Have you for once, considered what having more long hours of free time will really make you more fulfilled throughout everyday life? As per Social clinicians and behavioural professors at the University of California, Los Angeles, an excessive amount of extra time won’t make you more happier in life.
The professors previously calculated how long individuals had in a day to spend on optional activities, for example, relaxing, watching television, playing sports or hanging with companions. They then, tested how that calculated measure of time connected with their satisfaction throughout everyday life.
What they found was that, two to five hours of leisure time in a day is perfect for boosted happiness. Having under two hours or over five hours of leisure time a day, notwithstanding, reduced happiness.
The data confirmed that you are “time poor” — or feeling like you had too little time available to do all that you needed and wanted to do.
Moreover, an additional research by Gallup Survey further revealed that, almost 50% of Americans feel they are in a similar spot. Other studies have also shown that being “time poor” makes you more discouraged, and sincerely depleted.
Then again, consistently having over five hours of optional opportunity in the day is excessive, in light of the fact that it sabotages one’s feeling of direction.
It’s worth pointing out that having a sense of purpose does not require working in a paid job. For example, unpaid volunteer work often provides a sense of purpose.
Additionally, tasks required to produce well-functioning households or for successful parenting can similarly offer a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
For many people, work gives them a significant source of purpose. Free time is important, but so is how you spend it. The flatness of life satisfaction between two and five hours suggests that, except at the very extremes, the way you spend your free time matters a great deal.
We have 24 hours in a day, but the way we perceive time is subjective. This is important because how long a minute, an hour, a day, or a decade feels informs whether you view yourself as having “enough” time.
Feeling confident that you are able to accomplish everything you want to do is the definition of being “time affluent.” Even with the 90 minutes of free time you had a day, you could make your days feel less overwhelming and more fulfilling.
The following are three ways for using your time well without adding all the more available time to your schedule:
Get moving. Physical activity has been proven as an effective means to increase health, happiness and self-esteem.
Try 30 minutes of exercise per day for a few days this week. It’s important to block out time in your calendar for this. The activities don’t have to be strenuous; just taking a slow jog outside or walking to work — instead of driving — is enough.
After your session, write in a journal about how you’re feeling (most likely, you’ll feel great). So the next time you think you don’t have enough time to work out, you’ll remember how you felt, and that the time will be worth it.
Practice acts of kindness. In one of the studies, it was found that giving time to other people can make you feel like you have more discretionary time.
Sometime this week, perform two random acts of kindness — one for a friend or acquaintance, and another for a stranger. It’s up to you what you do, but here are some ideas:
Pay for a stranger’s order at a shop or something… Give someone a compliment. Help a coworker complete a task. Bring a family member a tasty treat or beverage.
Leave a friend a nice note: Whatever it is, do it with the sole purpose of benefiting the other person. Don’t think about or anticipate receiving anything in return for your kindness.
Experience awe Inspire and fills your day with a sense of awe. Finding ways to achieve this feeling can expand your perception of time.
In one study, researchers showed that compared to reflecting on a happy event, reimagining an awe-inspiring event made people feel less hurried. It also made them behave as though they had more time — making them more willing to volunteer their time for a charity.
Fit one of these experiences into your week too:
Socialinteractions: Whether through physical intimacy, eye-opening conversation, or cradling a newborn, our interpersonal relationships extend us beyond ourselves.
Being in nature: Take a stroll your neighborhood park. Look up at the moon. Catch the golden-pink glow of dawn or dusk, and you’ll feel less rushed.
Witnessing accomplishment: Tremendous inspiration can be found in individual achievement. Watching a skillfully executed athletic feat, for example, can open our eyes to the magnificent possibilities of humanity. During moments of awe, absolutely nothing feels limiting — certainly not the minutiae of the day’s schedule.
