One of the best things about being a human is that we have many different ways to enjoy our leisure time. We can sit down and read a book, take a walk outside, or go for a bike ride with friends. But even though there are so many fun things to do, it’s easy for boredom to settle in after a while. That’s why we’ve put together this list of some of the best ways you can make your free time more exciting and fun!
It’s been said that there are two types of people in the world: those who divide their time between work and leisure, and those who divide their time between leisure and work. The former group is well-rested, refreshed, and ready to face the challenges of each new day; the latter group struggles with chronic fatigue, a lack of focus at work, an inability to sleep soundly – in other words, a life out of balance.
The truth is this: it doesn’t have to be one or the other. You can enjoy your free time without sacrificing your productivity at work. Here are some ways you can make sure both sides get what they need from you so that you’ll thrive on both fronts!
1. Do Something New
If you find that you’re constantly repeating the same cycle of activities without gaining any new skills or knowledge, it’s time to do something new. Whether it’s taking up a new hobby, placing free bets online, going somewhere you’ve never been before, or enrolling in night classes at a local university, doing something new to enrich you mentally, emotionally, and physically is a great way to boost your enjoyment. This tip isn’t necessarily about “spoiling” yourself but you need to put yourself first to avoid burnout.
2. Track How You Spend Your Time Each Day
If you struggle to make time for things that are important to you, it’s not because your schedule is packed from morning to night. In all likelihood, the biggest problem is that you’re focusing on the wrong kinds of activities. If you aren’t aware that you’re slowly burning yourself out by going from one hectic activity to another without even taking a breath, then there’s no way for you to know whether or not something needs to change.
Take a look at all of the activities you did today and discover which ones felt pleasurable and invigorating, or draining and frustrating. By pinpointing where the feelings lie on the spectrum, you can start tailoring your leisure time to get more out of it in the future!
3. Surround Yourself With Positive People
When it comes down to it, who we spend our time with has more influence over us than anything else in our lives – which means if we surround ourselves with positive and encouraging people, we’ll feel more positive and encouraged ourselves. Try to spend time with those who lift you up and constantly remind yourself that there is no such thing as a “bad day.”
3. Incorporate Movement into Your Leisure Routine
When we think of ways to make our free time more exciting, physical activity isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind. However, recent studies have shown that spending time outdoors and exercising offers a myriad of mental and physical benefits.
When you exercise your body, you also stimulate your brain: exercises like hiking or jogging help us focus on the present moment. They help you to forget about what happened earlier today or what we need to do tomorrow; we’re here now and enjoying every single second as it happens. If you struggle with finding “me” time each day, then try incorporating just 15 minutes of outdoor activities into your routine-it’ll be well worth it!
4. Engage in Mindfulness Practices
Mindfulness has become an increasingly popular concept in recent years; however, many people still aren’t completely sure what it is.
Put simply, mindfulness is the act of focusing on the present moment and acknowledging your thoughts and feelings without judgment-to become fully aware of yourself in each new experience that comes your way. When something happens, rather than rushing to attach a label or judgmental adjective to it (good, bad), just sit back and let it be with no particular significance attached to it. The next time you’re walking through a big city, take a look at everything around you. Slow down the rush of everyone else around you and just take in your surroundings and how it makes you feel.
5. Establish Clear Boundaries Between Work and Play
This is one of the most important points on this list. If you feel guilty for spending time doing things that aren’t “productive” or related to your career, then establish some boundaries so you can enjoy free time guilt-free! These boundaries go both ways: Leave work at work when you leave the office and leave personal issues at home when you leave home.
6. Keep Your Free Time Sacred
When you don’t have much time to do things that are important to you, it can be difficult not to waste it on meaningless or unproductive activities like scrolling through social media feeds or watching TV. While these may not necessarily be “bad” for you, they’re certainly not positive either-and if this is what you fill your free moments with every single day, then chances are good that at least some of them could’ve been better spent.
Make sure to spend enough time relaxing and doing something productive each day; there’s nothing wrong with taking care of yourself, but make sure it’s intentional rather than an afterthought!
7. Set Goals and Reward Yourself Along the Way
One fun way to make leisure time more exciting is by tying it in with things you want to achieve during work hours. For example, if you’d more free time but need to become more productive at work, you could commit to writing a novel during your free time and reward yourself with something fun when it’s finished.
Leisure time can be a drag, but it doesn’t have to be. You could make things more exciting and fun by surrounding yourself with positive people, incorporating movement in your routine, engaging in mindfulness practices, establishing clear boundaries between work and playtime or keeping your free moments sacred. Or you could set goals for leisure time that are related to what you want to accomplish at work-and then reward yourself when they’re finished! Whatever strategy sounds best for you is the one worth trying out next.