Excellence University Journal

Self-Mastery Tip: Using Leisure Time in Satisfying Ways

by Dr. Brian Higley

January 6th, 2010

Being able to truly “relax and recharge” during leisure time is often so important to feeling good about one’s life, both personal and professional.  Using our leisure time well can result in increased energy, better moods, fewer illnesses and enhanced creativity.  It can also result in more feelings of optimism, self-esteem and enjoyment.  Tasks that seem difficult or people who we just cannot seem to work with can all become much less of a challenge when we face them refreshed and energized.  All too often, we either set aside little to no time for deeply satisfying leisure or choose to utilize the leisure time we do have in ways that drain (rather than recharge) us.

Leisure time can be used in more satisfying ways by understanding how important this is (to ourselves and to those around us) and committing to doing so regularly.  Here are some ways people have been able to use their leisure time to truly recharge themselves:

• Decrease time spent in dissatisfying leisure activities. Very often, it can seem as though we do not have enough time to engage in satisfying leisure time.  However, it is frequently the case that we do have this time; it is just often spent in dissatisfying (and frequently unconscious) ways.  To become more aware of how we spend (or mis-spend) our leisure time, it can be helpful to identify 2-3 of the most time-consuming leisure activities that take up our time that do not truly recharge and/or relax us and seek to minimize time spent in those activities.  Some common examples of such activities that we have encountered over the years are channel or internet surfing, spending time with draining/dissatisfying people, or worrying about things that we have no control over.  Decreasing time spent in activities that we do not truly love to engage in often opens up more time for the things we really want to do.  In fact, it’s been our experience that people who become more aware of how they use their leisure time often find 5-20 extra hours every week!
• Increase time spent in satisfying leisure activities. Once we have minimized dissatisfying leisure activities, it is often the case that 5, 10 or even 20 more hours are available to us every week for satisfying leisure time.  It can then be helpful to take more control over our leisure time by identifying 2-3 activities that we really enjoy doing to replace the old, less satisfying activities.  Some examples of activities that people we have worked with over the years have chosen are reading, spending more time in favorite places/with favorite people, engaging in a class just for the enjoyment of it, catching up on some sleep from time to time or engaging in activities that bring about more centered, peaceful states of mind.  Becoming clear about what truly satisfies and recharges us makes it more likely that we will experience a more energized, focused and calm mind and body.
• Recruit “satisfying leisure social support.” Some of us can find ourselves in social circles (both personal and professional) that do not understand or value the power of satisfying leisure time.  Some people falsely believe that spending time in satisfying ways is “bad” or “lazy,” which can motivate them to try to make those of us using our leisure time in satisfying ways feel guilty about it.  Because this can be such a common attitude toward leisure time, it can be important to find people who are supportive of our commitment to satisfying leisure, rather than dismissive of it.  Finding others who recognize how important it is to relax and recharge on a regular basis can make it more likely that we continue to do so.  Click here for more on recruiting effective social support.

NOTE TO THOSE USING THE MISSION FULFILLMENT SYSTEM: You can move toward more satisfying leisure time by adding a new Objective to your system by using the “Add New Item” link (for example, “Use my leisure time in satisfying ways”).  You can then develop a SMART Goal related to that new Objective by using the “Add Subitem” link to the far right of the new Objective (for example, “Identify activities that truly relax and recharge me and perform them for at least 30-60 minutes per day for 4-7 days a week.”).

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ON THE MISSION FULFILLMENT SYSTEM: Click here to for more information and click here to sign up.

FINAL NOTE: If you were linked to this article by a video or email, please return to that link and proceed with any other instructions that you deem helpful.  For more Execution Excellence and Self-Mastery tips and tools visit our site at: www.excellenceuniversity.net

Article Filed under: 1. Self-Mastery Tips