Definition of Leisure Time - Case Study Example

Definition essay on leisure time Spare time or Leisure time can be defined as the period of time spent out of work and other activities. Most of the people like to spend leisure time for recreational purposes and consider it as short- term retrieval from routine work. But when one consider culture and individual difference, the term spare time or leisure time gain wider scope. When this term is applied to a clearer scenario, for instance, among children, adults, and other countries (culture), a number of factors like usage, its effect on health etc come to the limelight. Here, the attempt is to unearth the effect of leisure time among children, adults, and cultures through compare/contrast and cause/effect method of investigation. Thesis statement: Do spare time or leisure time varies among countries and individuals or not. Leisure time usage- children, adults, and other countries When the difference in age and cultural difference come under consideration, there exist difference in leisure time activities and usage. Leisure time and children: The time spent by children for leisure time activities varies depending upon factors like economic condition, culture etc. In America and Europe, children are far ahead in spending their leisure time. Compared to North Americans, East Asians are far behind in spending their leisure time. But children in European countries are above North Americans and below East Asians in leisure time usage. But when one considers elders, the senior citizens get more leisure time and engage in different types of activities. The middle aged people do not get sufficient time to engage in leisure time activities. When one considers the younger generation, they get enough time to engage in leisure time activities. The leisure time activities of children include games, sports, cultural dealings amusement and community service. In the middle-childhood, they indulge in computer usage, watching television, art activities, sports, reading, church activities, housework, shopping etc. In the journal article ‘The Benefits of Adult Piano Study as Self-Reported by Selected Adult Piano Students’ from the ERIC academic database, Peter J Jutras makes clear that: “Findings suggest that students are interested in technical improvement, but they also place high value on the enjoyment and self-growth” (Peter 1) student community shows much interest in wise usage of their leisure time. For instance, when they involve in playing piano, they does not consider it as mere enjoyment but they also consider the technical improvement and self-growth. So, one can see that children are in fond of leisure time and really enjoy the same. But the adults engage in team sports like soccer, volleyball, basket ball etc, and women spend time for jogging and muscular exercises. Men spend more time than women on leisure pursuits. Among educated parents, the time spend with kids has increased largely. Leisure time and elders: Leisure time activities contribute a lot in the psychological, cognitive and physical potent of an individual. The structured and unstructured activities have the power to boost human capital and improve cognitive accomplishment. The time spend in such activities can indicate their impending input to society. Exercise helps to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Besides, leisure time activities like games and exercise helps the children to keep themselves away from obesity and related diseases. So, leisure time activities like sports and games boost one’s health and indoor activities badly affect one’s health. In the journal article ‘Differences in Vigorous and Moderate Physical Activity by Gender, Race/Ethnicity, Age, Education, and Income among U.S. Adults’ from the ERIC academic database, Dong-Chul Seo and Mohammad Torabi make clear that: “Leisure-time physical activity among U.S. adults has declined for the last decade.” (Dong-Chul and Mohammad 1) the adult population shows much hesitation to involve in physical activities while leisure time and this cause severe health problems. The adults who are physically active become biologically younger, engage in social activities and can keep themselves energetic. Reading helps to boost confidence and they will never have memory problem. Psychotic illnesses in adults will be cured by taking part in activities. But one should choose activities that one enjoys and boost health and emotional health. So, it is important for the elders to include outdoor activities in their leisure time because it helps to improve their health. Leisure time usage in other countries: In America, people used to spend their leisure time for indoor and outdoor entertainment. When the amount of time spent for leisure in America is compared with other countries, one can see that it is similar to that of Koreans. Besides, there exists difference among countries related to time spending on leisure time. For instance, the Norwegians and Turks really love to spend leisure time extensively and they use around one third of their available time for leisure time activities. The Finnish people, the Germans, the New Zealanders and Belgians used to spend around one forth of available time for leisure time activities. But in Canada, the people are so bothered about their work and used to spend around one fifth of their available time for leisure time activities. When one consider the people of the United States, the amount of time spent for leisure time activities come under one fifth of available time. But this does not prove that the people of the United States do not like leisure time. But in fact, they used to spend their leisure time for productive purposes. In America, the most famous leisure time activities are watching television and reading. Other leisure time activities in America are fishing, movie, socializing with others, sports, gardening, internet surfing, walking, music etc. When it is compared with the leisure time activities in other countries, one can see that watching television and listening to radio are most popular among varied population. But attending events and practicing sports become unpopular. In countries other than America, the main/popular leisure time activities are watching Television and listening to the Radio. The leisure time activities like attending events and practicing sports are unpopular. When one consider indoor leisure time activities are more important than outdoor leisure time activities like attending events and practicing sports, there is less scope for improvement in health. So, one can easily identify that the leisure time activities which help to improve one’s health are unpopular. But leisure time activities which do not help to improve health leisure are popular. Besides, it badly affects one’s health because watching Television and listening to the radio needs less physical effort. But other activities like fishing, socialization with others, sports, gardening, walking etc needs physical movement and it nourishes one’s health. So, one must be aware of the importance of outdoor leisure time activities and must try to include the same in spending spare time. By summing up, children are in fond of leisure time and really enjoy the same. But it is important for the elders to include outdoor activities in their leisure time to improve their health. In addition, the scope and extend of leisure time activities vary among countries and individuals. Besides, one must understand the importance of leisure time in this modern world and must show keen interest to include activities which improve one’s health. Works cited Seo, Dong-Chul and Mohammad Torabi. “Differences in Vigorous and Moderate Physical Activity by Gender, Race/Ethnicity, Age, Education, and Income among U.S. Adults.” American Journal of Health Education 3.1 (2007): 122-128. Jutras, Peter J. “The Benefits of Adult Piano Study as Self-Reported by Selected Adult Piano Students.” Journal of Research in Music Education 54.2 (2006): 97. Read More