Time And How To Spend It

Time And How To Spend It is your guide to becoming more productive by not focusing on working extra hours but instead using the time off more effectively.

Did you know that the average person has over five hours of free time every day? Most of us anticipate not having enough time to do all the activities we want, leisure included. But the numbers show that we have plenty. Why is this? One of the biggest causes is known as the fear of missing out, or FOMO. Additionally, we want so badly to be effective and work as hard as we can, so it seems like we can’t ever get it all done.

Research shows that happiness comes more from experiences than just about anything else. If you think about the lasting memories and effects of your most recent vacation, for example, you’ll see how true this is. Or if it’s been a long time since your last trip, then you are probably seeing the negative consequences of working too hard without a break.

Additionally, studies mentioned in The Happiness Advantage show that success doesn’t come before happiness; rather, the opposite is true. Add this all together, and you can see that positive experiences will give you more joy in life, which will make you more successful. In other words, playing will make you more successful.

In the early 1990s, studies began looking into claims of the health benefits from a Japanese hobby of “forest bathing.” In this practice, people spend dedicated time in the forest as a form of preventative health care. What the research found was shocking. Walking in the woods as opposed to on a treadmill was remarkably more effective at improving mood, blood pressure, and cortisol levels. They also noted decreased fatigue, tension, and anger among research participants.

One app known as “Mappiness” allowed users to track their mood wherever they were. User inputs combined with GPS data confirmed that people felt the best while they were in nature, particularly when near water. Put down your phone and go outside. Science shows that doing so will make you more productive.

At my last job, we were fortunate enough to have a small pond at the rear of our office building. I would periodically take five minute walks around the pond, and did so for a few months. In times when work was busy, and I had deadlines to meet, however, I let go of this healthy habit. After only a few days, I could feel my mood and effectiveness waning, and quickly got back to going on my little walks again.