New Research Warns Taking Leisure for Granted May Be Harmful

(Newswire.net — July 14, 2022) Orlando, FL — Today, experts are increasingly recommending some measures helpful in enhancing and protecting mental health like engaging in enjoyable activities. This is due to the fact that since the pandemic hit, the rates of stress, anxiety, and depression have worsened.

A new study has revealed that feeling like leisure is unproductive and wasteful may result in less happiness. It has further been found to lead to higher levels of depression and stress. 

The researchers in this series of studies looked into the impacts of a common belief in modern society and is that productivity is the ultimate goal and having fun is a waste of time.

“People who most strongly agreed with this belief not only enjoyed leisure less but also reported poorer mental health outcomes,” said Selin Malkoc, co-author of the study and associate professor of marketing at Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business.

“There is plenty of research which suggests that leisure has mental health benefits and that it can make us more productive and less stressed,” Malkoc added.

“But we find that if people start to believe that leisure is wasteful, they may end up being more depressed and more stressed.”

The findings of this interesting study were published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 

The good news is that some skeptical individuals could actually enjoy fun activities if leisure was not an end in itself, but part of a larger goal.

“If leisure can be framed as having some kind of productive goal, that helps people who think leisure is wasteful to get some of the same benefits,” said study co-author Rebecca Reczek, professor of marketing at Ohio State.

It is worth mentioning that in a study, 199 college students actually rated how much they enjoyed various leisure activities. They were also asked to complete assessments measuring their levels of depression, happiness, anxiety, and stress. 

Results have shown that the more the subjects believed leisure was wasteful, the less they enjoyed leisure activities.

Today, the rates of depression, stress, and anxiety continue to increase. This is why researchers strongly recommend resorting to some measures potentially helpful for brain health. 

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 This formula could deliver the healing goodness of the lion’s mane. This supplement is not just known for its superior quality but also for the customer satisfaction guarantees it comes with. (https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Lions-Mane-Mushroom-Capsules/dp/B07LGR1KN7).