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Can you imagine a world without leisure and enjoyment? It
would be a bleak existence with people reduced to drudgery and no better
than animals. Unfortunately, even in today's world, people are often busy
with work and idleness, without knowing how to make use of their leisure
time.
Man has always been busy fulfilling his needs, but today, it's not just
about survival but also about acquisition. We're constantly in a rat race,
trying to keep up with the Joneses, acquiring more worldly goods, more money
to hoard and spend.
However, most of us do not feel happy when there is nothing to do. People
who are able to enjoy what they do and those who are able to do what they
enjoy are lucky. But even these people need a change. A person who works in
an office would welcome a walk in the evening, half an hour in the garden,
or a drink with a friend. And a person who works in a factory or in a field
would enjoy a visit to a restaurant, an hour to go through the newspaper, or
watch television. It's not just the nature of one's work that conditions
one's choice of recreational activities; intellectual and cultural
development is also an important factor.
Those who do not know how to enjoy their leisure time and do not allow
themselves to recoup lose their efficiency. No one can continue at the same
rate of efficiency over an indefinite period. Just as the body needs sleep,
the mind needs rest and change. Hobbies and recreational activities help to
recreate something which has been spent and utilized. People who are
perpetually engrossed in their work do not recreate that part of themselves
which is spent, and they may break down under the strain or merely tag along
automatically. They make poor conversationalists and do not have
well-integrated personalities. Over the years, they may lose their mental
alertness and become confined to the narrow limits of their jobs.
This is not to decry hard work; work is necessary, and only those who work
hard are able to achieve something. But at the same time, one must know how
to relax, even for a short period. Relaxation does not mean only sleeping or
idling; it also means finding something satisfying and meaningful to do.
Otherwise, life becomes monotonous and dull.
In conclusion, leisure and recreational activities are essential for mental
health and well-being. People should learn to enjoy their leisure time,
engage in meaningful activities, and take breaks from work to avoid burnout
and maintain their efficiency. |
