Pleasant activities or vacation time can be felt as a source of discomfort for certain people. This is the emerging phenomenon of leisure phobia/ociofobia. The untolerable anxiety of not being busy is closely connected to the fact that modern people are highly addictive to a fast pace of life and the pursuit of perfection. A busy schedule gives often an illusion of fulfilment, preventing us from dealing with serious concerns that we want to avoid and leading thus to the ignorance of a significant emptiness in which we have buried ourselves.
Considering leisure time as a waste of time is a trap. Actually even moments of daydreaming or meditation time are absolutely necessary for our mental and emotional health , as long as these are moments of clarity for our minds. Noteworthy is the fact that the word 'school'derives from the ancient Greek word σχολή meaning 'free time' used for and cultural activities (art,theatre,philosophical discussions,symposia etc). and sports. The etymological root of the word school means a ‘’holding back, a keeping clear’’. So the essential element of clarity traces back to the root of the word that ancient Greeks and Romans were using for transferring the meaning of free time.
Giving space to our minds and soul makes us significantly more productive and provides us with a rich sense of contentment. Free time activities reflect our need for emotional relief, necessary for our mental wellbeing. Relaxing and doing nothing as well as recreational activities are equally necessary for living a healthy and fulfilled life.
Seeking perfection is also an insidious enemy of enjoying our free time. Converting even our travels to a pursuit of vein excelellence triggers a meaningless anxiety. The stressful pursuit of photographing the perfect sunset doesn’t seem a wise priority. So next time we witness a beautiful sunset or landscape seems better to absorb the moment with every single sense and fullfil our mind with this picture and our soul with this feeling instead of pursuing the external validation of the digital world.
Perhaps the key to finding a balance and avoid the phobia of leisure time is to start by slowing down the pace of our daily routine . This way we get used to a more normal pace that allows us to enjoy moment of calmness and amusement. Moreover, by slowing down we can achieve self-refection that is necessary even for avoiding the meaningless pursuit of perfection.
Theognosia Rigopoulou
C
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