Definition of Leisure Concept - Assignment Example

Journal Name Course Tutor’s Name Date Week 1 Reading Overview The study about leisure in week 1 covered the various definitions of the term. The emergent theme from the topic was that leisure was possible where there was free (or idle) time, and a free choice to utilise the time in ways that please the individual. From the reading, it is also clear that the roles or activities that one takes for leisure must be enjoyable, intrinsically motivated, and taken based on one’s free will. Discussion The Merriam Webster dictionary (2013) defines leisure as the “freedom provided by the cessation of activities; especially time free from work or duties”. The dictionary definition above notwithstanding, the week 1 topic revealed that the presence of free time is not always tantamount to leisure time; rather, for leisure to be realised, a person must choose to engage in activities that are enjoyable to him/her. In other words, leisure is better defined as an experience, rather than the presence of idle time in which a person is not obligated to attend to any duties. Out of one’s free will for example, and because he/she is internally motivated to do so because it is an enjoyable activity, a person may choose to teach at a local school in their free time. Own view Personally, I agree with the findings of week 1 because in addition to one undertaking leisure activities out of their own free will, it makes sense that a person should enjoy the same, and be intrinsically motivated to undertake such activities. A person who chooses to teach at the same school during their free time because he/she is motivated by the extra pay would not be considered to be engaging in a leisure activity however enjoyable he/she finds teaching to be. This however does not mean that a person who teaches during his/her free time, is intrinsically motivated to do so, enjoys the same and gets paid for his/her teaching role should not be considered as engaging in leisure activities. Such a scenario could only mean that some people are able to earn while engaging in leisure activities. Week 2 Reading Overview Week 2 reading contains the revelation that leisure enhances the quality of life that people lead. Specifically, the reading reveals that leisure brings enjoyment into life, and it is such enjoyment that enriches people’s lives beyond their material possessions and the amount of monies that they earn. Satisfaction also appears to be a major theme in week 2’s reading, and it appears that the jobs, the monies, and the luxuries can at times be unsatisfactory, especially if they do not lead to happiness. In the concluding segment, the reading underscores the need for education to help people attain a balance between work and life. Life in this case seems to refer to the time spent away from work. Discussion According to Prvu et al. (2009), the role of education in teaching people to utilise leisure effectively cannot be understated. The authors state that “leisure education is a component of therapeutic recreation that focuses on the development of leisure-related skills, attitudes, and knowledge to increase a person’s quality of life”. From the week 2 reading, and with the cited comments by Prvu et al. (2009) above, it would appear that a significant percentage of the population does not know the importance that leisure plays in giving them quality lives. Even those who know appear to either forget or ignore the same especially in pursuit of material possessions and what would be considered ‘better lives’. Unfortunately, the quality of one’s life decreases once they stop enjoying it, and its only the enjoyable activities (often taken during leisure) that can enhance the quality. Own view I find it interesting that leisure – which should be intrinsically motivated as indicated in reading 1 – should require education as indicated in reading 2, in order for people to realise its importance in their lives. Understandably however, people can simply forget to have fun or enjoy life as they become too engaged in work, and as they pursue material possessions. In such cases, it would be education’s role to remind them that there is more to life than work. Week 3 Reading Overview The readings in week 3 collectively indicate that leisure has advantages and some disadvantages. The major advantages of leisure are related to a quality lifestyle, which helps people become more productive even in non-leisure activities. The benefits of leisure are reportedly evidently in better social, spiritual, psychological, economic and physical health. Combined, the improved health aspects lead to total wellness. On the counter side however, leisure has some downsides, which include the possibility of socially excluding some groups, forced consumerism, and forms of leisure that are not acceptable by all. Discussion The importance of leisure time for purposes of alleviating stress through providing people with opportunities for rest and relaxation has been reiterated by Byrne, Nixon, Mayock and Whyte (2006). The challenges of consumerism as indicated in reading 3 have however been highlighted by Roberts (2010, p. 2), who indicated that “leisure spending has been growing strongly, much more strongly that the growth of leisure time...” Roche (2000) further observes that activities that were previously considered fun and interactive have become highly commercialised and as a result, are devoid of fun since they have become highly competitive. On a different perspective related to social exclusion, Byrne et al. (2006) observe that the differentials of how leisure needs of young people living in different communities are met expose them to possibilities of social exclusion. While young people from affluent communities are able to access sophisticated leisure activities, those from disadvantaged communities are only able to access basic leisure activities. Such differentials hence create social exclusion tendencies, which make people from either side of the divide face challenges interacting with a different community other than their own. In relation to morality, Skeggs (1999, p. 213) observes that some spaces considered by some as suitable for use in leisure (e.g. gay and lesbian spaces) “cannot be used for leisure”, since they contravene the morality of some women and men in the society. From reading 3, one gets the impression that while the advantages of leisure are universal, the disadvantages affect individuals or groups. Own view Personally, I am convinced that the disadvantages of leisure are manageable and should in no way prevent people from engaging in activities of their choice. Those who lament the commercialisation of athletic activities for example, have the choice to participate in the same purely for non-competitive leisure reasons. Week 4 Reading Overview This reading offers insight into the contributions that leisure has towards health and wellness. Specifically, the reading indicates that leisure cushions people from personal stress, which is inevitably encountered in life. Using the view that health is the absence of illness, the reading demonstrates that people can reduce their chances of falling ill through engaging in leisure activities since by so doing, they alleviate their stress levels and attain a balance in life. Discussion According to Caldwell (2010), leisure provides the diversion, remediation, and adjustments that people need to deal with everyday stress. As a result, Caldwell (2010) observes that leisure contributes to emotional, cognitive, social and physical health by acting as the therapy that so many people need to overcome the stress and strain of everyday life. Haworth (2004, p. 168) observes that the high stress levels in modern living are associated with “long hours of work, increasing workloads, changing work practices and job insecurity”. Despite the stress levels that people are exposed to, Iso-Ahola and Mannell (2004) observe that people can control how they lead their daily lives, and by so doing, they can control their stress levels and by extension their health. The authors specifically indicate that “much of what is controllable about lifestyle is leisure-related” (Iso-Ahola & Mannell 2004, p. 199). This observation is informed by the understanding that while one may not have much control over what happens at work, they have control over what they do in their free time. The link between health and leisure is notably more evident to people who believe that they can shape their health statuses through their actions. Such people eat well, exercise, and engage in other life-enhancing activities. In contradistinction, people who believe that their health is reactive are more likely to spend their leisure times engaging in sedentary lifestyles, which may not necessary benefit their health. Own view The argument that leisure time enhances the general wellbeing of a person is debatable. While it is possible that one can obtain wellness in the physical, mental, psychological and the spiritual aspects, I think the choice of leisure activities determines whether or not one attains such wellness. A person who for example chooses to go for wild parties where alcohol and drugs are served may not enhance his or her health through such activities. Week 5 Reading Overview The reading in week 5 indicates that leisure activities are increasingly becoming individualised, and by so doing, leisure providers and policy makers have to prepare themselves to accommodate the demands of a society whose preferences are shifting from the traditional structured activities, to the casual and unstructured activities. The article suggests that rather than keenly managing leisure facilities, leisure service providers should concentrate more on facilitating opportunities for those who wish to individualise the activities. With the move to individualised leisure, the reading indicates that the exact manner of addressing individualised leisure by local communities requires further consideration. Discussion The varying interests of young people who are often targeted by the public and not-for profit sectors, raise the need for an equally varying array of options to be considered. If indeed the public and the not-for-profit sectors intend to encourage young people to use their leisure time in activities that are legal and socially acceptable, then it is only natural that they would act as facilitators for young people to engage in the activities of their choice. In a World Youth Report (2003) of the UN, it is indicated that leisure “activities should vary to address the broad range of young people’s interests and needs, should adhere to what is known about supporting development, and should strive to offer outlets and support...” Notably however, it would take the concerted efforts of the public sector, the not-for-profit sector and the private sector to provide a wide range of leisure activities. Such would include free or paid-for sports and entertainment, which should provide young people with opportunities to relax, find cultural enrichment and entertain themselves. Own view While the public and not-for-profit sectors may be limited in the range of leisure activities they can offer, the private sector should be willing accept more suggestions regarding new leisure activities. Extreme sports for example would have been too risky an activity for the public or not-for-profit sectors to support, but the private sector has found ways of packaging the same to appeal to people who are daring enough to engage in the same. Combined, the private sector (which can be represented by individual leisure activity entrepreneurs), the public sector, and the not-for-profit sector should ensure that each community has a range of activities that the youth can engage in for leisure. References Byrne, T, Nixon, E, Mayock, P & Whyte, J 2006, ‘Free time and leisure needs of young people in disadvantaged communities’, Combat Poverty Agency Working Paper Series, No. 06/02. Caldwell, L L 2010, ‘Leisure and health: Why is leisure therapeutic?’ British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 7-26. Haworth, J T 2004, ‘Work, leisure and well-being’, In Haworth, J T, &Veal, A J (Eds.), Work and Leisure, Routledge, London, pp. 168 -183. Iso-Ahola, S &Mannell, R C 2004, ‘Leisure and health’, In Haworth, J. T., &Veal, A. J (Eds.), Work and Leisure, Routledge, London, pp. 184-199. Merriam-Webster 2013, ‘Leisure’, An Encyclopaedia Britannica Company, viewed 10 April 2013, < http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leisure>. Prvu, J, Navar, N, Yaffe, R, & Haggar, H. 2009, ‘The effects of leisure education on leisure satisfaction, leisure participation, and self-confidence for individuals with brain injury’, viewed 10 April, 2013, . Roberts, K 2010, ‘Sociology of leisure’, Sociapedia.isa, pp. 1-13. Roche, M 2000, mega-events and modernity, Routledge, London. Skeggs, B 1999, ‘Matter out of place: Visibility and sexualities in leisure spaces’, Leisure studies, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 213-232. World Youth Report 2003,’ Rethinking leisure time: Expanding opportunities for young people & communities’, Chapter 8 UNYIN Documents, pp. 213-247, viewed 10 April 2013, Read More