When was the last time you did something for the joy of it?

Most people associate leisure with a vacation or any activity that helps them recuperate from ‘regular life’. Images of relaxing by the beach, drink in hand, abound. For others, retail therapy, screen scrolling or binge-watching favorite shows suffice. Leisure has come to mean any activity requiring no effort. It is just another way of attempting to remove the stress we invite into our lives.

Many also indulge in ‘leisure’ activities aimed to impress others. The word ‘passion’ is often used to justify this. Every activity needs to be ‘passionate’. The goal is usually the same: to monetize the activity or burnish one’s social media persona and get the approval of others for this carefully crafted image. This only leads to more stress – the very opposite of leisure – because the carefully crafted image projected to the world is not an authentic one but one manufactured for validation.

“In our leisure we reveal what kind of people we are.” – Ovid

Perhaps this happens because we live in a system where success is overwhelmingly equated with material success; where things are produced for profit rather than for the wellbeing of humans. We have no control over what is produced nor, it seems, over what we consume. Our choices are made for us and we consume whatever it is that advertisers, the media or latest trend decide we must consume. Not many try to get to a place where they can make their own choices to enhance their lives, away from the noise and bombardment of empty messages.

Getting to that place can be transformative. The aim of meaningful leisure is a not-for-profit activity aimed to improve the quality of your life. It gives you the opportunity to commune with yourself and experiment on your own terms. Not because you are good at it or want to feel validated but because you enjoy doing it and want to learn more about it. You open yourself to life when you do something you enjoy without expectations. It gives you the space to be You without any pressure to impress others.

“They consider work, as it should be considered, as a necessary means to a livelihood, and it is from their leisure hours that they derive whatever happiness they may enjoy.” – Bertrand Russell

Many never attempt to search for pursuits that bring them joy. They are caught up in busyness, with no time to peep into the delightful byways of life. Any existing curiosity is demolished by the fear of disapproval. On the other hand, the more curious who examine these byways find that they can lead to potentially life-changing experiences. Meaningful leisure is found through these experiences.

There are plenty of benefits when you create or experience something simply because it gives your life more meaning. You have full control of the process as the creator. This autonomy helps strengthen your sense of identity and broaden your mental horizons. You are no longer a helpless prisoner of the many mental barriers holding so many confined to a narrow space.

“I can elect something I love and absorb myself in it.” – Anais Nin

When you systematically break down your mental barriers, new experiences and people step into your life almost magically. You create new friendships based on genuine shared interests rather than waste time on nurturing heavily conditional and forced social interactions. Sticking too much to people who look, talk and behave like you leads to a biased view of the world. Shared interests can bring you in contact with people who look and think different. Fresh perspectives mean more opportunities to enhance your life.

When was the last time you did something for the joy of it? When were you totally absorbed in a hobby or activity that was close to your heart? This is the space to be You and understand more about yourself even as you continue creating. Experiment and get curious. Learn what makes you feel focused and alive. Then go ahead and make the time to do it. Not because you want the approval of others or want to be paid but because you want to create for the joy of it.

“He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul’s estate.” – Henry David Thoreau