Study shows that Leisure time may determine your happiness
F.O.M.O. is a real thing; our phone usage had made our lives inefficiently convenient. We’re using abbreviations to simplify something that we want to say as if we were still on the phone, even in person. A 2019 study reveals that how we choose to spend our leisure time affects our happiness. Often for the worse.
Despite crime being the lowest in decades, unemployment rates being low, American’s should be happier than they were decades ago. But their not. How can F.O.M.O? exist in “first world society?” Materialistically we’re the wealthiest country in the world. People come from all over the world to live here.
One would think those missing out would-be citizens from “3rd world countries” or where opportunities are scarce. But what about the billions of people overseas who are content with life?. Those who live on less than a dollar a day? How do they spend their leisure time without a cell phone or being entertained? How did humanity survive for millions of years without cell phones?
Perhaps we have F.O.M.O. Wrong. The fear of missing out isn’t with other people, places, or things; it’s ourselves.
The further we run away from ourselves, the more f.o.m.o. Deceives us.
In a society with so many options, there’s an infinite possibility of distracting ourselves. Designed to keep users on their site, the endless scroll being the main component. It’s as if another devil is in our conscious giving us yet another temptation to overcome.
If everyone is “woke” today, why hasn’t the world truly changed?. Why is change a process that takes time? Everyone has to earn an income to survive. Thus leisure time is of the utmost importance.
For instance, you spend so much time with your employer; yet you have to entertain yourself during your “free time.” It’s a vicious cycle that weakens the spirit for real change not only in the world but within.
The more technologically advanced society becomes, the more options we have for leisure time. Yet Entertainment is killing our life span by nearly a decade. Furthermore, with cloud services, consumers download more apps and distractions onto their phones. When in reality, new doesn’t exist.
To make matters worse, the blue light from phones disrupts our circadian rhythms. The one time in the day we have to ourselves not to be distracted becomes disrupted. Sleep has a major influence on our mental health. Also, lack of sleep will determine how much human interaction we can handle as well
According to the study:
The inner voice that started as a whisper is now shouting. Yet we still ignore it.
In conclusion, by turning citizens into consumers, society has determined and predicated our usage of “free time” for us. The quality time within ourselves and others is our “free time.” Creating things of substance to contribute to society has positive effects on our mental health. Were taught to work for others and spend our leisure time making ourselves miserable.
Does your leisure time help assist with your goals in life?