The Key Benefits of Leisure - Literature review Example

The Key Benefits of Leisure Introduction Leisure is defined as a state of being free to enjoy activities outside of work (Parr & Lashua, 2004). It is an activity wherein an individual freely participate to relax, diverse or broaden his knowledge and ability for social participation (Dumazedier, 1974, cited in Veal, 1992, p. 3). It has been touted by several authors as beneficial to a person’s physical, psychological, spiritual, social and even economic well being (Coleman & Iso-Ahola, 1993). This essay argues that such benefits of leisure are feasible even in today’s modern society. It will discuss each of the five key benefits of leisure and provide evidence from literatures on how such benefits are within the reach of every person living in modern society. Physical benefits A lot of literature directly linked low levels of physical fitness to diseases and death due to inactive lifestyles (Bezner, Adams & Whistler, 1999). Thus, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (cited in Bezner et al, 1999, p. 130) strongly recommended regular physical activity to improve health. Physical activity is something that an individual choose to do during his free time as a way to relax or be leisurely. In doing so, he is in the process improving his physical well being in the long run. Thus, regular exercise contributes significantly to improve one’s health. Walking, swimming, bicycling, endurance games and other physical activities that exercise one’s body was recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine 3 to 5 times a week at an intensity of 20 to 60 minutes a day (Bezner et al, 1999). A study conducted by Bezner et al (1999) revealed that persons with the most leisure time activity or the one who mostly enjoy doing their physical exercises or activities have perceived the highest physical as well as psychological well being compared to persons with sedentary lifestyles (p. 135). This only proved that leisure yielded physical benefits in the form of improved physical well being. However, the results implied that higher physical activity should be incorporated to the everyday activities of people which mean that there is no need to go outside of our everyday activities to find leisure in doing physical activities or exercises. Walking and doing household chores are regular activities conducted by every person on a day to day basis can be looked at as another form of exercise to promote physical well-being. The physical benefits of leisure then are very much feasible in modern society. It is only a matter of perspective in finding leisure in our daily physical activities and recognized its health benefits. Australians, for example, need to improve their recognition of the significance of physical activities to their health. High blood pressure, high cholesterol in the blood and obesity are three factors putting at risk the health of Australians based on 2006 data from Australia’s Health. These risk factors are exacerbated by the lack of physical activity which further proved the physical benefits of leisurely activities such as exercises and other physical activities. Given the pressing data on the status of health of Australians, it is more important to include exercise and other physical activities in modern day’s activities. Psychological benefits The same study by Bezner et al (1999) recognised the impact of physical activities leisurely done by people to their psychological well-being. Satisfaction generated from participation in leisure activities lead to psychological benefits particularly motivating an individual to continue doing such activities (Stebbins, 2004). Motivation to do something can help improve self esteem of a person particularly if done within a social context. Pedersen and Seidman (2004) conducted a study which showed that achievement in team sports is directly related to the development of self-esteem among adolescent girls across ethnicities. Consequently, it impacts to the perception of competence in the sport they are involved in. Coleman and Iso-Ahola (1993) explained that participation in leisure activities is a coping resource for anxiety or any level of stress because it gives people “companionship” (p. 114) that would merit social support in times of crisis. Further, they stressed that leisure activities help improve the personal disposition of people particularly in developing self control and mastery (p. 114). Cortis, Sawrikar, and Muir (2007) reaffirmed the benefits of leisure activities such as sports and physical recreation to the development of self-esteem of a person in their final report about a study they conducted about participation of culturally diverse women in sports and recreation. They further stressed that such participation can help reduce anti-social behaviour of individuals due to its impact towards social inclusion. Leisure activities done in a group are not impossible in modern times. It is normal for officemates to go out and have fun in a bar or in a park; or friends going out on a field trip; or family members playing frisbee on a beach or just have a backyard picnic. These are leisure activities enjoyed within a group that can easily be accomplished in the day to day lives of individuals. Even just spending time talking with a group of friends can help enhance the ability of a person to communicate or listen or just simply able to lighten up their stress level. The psychological benefits of these activities particularly in distressing your mind and helping a person to relax and see a newer perspective in any issues they are facing. Thus, it is not impossible to reap the psychological benefits of leisure in the modern world. It is just a matter of taking time to participate in these activities. Spiritual benefits Holistic approach to wellness in modern times has inculcated the aspect of spirituality in leisurely activities such as meditation and alternative medication, among others. Spiritual awareness has been imbibed in modern way of living such that even a walk in the park or a walk to the beach has been given a spiritual aspect. Thus, many wellness programs were designed to implement to be sort of a retreat that will not only uplift beauty but also spirituality of a person. Heintzman and Mannel (2003) developed and tested a model of “spiritual functions of leisure” (p. 208) that will explain how the leisure activities of people help sustain or restrain their spiritual well-being. Leisure as a stress coping mechanism is related with spiritual well-being since a person with well grounded spirituality has a “sense of connection with others and also a sense of responsibility in life” (p. 211). It should be noted that this analysis is directly related to the points raised in the psychological benefits of leisure wherein a person have control and mastery of his self. Being in control of one’s self give him a sense of responsibility towards his actions and know how to connect with other people. Leisure activities can also empower a person that can lead to discovery of his own spirituality. For example, the documentation of Henderson (1996 cited in Heintzman & Mannel, 2003, p. 211) revealed that women participating in outdoor activities discovered their own spirituality by cutting through gender bias thereby getting in touch with their inner selves. They have the opportunity to discover facet of themselves. They were not aware of these facets before they participated in outdoor activities wherein they were constrained by social expectations. This is not the situation when they participated in outdoor activities; hence they act more freely and attune with themselves. Heintzman and Mannel (2003) revealed that people who have more leisure time, motivated and engaged more often in leisurely outdoor activities were more likely to utilise leisure to attune them towards spiritual well-being. It means that they would engage more in activities that would enhance their spiritual connection or experience and avoid activities that will repress such spirituality. It further implies that being busy from daily activities of life can prevent a person to enjoy leisurely time that can help him improve his spirituality. However, limited time can also lead a person towards the “process of sacrilization” (p. 225) wherein he uses his available time to engage in leisure activities to maintain or enhance his spiritual well-being. Such motivation is a significant tool to enhance spiritual well-being of a person. Thus, even in modern times where people are constantly on the move or busy with their daily lives, there is still room to find leisure activities and reap the spiritual benefits of leisure to improve understanding of one’s self to become a better person. It is then feasible to experience the spiritual benefits of leisure as long as a person is attuned to his spirituality. Self-actualisation is what a person experience when he becomes attune with his self. As what Maslow (cited in Schmidt, 2005) espouses, self-actualisation can lead to development of a person’s full potential becoming more self aware and empowered. Social benefits Coleman and Iso-Ahola (1993) stated that participation in leisure activities is “social in nature” (p. 115). People connect with other people through leisure activities. For example, participation in sports or social gatherings is primarily done to get involved with other people, to socialise. Such social benefit of leisure is important in making it a fulfilling activity to participate in. This is the reason why individuals repeatedly engage in a particular leisure activity. After all, man by nature is social. He can not live on his own; he needs to interact with his fellow human being. He needs to get away from work and be with his friends to be attuned with his social nature. In the summary of findings and principles of studies compiled by Jackson (2006) for the World Leisure Consensus Symposium in Hangzhou, China, specific social benefits of leisure includes the following: (a) provides chances for family, relationship and community bonding, (b) mediate shared experiences, intimacy and emotional closeness, (c) create a chance for collaboration, (d) facilitate significant contribution in the community, and (d) break down social resistance (p. 5). It clearly showed that leisure activities bridge social connection among people. It facilitates camaraderie in social context. The opportunity for socialisation is enhanced by leisure participation. In doing so, social cohesiveness is improved. The modern world did not deter the social benefits of leisure. Even in the age of computer and internet, the social benefits of leisure are still very much evident. Internet chatting and social networking sites have brought social connections to a higher level without an actual physical presence. Thus, social benefits of leisure are very much feasible even in the modern world. A person must only have the desire to be socially connected and he will be even within the four walls of his home. Economic benefits Leisure spurs consumerism. Every leisure activities engaged by every individual have an economic cost to it. For example, engaging in leisurely activities such as sports entailed clothing and accessories fit for such activities. Businessmen bank on this need for commercial matching of consumer goods or service for leisure activities that spurs economic activity revolving around leisure. Take for example the proliferation of wellness studios and its derivative businesses out of the need of people to relax and be fit. Fitness trainers, accessories, wellness retreats, among others have become in demand in recent years to accommodate the need of people to be healthy. Such need created a wellness industry that is thriving in modern times. In the objective of increasing time for leisure, many household devices were created to limit the time to do household chores (Molitor, 2008) such as washing machine and dish washer. Other services have become instant such as photo processing that allow people to have more time for other things, preferably leisure activities. Such convenience created many products that generated profits for businessmen. The demand to spend less time at work and more time for leisure has been capitalised by businessmen to create innovative products and services that created a whirlpool of economic activities across the globe. In the United Kingdom alone, an estimated 100 Billion Euros were spent by consumers in leisure related activities or products (Research Markets Report Website, 2009). Majority of this figure was spent on leisure activities outside the home which means that many of the residents of the United Kingdom engaged in leisurely activities that provided them physical, spiritual and social benefits. Such experience reaped overall economic benefits to the leisure industry. It only shows that the more people spent on leisurely activities, the more economic benefits it can provide to a society. In doing so, it spur the flow of money within an economy leading to an active economic sectors thereby creating employment. Thus, the economic benefit of leisure is very much feasible in the modern world. The modern world thrives in products and services that facilitate leisure experience. This is actually the demand of the modern population . Conclusion In conclusion, the above discussion proved that the benefits of leisure are feasible in the modern world. Modern citizens demand the physical, psychological, spiritual, social and economic benefits of leisure. These five key benefits of leisure are actually interrelated. One cannot exist outside of the other. Experiencing one benefit leads to simultaneous experience of other benefits of leisure. For example, experiencing the physical benefits of leisure through exercising can also lead to improve psychological and spiritual states of a person as well as facilitate his social connections. In experiencing all of it, the person consciously or unconsciously spends money in order to access the experience of such leisure activity. Thus, the benefits of leisure are multi-faceted and interrelated. It is better not to dissect leisure according to its individual benefits but analyse it as an integral part of human potential. References Australia’s Health (2006) Determinants of Health. Bezner, J., Adams, T. & Whistler, L. (1999) The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Indicators of Perceived Wellness. American Journal of Health Studies 15(3) 130-138 Coleman, D. & Iso-Ahola, S.E.(1993) Leisure and Health: The Role of Social Support and Self Determination. Journal of Leisure Research 25(2) 111-128. Cortis, N., Sawrikar, P., & Muir, K. (2007) Participation in Sports and Recreation by Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Women. Australian Government Office for Women, Department of Families, Community Service and Indigenous Affairs. Heintzman, P. & Mannel, R. (2003) Spiritual Functions of Leisure and Spiritual Well-Being: Coping with Time Pressure. Leisure Sciences, 25, 207-230 Jackson, E. (2006) Leisure and the Quality of Life: Impacts on Social, Economic and Cultural Development. World Leisure Consensus Symposium, Hangzhou, China. Molitor, G.T.T.(2008) Oncoming Leisure Era: How We Are Getting There, Journal of Future Studies, 12(3) 109-120. Parr, M.G. & Lashua, B.D. (2004) What is Leisure: The Perceptions of Recreation Practitioners and Others, Leisure Sciences, 26, 1-17 Pedersen, S. & Seidman, E. (2004) Team Sports Achievement and Self-Esteem Development Among Urban Adolescent Girls. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 28, 412-422. Research Markets Report (2009) Research and Markets: Leisure Outside the Home Market Report: Consumer Spending on Leisure in..., Business Wire (Internet) Updated on 20 March 2009. Accessed from website http://www.allbusiness.com/food-beverage/restaurants-food-service-drinking-places/11818859-1.html on 2 June 2009 Schmidt, C. (2005) Being, Becoming and Belonging: The Phenomenological Essence of Spiritual Leisure Experiences. Department of Tourism, Leisure and Sports Management, Griffith University Stebbins, R. (2004). Fun, Enjoyable, Satisfying, Fulfilling: Describing Positive Leisure Experience. LSA Newsletter (69) 8-11. Veal, A.J. (1992) Definition of Leisure and Recreation, Australian Journal of Leisure and Recreation, 2(4) 44-48, 52 Read More