attending events.

Additionally, the participants reported how Covid-19 influenced their leisure time access in different ways. The pandemic has increased leisure activities, such as digital gaming, listening to music, and watching movies (Gallè et al., 2022, para. 4). For example, studies have found that people have increased their digital gaming and listening to music during the pandemic. People have also increased their watching of movies and television shows during the pandemic. Furthermore, research has also found that people have increased their engagement in virtual activities, such as virtual meet-ups and online classes (Gallè et al., 2022, para. 6). All these activities allow people to engage in leisure activities while still adhering to social distancing guidelines.

However, in many areas, social distancing and other safety measures have meant that many traditional leisure activities, such as going to the movies, visiting friends, or going to the gym, are not possible. Travel restrictions have meant that many people have been unable to participate in recreational activities requiring travel, such as vacationing or visiting family (Mutz & Reimers, 2021, 385). This has led to decreased leisure activities and increased sedentary behaviors, such as watching television or spending time on the internet.

The interviewees also provided their viewpoints on the difference between work and leisure. They understand the distinction between them and do their best to set aside time for each category. Research has found that it is important to establish a boundary between work and leisure to ensure that leisure activities can be enjoyed without interference from work. For example, (Rech et al., 2018, p. 306) established that individuals need to be mindful of the amount of time they dedicate to work to ensure that they dedicate enough time to leisure activities. Furthermore, individuals need to set aside specific times for leisure activities to ensure that work obligations do not disrupt their leisure activities. People must be mindful of their work-related stress to ensure they do not let their work obligations interfere with their leisure activities.

Leisure activities can provide individuals with much-needed respite from the stresses of life. Bláfoss et al. (2018, p. 385) determined that engaging in leisure activities can help to improve mental health and well-being by reducing stress and anxiety levels, improving mood, and fostering a sense of connection and community. Furthermore, the participants reported leisure activities were more fulfilling when done in place of less satisfying work. Additionally, leisure activities can help individuals to distract themselves from less satisfying work or other life challenges, providing them with a sense of purpose and satisfaction. Leisure activities can help to foster a sense of connection and community, providing individuals with a sense of belonging and support (Bláfoss et al., 2018, p. 389). Therefore, it is important for individuals to prioritize leisure activities to ensure that they can take the time to relax, unwind, and enjoy life.

Conclusion

Leisure activities are an important part of self-care and relaxation, which add to the positive meaning of life. This is supported by research that found that leisure activities can positively affect mental health and well-being. Covid-19 has had an impact on leisure activities by both increasing the number of leisure activities available and by making it more difficult to access traditional leisure activities. However, people have had time to participate in more indoor fun activities. Overall, leisure activities are an important part of self-care and relaxation, and individuals need to prioritize leisure activities to ensure that they can take the time to relax and enjoy life.

References

Bakker, A. B., & de Vries, J. D. (2020). Job demands-resources theory and self-regulation: New explanations and remedies for job burnout. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 34(1), 1–21. Web.

Bláfoss, R., Micheletti, J. K., Sundstrup, E., Jakobsen, M. D., Bay, H., & Andersen, L. L. (2018). Is fatigue after work a barrier to leisure-time physical activity? a cross-sectional study among 10,000 adults from the general working population?Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 47(3), 383–391. Web.

Gallè, F., Sabella, E. A., Bianco, L., Maninchedda, M., Barchielli, B., Liguori, F., Da Molin, G., Liguori, G., Orsi, G. B., Ferracuti, S., & Napoli, C. (2022). How the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted daily life? Assessing the use of web resources for recreational activities in the Italian adult population. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 15136. Web.

Mutz, M., & Reimers, A. K. (2021). Leisure Time Sports and exercise activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of working parents. German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research, 51(3), 384–389. Web.

Rech, C. R., Camargo, E. M., Araujo, P. A., Loch, M. R., & Reis, R. S. (2018). Perceived barriers to leisure-time physical activity in the Brazilian population. Revista Brasileira De Medicina Do Esporte, 24(4), 303–309. Web.

Russell, V. R. (2017). Pastimes: The context of comtemporary Leisure. 1-249.

Interviews

Interview #1 – Sam, 27 Female, Asian American (Filipino)

1. Tell me about your leisure – what does leisure mean to you? Form of self-care, not having to think about work or responsibility, dedicate time towards hobby or anything “FUN”
   • What do you like to do for leisure? Video games
2. How much time per week do you spend on leisure? 3hrs/day depending
   • Is that enough time? Why or why not? Sometimes, sometimes feeling stress from work → not enough time to relax
   • Would you like more leisure time? Please tell me more about that. Yes, anyone would feel the same way if they had full time jobs. More time to dedicate time towards hobby = more better for mental health
   • With whom do you spend your leisure time? By myself, or with partner/dogs
3. Do you think Americans, in general, have enough time for leisure? Why or why not? I dont think so, i think americas have intrinsically cultural bias towards a heavy work ethic with distracts them from leisure with close ones. America = strong work ethic, not enough time. Doesnt value leisure like other countries
4. Are you satisfied with your leisure? If yes, please explain. If no, please explain. No, I could explore other avenues or other hobbies if I had more time
5. What gets in the way of you having leisure? Please explain. Work.
6. Does your age, gender identity/expression, race/ethnic identity affect your leisure? Not necessarily, not as much as my own personal work does.
   • Follow-up: Do these aspects of identity affect your access to leisure? No. Acts of leisure are fairly accessible to ppl like me
7. Do you ever engage in a leisure activity where you lose track of time? “Yeah, video games make me feel less stressed” a. If so, what is the activity – tell me more about that
8. Do you have trouble differentiating work from leisure – or are they clearly separate activities – please explain. They have always been separated activities, I try not to let these things mixed together and have a good boundary between it. During covid-19 it was a bit hard due to how accessible leisure entertainments were for me while working from home.
9. Does your leisure ever compensate for work that is less than satisfying? No never, I always try to 10. How has Covid 19 affected your leisure — if so, how? Answered in question 8
10. Please ask participants to share their: age, gender identity/expression, race/ethnicity Sam, 27 female, Filipiino
11. Anything else you’d like to share about your leisure? N/A

Interview #2 – Johnson, 28 Male, Asian American (Filipino)

1. Tell me about your leisure – what does leisure mean to you? Leisure is pretty much free time that we get to ourselves. It’s a time when a person can relax and do what they enjoy. There are many different ways to spend leisure time, and it is important to choose things that we enjoy and find relaxing.
   • What do you like to do for leisure? Video games, watch shows, and workout
2. How much time per week do you spend on leisure? 4 to 5hrs/day depending on my mood and time available
   • Is that enough time? Why or why not? For some reason it doesn’t feel like enough time due to constantly working as a part-time server or being a student
   • Would you like more leisure time? Please tell me more about that. I think anyone who is working all the time and doing schoolwork when they aren’t working feels like there is never enough time for ourselves.
   • With whom do you spend your leisure time? Usually myself or playing games with friends
3. Do you think Americans, in general, have enough time for leisure? Why or why not? Not really, everyone is too busy making ends meet or making sure they either have enough money for bills, or keeping their grades up
4. Are you satisfied with your leisure? If yes, please explain. If no, please explain. Yeah, I’m pretty content with that I do besides always wanting more time.
5. What gets in the way of you having leisure? Please explain. Stress from work, debt, and school
6. Does your age, gender identity/expression, race/ethnic identity affect your leisure? Never really felt that way before. a. Follow-up: Do these aspects of identity affect your access to leisure? No I don’t think so.
7. Do you ever engage in a leisure activity where you lose track of time? All the time. Either I play games with friends for hours or binge watch TV shows. a. If so, what is the activity – tell me more about that
8. Do you have trouble differentiating work from leisure – or are they clearly separate activities – please explain. They’re separate activities. Being a server at such a busy place in the bay area makes it impossible to mix these things together.
9. Does your leisure ever compensate for work that is less than satisfying? No not really. My leisure activities are usually more relaxing and stress-free 10. How has Covid 19 affected your leisure — if so, how? It increased it to be honest.
10. Please ask participants to share their: age, gender identity/expression, race/ethnicity Johnson, 28 Male, Vietnamese
11. Anything else you’d like to share about your leisure? N/A