The document discusses the benefits of leisure activities and how they help people escape the pressures of life. A survey found that 82% of respondents use leisure activities to reduce stress. Leisure provides a break from routine, helps with cognitive development, builds confidence, and offers fulfillment. While academics are important, leisure is also crucial for dealing with difficult situations and viewing problems with a fresh perspective. The time spent enjoying leisure activities is not wasted time.

1. The Time You Enjoy Wasting Is
Not Wasted Time: Escaping
Pressures Of Life Through Leisure
By Pooja Malhotra

2. The benefit of nothing
• Leisure, recreation, entertainment, physical activity and
sports seem to become more meaningful especially when
they are spontaneous and experimental.
• Though well meaning parents and teachers may sometimes
criticize us for wasting precious time ‘doing nothing’ and
indulging in unstructured leisure activities, I believe that ‘time
you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.’
• Spending hours in ‘doing nothing are in practice an
opportunity for recreation & play, for self learning &
development, for a break from monotony & routine, for
change and to be the change…

3. The pool that said it all
• These were the sentiments that echoed in the poll results of a
comprehensive survey titled ‘I escape the pressures of
everyday life through leisure. Tell us what you feel’ conducted
this week on a social media platform.
• With 82% respondents agreeing that they use leisure
activities to escape stress, the poll results are a reflection that
for most of us, recreation and leisure is an integral part of our
lives.
• Most of us cannot deny that a certain kind of relaxing effect
prevails when we involve ourselves in leisure activities and
the survey results are in accordance with the same.

4. Just a break
• How one spends this leisure time depends on one’s own
discretion but the underlying fact remains that these
activities are crucial, especially while encountering
challenging tasks or handling difficult situations.
• Whenever anxiety levels are at an all time high, leisure
activities are like that wisp of fresh air in a suffocated room!
• My idea of ‘doing nothing’ is not an escape route to avoid
academics; it is a process of seeking pleasure through a fun-
filled activity and then resuming my studies or work.

5. So many perks to it
• Leisure is a critical space for our cognitive development and
social & emotional well being.
• It helps us to rise above issues that typically burden our minds
and sometimes, this enables us to view things from a fresh
perspective.
• Detailed research into the subject has shown that recreation
& sports activities not only help develop a strong sense of
identity, but also increase self confidence, self control and
self awareness.
• The significance of leisure in our lives cannot be overlooked;
in fact such engagements sometimes offer simple solutions
to relatively complex problems.

6. • Leisure activities give us an opportunity to entertain
ourselves, to relax and enjoy; creating a possibility of
personal fulfilment and development as an individual and as
member of a larger group.
• Thus, entertainment & leisure provide the space in which we
are able to express ourselves creatively, participate in art and
cultural activities and ultimately achieve a broad spectrum of
positive outcomes such as dealing with adverse situations
effectively, nurturing relationships, acquiring creative skills
and much more.

7. The fact
• However, a combination of longer study hours, shrivelled non
academic spaces and more dedicated academic pursuits are
gradually extending into our out-of-school/ off work hours.
• In traditional societies, our involvement in contributing to the
community and voluntarily participating in solving social
problems (during our spare time) is still perceived as
competing options rather than complementary goals.
• In reality, our contribution in resolving social issues and fixing
problems, in turn enhances our problem solving capacities
even at the personal level.

8. Put the pressure away
• Utilizing our limited leisure time is ultimately an issue of how
we, the young people of our country, can engage in
community life and contribute to all aspects of society while
fulfilling our individual dreams & aspirations too….and of
course, feel empowered to cope up with the pressures of
everyday life!

9. • Read more on Youth Ki Awaaz at http://bit.ly/Z9RxJx

10. • Read more on Youth Ki Awaaz at http://bit.ly/Z9RxJx