Introduction
Leisure and recreation are different concepts but always seem to go hand in hand. People tend to use them in the same breath as if the concepts cannot exist apart from each other (Difference Between, 2012). They can and actually exist apart from each other. This essay seeks a deeper understanding of the two concepts and their impact on lifestyles.
Definition of Leisure and Recreation
Leisure relates to that free time at the disposal of a person in which the person can do what they feel like doing away from the routine (Veal, 1992). It is a condition of the mind marked by the time without obligations coupled with willing optimism (Veal, 1992). Leisure does not posit an activity; it can be the absence of activity too (Veal, 1992). At such times, an individual is not under any compulsion to do a particular activity but has discretion to choose (Veal, 1992).
Recreation, on the other hand, is the experiences and expeditions a person chooses to pursue at the spare time (Merriam-Webster, 2013). The experiences and expeditions chosen by the individual give an individual energy to resume routine duties. (Veal, 1992). In relation to leisure, recreation is any activity performed during leisure time and includes shopping, hiking among others (Veal, 1992).
Deriving from the above distinction, leisure is the time at one’s disposal to perform the non-routine activities and is usually rooted in the mind. Recreation is a pursuit that an individual engages in during leisure time. Recreation is an activity of leisure (Human Kinetics, 2013).
Impacts of Leisure and Recreation
Concerning health, recreational activities enable an individual to relax by giving a pacifying wellness to the nerves (scilifestyle, 2012). Moreover, it helps an individual to vent out tension and conserve equilibrium. Recreation reduces stress too and enables the individual to keep minor ailments at bay (Definitions of leisure, play, and recreation, 2013).
On the social aspect, recreation affords social benefits to an individual as it enables the individual to encounter likeminded friends and build healthy relationships with them (Recreation, n.d.). Likeminded people are likely to come up with mutually beneficial ideas or activities and this enables the group members to achieve things the individual would have never achieved alone in their routine activities. Such initiatives include visiting the less fortunate members of the society as a group or coming up with an investment or welfare groups.
Leisure activities have an impact on the economy too. Such activities include tourism activities, visiting amusement parks and restaurants. This helps in building the economy through fees and costs incurred because more business means more revenues to the government and growth in development. Leisure is the fastest growing industry in United Kingdom (Osborne, 2010). In addition, when leisure groups meet and start investment groups, it boosts both the individual and state economy.
Leisure time affords people to catch up and participate in the political sphere of life (David). This happens through group meetings where members seek to inform others or get information during their meetings. It is also commonplace for governments to declare public holidays on days the citizens cast votes. This is leisure time, which enables the individual to perform the civic duty of electing public officials.
Finally, leisure activities have an impact on the culture in the sense that it provides a platform for cultural exchanges and learning. When tourists visit different places, they learn a lot from the host communities. Some have remained behind in tourist destination areas and adopted the local culture (David, Web).
Conclusion
Recreation activities are significant to both the individual and the community. For such activities to take place, leisure is necessary.
References
Brightbill, C. K. (1960). The challenge of leisure. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Difference Between Leisure and Recreation. (2012). Web.
David. Activity and Leisure. Web.
Definitions of leisure, play, and recreation. (2013). Human Kinetics. Web.
Recreation. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online. Web.
Osborne, A. (2010). Leisure could be one of UK’s fastest growing industries, if Government takes it seriously. Web.
Scilifestyle. (2012). The importance of recreation. Web.
Veal, A. J. (1992). Definitions of Leisure and Recreation. Australian Journal of Leisure and Recreation, 52. pp. 44-48. Web.