According to psychological research, free time only truly makes us happy when it is at a moderate level. Conversely, having too much free time can lead to feelings of boredom and a sense that life is dull.
In modern life, with its fast pace, most of us share the sentiment that “I no longer have free time for myself.” Many people strive to find free time or wish they had more of it.
But does having free time really make people happy?
Having too much free time will not make you happier in life – (Photo: GETTY).
In a psychological study conducted by Professor Cassie Holmes at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA (University of California, USA), involving nearly 34,000 American volunteers to answer the question “Does having more free time really make us more satisfied with life?”, the results showed that: both too little and too much free time do not make us happy.
First, Cassie Holmes’s team calculated the amount of time people spend on personal activities each day, such as relaxing, watching TV, playing sports, fishing, or hanging out with friends. Then, the team examined how that amount of time related to people’s life satisfaction.
The research team found that each adult only needs 2-5 hours of free time per day to enhance happiness. This is the ideal amount of time.
- If there are fewer than 2 hours or more than 5 hours of free time each day, feelings of happiness will decrease, and may even evoke the opposite feelings.
- Having less than 2 hours of free time can lead to increased risks of depression, stress, and emotional exhaustion. However, having more than 5 hours of free time each day is too much, as it weakens a person’s sense of purpose in life, leading to a growing sense of meaninglessness.
According to Professor Cassie Holmes, during a few hours of free time, individuals should engage in simple activities such as exercising, doing good deeds, and increasing social interactions.
Physical activity is an effective way to enhance health and uplift the spirit. It is advisable to aim for 30 minutes of exercise each day, several days a week, with simple exercises like walking or cycling.
Performing a few meaningful good deeds for the community or spending time caring for others can also make our free time feel more significant. Many small acts can have a big impact, such as buying a colleague a coffee or complimenting someone. Whatever it is, do it with the sole purpose of benefiting the other person. Do not think about repayment or what you will receive after doing a good deed.
Additionally, free time can be dedicated to interactive activities and immersing oneself in nature. Simply taking a little time to stroll through a park, wander through small streets, observe the daily lives around you, or lie back to stargaze, enjoy the moon, or relish the light of dawn or dusk can help us feel less rushed, live slower, and have the opportunity to reflect on ourselves.
Free time in a day is very important, but it is only beneficial when we know how to use it wisely. Depending on individual enjoyment needs and living conditions, each person can allocate their free time to various personal activities, as long as they feel satisfied.
