The Meaning of Personal Leisure and Its Role in Life - Case Study Example

Personal Leisure: A Case Study Name of Student Student Number Institution Course Code Name of Lecturer Date of Submission Personal Leisure Case Study This is an evaluation on the aspect of leisure and recreation experiences leading to various impacts on the life of Mrs Heron who is a senior Nurse practitioner at a major hospital in Brisbane. She is a mother of two girls aged seven and five and the husband works in the city of Sydney. Thus, Mrs Heron caters for her family apart from working in a busy health facility; while at the same time minding her social life. The reason behind selecting Mrs Heron for this personal leisure case study is to understand the aspect of leisure and how social, economic and professional aspects affect personal leisure. Personal leisure assessment was commenced by first establishing what leisure means as per the interviewee’s perspective. Albeit the fact that Mrs Heron was reluctant at first to cooperate and give me audience on the critical aspect of personal leisure, she later become friendly and free after creating a rapport. I made it clear to her that the interview was for study purposes only and the information outsourced would remain confidential. The main contents of the interview sought to establish the meaning of leisure from the interviewee’s perspective, as well as its role in their life. Further, the social, cultural, economic, political and educational or environmental aspects that enhance leisure were evaluated. The activities mostly done during leisure times were established, as well as the importance or lack thereof in leisure life. On the same note, key things that enhance choice of leisure and participation were evaluated. According to Godbey (2009), recreation is an aspect that directly relates to leisure and refers to activities that happen during leisure time. Mrs Heron was quite categorical in stating the aspect of leisure as one where she spends time away from work and household chores, and just relaxes or gets fun with family and friends. It involves the interaction with or appreciation of the natural environment. In respect to Leitner and Leitner (2012), leisure refers to that state of mind where there exists no time for obligations and willing optimism is present. On the other hand, recreation refers to the free activities, past times, as well as experiences in life which individuals participate during their free times (Cohen-Gewerc and Stebbins, 2013). According to Mrs Heron, her view of recreation is the achievement of feelings of wellbeing, relaxation, enjoyment, fulfilment and satisfaction. This is line with Kleiber (2012) indication that leisure and recreation bring about opportunities aimed at expressing creativity leading to realising or mastering of new things and appreciating the activities. Recreation activities promote life in various aspects of socio-cultural promotion, economic development, environmental and educational in the sense of preservation and promotion of leisure activities. From the case interview, Mrs Heron establishes leisure as part of life that creates a sense of belonging and appreciating the surroundings in respect to life and nature. One leisure model that comes into focus with respect to this interview is the Leisure Ability Model which has been widely used and most often critiqued therapeutic recreational practice models (Human Kinetics, 2010). Its fundamental basis is on the concept of internal locus of control, personal causality, motivation that is inherent, freedom of choice and flow. This model utilises the stated ideas as the tenets for three components of service: treatment, leisure education and recreation participation (Turner, 2009). In context, the three areas of service are crucial in supplying the content for the creation, progress, execution and appraisal of therapeutic recreation programs that are based on the needs of an individual. This model identifies therapeutic recreational services as satisfying, self-determining and freely selected leisure lifestyle (Human Kinetics, 2010). Leisure generates diverse social benefits which might not be easily identified, but make significant differences in the society (James, 2009). For example, a work-oriented society in which Mrs Heron is living finds less relevance in the many opportunities arising from art, culture and sports. These activities are developed and nurtured on the aspect of leisure and recreation. The interviewee states that most artistic activities are based on the aspect of money creation by the individuals and thus, cannot afford most of them. Time is of essence in respect to work and family, and the little free time for leisure is saved for simple and inexpensive leisure activities. Generally, it is evident that recreational activities enhance tourism, which in turn promotes socio-cultural awareness and history (Bailey and Fernado, 2013). The environmental aspect comes in respect to the fact that leisure contributes indirectly towards nature and environment protection. Mrs Heron outlines examples of parks, zoo among other recreational facilities that contribute to nature conservation. Nature appreciation is evidenced in respect to nature walk which forms part of leisure activities (Kleiber, 2012). Visiting the surroundings and just watching the flora and fauna, creates a sense of appreciating nature and having the desire to safeguard it. Bailey and Fernado, (2013) opines that lack of appreciating the environment has resulted to some people degrading the environment, destroying wildlife and killing of animals perceived endangered like the Rhinos, in search of treasure parts like the horns and tusks for socio-economic activities. Creation and maintenance of recreational sites has diverse benefits in life. The desire for effective recreational places compels individuals to maintain clean and green environments (Godbey, 2009). Thus, leisure not only promotes sound mind, healthy body, and strong relationships, but also results to the creation of an effective economy and better environment. The economic aspect of leisure relates to the fact that leisure centres have been set up in form of movie theatres, play stations, resorts and clubs, surfing and boating equipment among other activities to earn money (Bailey and Fernado, 2013). The travel and tourism which also have a direct relation to hospitality sector are characterised by leisure aspects. People travel and tour various sites, places and destination to spend their leisure times and participate in recreational activities (Kleiber, 2012). These activities generate income not only to the business owners but also create revenue for the national and regional authorities. From the case analysis, it is evident that leisure has diverse options as Mrs Heron indicates that she can go to the Park and take her kids along, or join her best friends to watch a movie at the local theatre among other aspects of leisure. Leisure choice is based on various reasons which are interconnected and influenced by a number of factors (Human Kinetics, 2010). These factors include personality, capacities, age or life stage, social class, income level, social amenities availability among others. According to Nimrod (2007), personal factors go a long way into determining extensively the manner in which leisure activities are perceived, accepted and related per se in life. The choice of leisure as established by the Mrs Heron is determined by various aspects in life like affordability, availability and accessibility. According to Leitner and Leitner (2012), recreational services form the basis for leisure in life. Their availability is core towards establishing the aspect of leisure and recreation. Individuals utilise leisure time as a form of engaging to activities that incorporate both exercises and other stress-relieving activities (James, 2009). According to Mrs Heron, in most cases, her choice of leisure is determined by her aim of relaxing, overcoming stress or even exercising. Mrs Heron indicated that via entertainment she develops a positive attitude change, as well as improving social communication and interaction. In respect to Human Kinetics (2010), the psychological changes have a great impact on the physical health positively in the sense that, sound state of the mind favour physical wellness. Nevertheless, leisure management is crucial in respect to entertainment and ensuring no negative results result from leisure activities. The interview also pointed out to the emergence of bad behaviours in the name of leisure and Mrs Heron attested to that and gave various examples. Activities like drugs, alcohol abuse, and theft among other vices are activities that occur during leisure times (Kleiber, 2012). Thus, effective leisure management is paramount towards ensuring no harm results from leisure activities. In conclusion, it is evident from the interview with Mrs Heron, that leisure and recreation requires time, space and opportunity. Mrs Heron is adamant that she aspires to have more time to visit places she considers her dream destinations, like the Egyptian pyramids and the Great Chinese wall. However, due to the fact that she has to cater for her family and the tight work schedule and lack of enough finances, she is left with no choice but to opt for the most appropriate and affordable form of leisure. On the same note, with increased globalisation, recreational facilities are diminishing at faster rates and people’s free times are taken up by social technology. People have embraced social media as their modus operandi to spend their free times (Cohen-Gewerc and Stebbins 2013). Leisure and fun-sites have also been commercialised to the extent that many find it impossible to incur extra cost of just vising parks and recreational facilities to pass time. This has resulted to a passive generation characterised with increasing lifestyle disorders, overweight problems and lacking the sense of appreciating nature. Thus, it is critical to state that there is greater need for leisure participation awareness to engage in safe and virtuous (positive) recreational activities. Consequently, physical activities would incorporate worth options for leisure like participating in sports during free times. This is important to keep fit and wade off lifestyle disorders that have become common in the 21st century, thus contributing towards health improvement. References Bailey, A. W. and Fernado, I. K. (2013). Routine project-based leisure, happiness, and meaning in life. Journal of Leisure research, 44, 139-154. Cohen-Gewerc, E. and Stebbins, R. A. (2013). Serious Leisure and Individuality. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press. Godbey, G. (2009). Outdoor recreation, health, and wellness: understanding and enhancing the relationship. Washington, DC: Resource for the Future. Human Kinetics (2010). Dimensions of leisure for life: individuals and society. New York: Human Kinetics, Inc. James, S. (2009). The invidious Veblen and the virulent victors: The salience of the leisure class today. Michigan Sociological Review, 23. JSTOR 40958767. Kleiber, D. A. (2012). Taking leisure seriously: New and older considerations about leisure education. World Leisure Journal, 54(10, 5-15. Leitner, M. and Leitner, S., (2012). Leisure in later life, 4th Ed. Urbana: Sagamore Publishing LLC. Nimrod, G. (2007). Retirees’ leisure: activities, benefits, and their contribution to life satisfaction. Leisure Studies, 26(1), 65-80. Turner, B. (2009). Can we live forever? A sociological and moral inquiry. New York: Anthem Press. Read More