Calm in the Chaos - Tips for a Better Life
Wasting Wasted Time?
by Jamie Spannhake
July 30, 2019
My dad sent me a quote in a note in the mail. It read “Time that you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” I like that. I often have a hard time taking time to do things that aren’t “productive,” like watching a movie. Two hours of time, I think. What else could I do with that time. But my dad makes a great point: it’s okay to take time to do things simply because we enjoy them.
I am getting better at this. I play tennis because it is fun and challenging. It is not productive in that it doesn't nurture my family relationships or improve my career or help me reach more people with helpful information. But I enjoy it. Sometimes I perform in a staged reading of a play. Again, nothing "productive," but it is fun.
Sometimes what we enjoy is considered "play," and I as wrote about in "Five Reasons to Come Out & Play," playing is important for our health. Research shows that playing relieves stress by triggering the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Even if your "wasted" time is not play -- maybe you just want to take a nap or watch a movie -- it is important. We all need down time to do things that we enjoy. Down time provides our minds and bodies with a break from the busyness of life, and rejuvenates our minds and bodies.
What will you do with your time today?
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