Reset: It’s Not About Work, But What You Do When It Stops

It may sound logical and rational that well-spent free time positively affects productivity and satisfaction during working hours, yet many today, despite this, simply waste their time outside of work on bad habits and activities that at the very least do not satisfy them. And not always by their own choice. For instance, social media algorithms are designed to further encourage scrolling, while each subsequent episode of a series during binge-watching on Netflix releases even more dopamine in the brain. This makes it difficult to ‘detach’ from the screen. The impression is that such activities relax after a hard day at work and prepare for the next, but in the long run, they do not bring much benefit.

Dolce far niente – or not?

Namely, casual activities during free time, even short trips for vacation, can temporarily increase feelings of happiness, but their effect is often short-lived, as researchers Jeroen Nawijn and Ruut Veenhoven demonstrated in their work ‘Happiness Through Leisure’. On the other hand, more carefully planned and executed free time through hobbies that require greater engagement potentially has a stronger and more lasting positive impact on happiness. All of this can contribute to an overall sense of individual satisfaction in the long run, which inevitably reflects on work.

Social engagement, personal reflection, and time spent in nature have a particularly significant impact on the sense of meaning in life, and routine, repetitive, and project-oriented activities outside of work contribute to mental balance, as shown by research conducted by Andrew W. Bailey and Irene K. Fernando. Although for some, a huge sense of satisfaction can come from their job (for example, doctors, firefighters, and even journalists), one should not rely solely on work. Leisure, just like time dedicated to work, should be taken seriously. Contrary to the Italian saying dolce far niente which means ‘it’s sweet to do nothing’, if you view personal time exclusively as ‘time when I am not working’, you miss the opportunity to experience or create something that will truly fulfill you.

Time – the most important resource

If you strive to excel in your job, do not forget to excel in filling your free time with activities that truly bring you joy. To start, this could be learning how to perfect baking a new cake, and later, say, acquiring the skill of climbing (in a gym or on real rock). Helping in the local community, volunteering, and teaching are also interesting activities that have been proven to contribute to a sense of fulfillment, as helping others helps ourselves. After all, time is the most important – and irretrievable – resource that each of us has, so carefully consider what (and whom) you dedicate it to.

Recently, The Atlantic dedicated a series of articles to this topic, and according to their advice, there are three ways to better and more qualitatively spend your free time with a little effort and discipline – just as we often strive to achieve in work:

1. Introduce structure to your free time

In your calendars, you write down important meetings with colleagues and tasks that need to be completed, you divide the workday into blocks of one or two hours, so why not set specific times for other equally important activities, such as prayer or meditation? From the remaining eight hours in the day when you are not working and not sleeping, allocate at least a few for specific activities, dedicate time to loved ones, go to that new restaurant in town or to that show you have only read and heard about. Time flies, and when it is not structured, it seems to go even faster.

2. Do not ‘waste’ personal time on what is not important to you

The step towards what you really want to do begins the moment you say ‘no’ to everything you simply no longer want to waste time on. This often requires a complete change in life habits and ways of thinking. Be cautious and become aware of how much time you spend, for example, sitting over coffee or beer after work, instead of dedicating at least part of that time to your well-being. Pre-packed workout clothes and shoes and a personal trainer waiting at the gym will remind you that you have a bigger goal than satisfying immediate needs – to be healthier.

3. Set specific goals

Relying solely on motivation, which is at a maximum one day and at a low the next, has never led anyone to a great goal. Consistency in small, daily steps that must be concrete and measurable is essential. For example, if you want to read ten books a year, besides choosing titles, authors, and genres, set a goal to read one book each month, one hundred pages each week, or about fifteen pages each day. It sounds easier to read just fifteen pages every morning before work than to read ten to twelve books a year, doesn’t it?