In today’s shaky employment climate, if you have a job,
you might be forgoing all else in order to keep it. While cutting
back on sleep and healthy eating is known to cause any number of
physical maladies, a New York professor says cutting back on leisure
activities can be just as damaging to health -- mental and
physical.
Dr. E. Christine Moll, a professional counselor, professor of
counseling and human services at Canisius College, and “leisure
expert,” says “play-time” is as important to a
person's health as keeping cholesterol levels in check and getting
regular exercise.
Moll teaches students and professionals about the necessity for leisure -- anything that brings personal enjoyment to individuals and allows them to recharge their batteries -- in their lives.
"Work is the single activity we do most in our lifetimes. We work more than we sleep or eat," said Moll. "Our health and medicine are so much more improved than they were a century ago but we're going to wipe ourselves out because we're just working, working, working."
Moll notes the biggest abusers of the all-work-and-no-play lifestyle are Baby Boomers.
Biggest abusers
"This generation really pushes to gain the American Dream and
thinks nothing of putting in long hours or forgoing vacations for
only long weekends," she said. "They often find it hard to put the
breaks on, catch their breath and relax."
Moll's colleague, David L. Farrugia, PhD, chair of the Counseling
and Human Services Department at Canisius and a professional
counselor, said by the time patients come to him, many have already
visited their primary doctor for anxiety-like symptoms. Stress is
often the culprit.
"Physiologically, the body is able to adapt and function at high
levels of stress but eventually it begins to take its toll on a
person's mental and physical health," said Farrugia.
In the professional world, this condition is known as general
adaptive syndrome (GAS), first identified by Hans Selye, MD, who
pioneered stress research and is known internationally as the
"father of the stress field."
If physical concerns aren't enough to provoke people to make time
for play, Moll recommends focusing on the long-term benefits of
leisure.
Under Moll's guidance, Canisius alumna Summer M. Reiner examined
the pivotal role leisure can play throughout a person's life.
"Findings show that people who nurture leisure activities
throughout their lives have a much healthier outlook physically,
mentally, emotionally, socially and in their sense of
selves,” said Reiner.
Reiner found children who actively participate in leisure
activities tend to grow into confident, active and satisfied
adults.
"Extra-curricular activities for school-aged children contribute a
lot towards their development," says Reiner, whose research was
published in Counseling Today magazine.
Stay out of trouble
According to Reiner, kids with active extra-curricular interests
tend to stay out of trouble, be more excited about school, have
higher grades, more confidence, and are able to enhance their
social, physical and intellectual skills. Overall, they exhibit
better mental health.
According to Moll, they also learn where their interests lie and
that information can be useful for parents and teachers.
"If we can help young people identify what they like doing for
leisure, we can help them turn those interests into productive
careers," said Moll.
But she adds, much like their Baby Boomer parents, today's young
working adults can easily fall into the trap of not leaving
themselves enough free time.
Reiner's research also found parents who nurture their leisure
lives tend to manage stress better and are more prepared to handle
"empty nest syndrome." Equally important is that parental leisure
promotes family stability and serves as a model for a healthy,
balanced lifestyle for children.
"Children who witness their parents enjoying hobbies and activities
outside of work grow up to value the benefits of leisure
themselves," says Reiner. But she warns that parents should not
trick themselves into thinking their children's activities count
for their own leisure.
"Many parents say that's their enjoyment, watching their child's
baseball or soccer game. But that is an aspect of parenting, not
leisure. Parents need to develop their own leisure
interests."
Developing and nurturing interests early can even help people live
healthy, productive lives once they reach old age.
Without the responsibilities of a job or children, it's common for
people at this stage of life to experience an identity
crisis.
But Moll said retirees who embrace leisure throughout their lives
are less likely to lose that sense of self when they stop working.
For those who stay active throughout their Golden Years, leisure
provides structure to what appears to be an unstructured day.
"It keeps them more mentally aware, emotionally connected and
physically capable. Their pastimes give them a sense of
independence and competency, even as they may be losing some of
their other skills," said Moll.
What's lacking
So how does one add leisure time to a seemingly packed daily
routine? Moll says the first step is to determine how much leisure
time is lacking.
"If you can't remember the last time you took time for just you, it
is time for a change," she said. "What have you done for yourself,
lately? When was the last time you did something just for fun or
just for the health of it? If your answer is 'I read a book a year
ago,' then you need to do more. Whether it's cooking, needlework,
golfing or whatever, put leisure into your life. It's
important."
Moll advises that once the commitment is made to make a chance,
it's time to reconnect with favorite pastimes. Not surprising, many
people are so far removed from recreation they have forgotten what
they once enjoyed.
If you fit this profile, Moll recommends a few things: Spend time
at the library to find out where your interests lie. Stroll the
aisles at craft or sporting good stores for promising new hobbies.
Talk with people about what they like to do for fun.
"It's like food, you have to taste different things to find your
passion. The greatest indicator of your leisure interests as an
adult can be found in your youth. The whole idea of recreation is
re-creation," said Moll.
Leisure can include anything from a crossword puzzle to a pickup
game of basketball, as long as it fits the following criteria: The
activity must be freely chosen by the participant; provide
satisfaction and adventure; arouse interest; require a commitment;
serve as a sense of separation or escape; and most important, be
pleasurable.
Moll warns that competition is not part of the leisure game.
"If you didn't win that tennis match or were only able to bike two
miles instead of three, that's ok. What is important is that you're
relaxing. But if you get so wrapped up in winning that your blood
pressure goes up or you make others around you miserable, that's
not leisure. Yes, you can be sweaty or exhausted when you're
finished doing whatever you were doing but for the purpose of being
helpful, leisure needs to be restful."
Leisure also needs to be practiced, practiced, practiced.
According to Moll, too many of us don't recognize an opportunity
when it comes along. But a little downtime gives our brains a
much-needed break.
"Leisure is a lot like having a 'runner's high,'" she said. "Our
endorphins kick in, our heart rate changes, our blood pressure
changes and our emotional well-being gets a time out. A little
personal play time can also go a long way in our relationships. I
tell my counseling students this all the time: We can't give what
we don't have. We can't give to our family, friends, students or
clients if we don't first take some time for ourselves."
Moll adds, "It doesn't matter what you do or that you may not do it
well. Just start slowly and fake it until you make it. The point is
to get out there, relax and appreciate the grandeur of the world
once in a while. Play with abandon. Live life with intention. And
be gentle with yourself."
