Putting leisure time to productive use

The greatest challenge, obviously, was to devise methods of staying physically fit, mentally alert and emotionally stable, given the trying circumstances. One had also to ward off the possibility of loneliness leading to ennui or, over time, even to depression. The trick lies in organising a challenge to one's faculties, the response to which can lead to a state of detachment from the harsh imperatives of the external environment

No one can argue with the fact, that the last one year has been a period during which the whole world has gone through a strange and hitherto unfamiliar, experience. No doubt, many of us, at one time or other earlier, have had the experience of being required to stay indoors and curtail our movements, on account of restrictions imposed by the authorities. Still, spending a whole year, more or less confined to one's home, while presenting a challenge, also proved to be surprisingly educating.

I use that word intentionally, because the period taught me a number of things, about life and relationships, which I had little time to dwell upon in the past. There was a vast amount of leisure. The pressure, either of having to receive visitors or to call on friends and relatives, was not there. Therefore the challenge actually proved to be an opportunity to indulge in hobbies which one had little time for earlier, and also to nurture neglected relationships.

The greatest challenge, obviously, was to devise methods of staying physically fit, mentally alert and emotionally stable, given the trying circumstances. One had also to ward off the possibility of loneliness leading to ennui or, over time, even to depression. The trick lay in organising a challenge to one's faculties, the response to which can lead to a state of detachment from the harsh imperatives of the external environment.

Just as the person next door does, I have my set of hobbies. They not only give me joy and pleasure, but also, simultaneously, help me to keep my body in condition, and my mind engaged. These include playing Solitaire on the computer, playing contract bridge with myself, using an appliance on the computer called Bridge Baron, watching movies etc.

One was also able to revisit items of the unfinished agenda, tasks such as completing the writing of books one had put off for some time, as well as devoting more time to mentor students aspiring for a career in the civil services. I have made a reference, earlier in these columns, to a concept called 'fractured time', which enables you to deal with unexpected spells of leisure by drawing upon a shelf of projects put on the back burner precisely for being drawn upon in such times.

Then, there is always the occasional request from a non-government organisation, or a charitable trust, to assist in the furtherance of their objectives. And, of course, requests from friends and relatives to clear hurdles in the clearance of their personal and professional problems, using my goodwill with the administrations of both the state and central governments. Therefore, what with one thing or other, one was able to keep one's head above water and, not merely survive, but actually enjoy an experience not quite what Shakespeare would have described as a "……… consummation devoutly to be wished".

I also frequently got in touch with colleagues, friends and relatives to find out how they were doing in coping with the demands of the situation. And was pleasantly surprised to find that they were thinking on the same lines as I was, discovering new ways not only of amusing themselves, but also sharpening one's wits end enjoying the adventure of making forays into new fields of knowledge (thanks to the internet), apart from perfecting their skills at old habits, while trying their hand at new ones.

All that was by way of introduction to the subject of the importance of hobbies. Hobbies not merely serve a means of combating boredom and fatigue, but also can prove beneficial in avoiding ailments that come with professional pressures or age, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, depression or impaired mental faculties. The benefits that come are not merely in terms of physical, mental and emotional rewards but also psychological. They, provide an opportunity to recharge one's batteries and , what is more, a nice source of 'eustress' a form of 'healthy stress' which everyone needs to remain feeling excited about life. A kind of 'joie de vivre', if you like.

There is, in fact, a new branch of psychology called' 'positive psychology', which has established that hobbies can be pleasurable and make life worthwhile, by virtue of the fact that they provide relaxation; and activities such as listening to music, painting, taking part in sports and games, surfing the internet, writing, fishing, to mention just a few, all belong to the category of hobbies.

Hobbies reward you best when practiced in a group or a circle of like-minded persons. The best part is that they can, in addition to all the advantages we have noted already, bring with them additional incomes, smoothen the process of transition to retirement, prevent wastage of time stave off the temptation of succumbing to bad habits. Above all, they help one grow spiritually through a process of improved self – confidence and self – esteem.

In short, hobbies are critical to making one's life worthwhile. And, no matter what hobby one chooses, the benefits can be surprisingly abundant. No wonder the saying goes, to use a worn-out cliché, "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!".

There is a flip side to the coin, however. Studies have shown that hobbies can have their negative points. For instance, activities such as rock climbing, skydiving, hiking or hunting can lead to a waste of time, besides exposing one to psychical danger. Similarly, video games may become addictive in the long run. There can, in other words, be such a thing as too much of a good thing.

Just as hobbies provide an outlet to stress and overwork, over-indulgence in them can also have counter-productive effects. Quite apart from that, hobbies or even regular healthy and desirable activities such as exercise, can become a sort of addiction. Which is why it is advised that one should be able to do without a scheduled activity once in a way, just for the sake of proving to oneself that one can live without it! The trick, therefore, lies, as in all other matters pertaining to life, in balance!

(The writer is former Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh)