Of Time, Work, and Leisure. If life is a waste of time, and time is a waste of life, why don't we all waste time and have the time of our life?

Of Time, Work, and LeisureOf Time, Work, and Leisure

If life is a waste of time, and time is a If life is a waste of time, and time is a waste of life, why don't we all waste waste of life, why don't we all waste time and have the time of our life?time and have the time of our life?

Overview of Today’s SessionOverview of Today’s Session

• Understanding how leisure is Understanding how leisure is shaped by shaped by timetime..

• Understanding how leisure is Understanding how leisure is shaped by shaped by workwork..

• Understanding how time, work Understanding how time, work and leisure and leisure mutuallymutually shape each shape each other.other.

TimeTime• Human-made phenomena which Human-made phenomena which

shapes our behavior; time is the shapes our behavior; time is the single most impact concept we single most impact concept we have in our lives--it is not an have in our lives--it is not an abstract concept, but a very abstract concept, but a very personal, real and emotional personal, real and emotional concept.concept.

• http://www.bobborst.com/funstuff/celebrity-salary-clock (Salary Clock) (Salary Clock)

http://www.bobborst.com/funstuff/celebrity-salary-clock

http://www.bobborst.com/funstuff/celebrity-salary-clock

Time PhrasesTime Phrases

• How do we relate to time? Think of all of How do we relate to time? Think of all of the actions and emotions we attribute to the actions and emotions we attribute to time….we relate to time through action…time….we relate to time through action…e.g. kill time, waste time, spend time….e.g. kill time, waste time, spend time….

• Can you think of other phrases that are Can you think of other phrases that are associated with our perception of time?associated with our perception of time?

Four Types of TimeFour Types of Time• Linear Time:Linear Time: Time moves in a straight line.Time moves in a straight line.

• Cyclical Time:Cyclical Time: Ancient people’s time; Ancient people’s time; recurring time which originates in nature.recurring time which originates in nature.

• Biological Time:Biological Time: An organism’s internal An organism’s internal awareness of time; circadian rhythm.awareness of time; circadian rhythm.

• Social/Cultural Time:Social/Cultural Time: Daily schedule; TV Daily schedule; TV shows; events; waiting in lines.shows; events; waiting in lines.

The relationship between time and The relationship between time and leisure is shaped by 4 factors:leisure is shaped by 4 factors:

1.1. Personal perceptions of free time.Personal perceptions of free time.

– Privilege, opportunity, empty space to fill, Privilege, opportunity, empty space to fill,

personal possession.personal possession.

2.2. Adherence to clock time.Adherence to clock time.

– Clock can be a tyrant against leisureClock can be a tyrant against leisure

The relationship between time and The relationship between time and leisure is shaped by 4 factors:leisure is shaped by 4 factors:

3.3. The time needs of leisure activities.The time needs of leisure activities.

– Activities that take too long are displaced Activities that take too long are displaced

with shorter-time activities.with shorter-time activities.

4.4. Culture’s time sufficiency.Culture’s time sufficiency.

– As welfare increases…life becomes more As welfare increases…life becomes more

hectic and time scarce.hectic and time scarce.

Time TyranniesTime Tyrannies

• Time UrgencyTime Urgency– Always feeling rushedAlways feeling rushed

– 62% reported stress because they didn’t have 62% reported stress because they didn’t have time to get everything donetime to get everything done

– Participating hurriedly in an activityParticipating hurriedly in an activity

Time Urgency SurveyTime Urgency Survey

Indicate how many of these statements are true about you….Indicate how many of these statements are true about you….

1.1. Other people consider me a rushed personOther people consider me a rushed person True or FalseTrue or False

2.2. I feel anxious whenever I am idleI feel anxious whenever I am idle True or FalseTrue or False

3.3. I become irritated when I must wait for somethingI become irritated when I must wait for something True or FalseTrue or False

4.4. I enjoy working against deadlinesI enjoy working against deadlines True or FalseTrue or False

5.5. I often race against time even when there is no I often race against time even when there is no True or False True or False reason to. reason to.

6.6. Sometimes my schedule seems overwhelmingSometimes my schedule seems overwhelming True or FalseTrue or False

7.7. I don’t feel like I have time to take a weekend offI don’t feel like I have time to take a weekend off True or FalseTrue or False

8.8. I perform my best when I have a lot to doI perform my best when I have a lot to do True or FalseTrue or False

9.9. I often interrupt people when they are talkingI often interrupt people when they are talking True or FalseTrue or False

10.10. I usually move about my day in a hurryI usually move about my day in a hurry True or FalseTrue or False

Time Urgency SurveyTime Urgency Survey

Scoring:Scoring:

Give yourself one point for every TRUE Give yourself one point for every TRUE response….add these points up.response….add these points up.

0 – 20 – 2 No time urgencyNo time urgency

3 – 63 – 6 Moderate time urgencyModerate time urgency7 – 10 Extreme time urgency7 – 10 Extreme time urgency

Time TyranniesTime Tyrannies

• Time DeepeningTime Deepening– Doing several activities at the same timeDoing several activities at the same time

Discussion Discussion Subject – “Role of Leisure”

Take a look at how you’ve spent your time in the last Take a look at how you’ve spent your time in the last two-week period. Estimate the number of hours two-week period. Estimate the number of hours you spent sleeping, working, studying, and you spent sleeping, working, studying, and participating in leisure activities for weekdays, participating in leisure activities for weekdays, and then do the same for weekend days.and then do the same for weekend days.

– Based on this information what role leisure plays in Based on this information what role leisure plays in

your life?your life?• What changes do you want to make (if any). What changes do you want to make (if any).

Work and LeisureWork and Leisure• Why do people work? Do people “live to work” or Why do people work? Do people “live to work” or

“work to live” Explain.“work to live” Explain.

• Is there a difference in leisure behavior of Is there a difference in leisure behavior of professionals and hourly wage workers. Does work professionals and hourly wage workers. Does work determine leisure? Explain.determine leisure? Explain.

• How do you think most people would rank the How do you think most people would rank the following in terms of importance:following in terms of importance:– MarriageMarriage– FamilyFamily– WorkWork

• 80% of Americans responded that marriage and 80% of Americans responded that marriage and family are most important and materialistic family are most important and materialistic concerns rate lowest.concerns rate lowest.

• However, American spend 10-12 hours less per However, American spend 10-12 hours less per week with their children than they did 25 years week with their children than they did 25 years ago.ago.

• Furthermore, survey results indicate that Furthermore, survey results indicate that American workers would rather work more American workers would rather work more hours, not less, whereas German workers, who hours, not less, whereas German workers, who already work 15% less hours than their already work 15% less hours than their American counterparts, would rather work less. American counterparts, would rather work less.

Vacek (1994)Vacek (1994)

Simple LifeSimple Life• Some American are willing to work less, earn less Some American are willing to work less, earn less

money, live more simply and have more leisure.money, live more simply and have more leisure.

• Lewis (1995) reports that several million Americans Lewis (1995) reports that several million Americans are “downshifting,” or choosing “voluntary are “downshifting,” or choosing “voluntary simplicity” in other words, working less and simplicity” in other words, working less and enjoying more leisure. enjoying more leisure.

• However, Paulsen (1994) survey indicates that only However, Paulsen (1994) survey indicates that only only 33% of Americans would be willing to take a only 33% of Americans would be willing to take a 20% cut in income if they could work fewer hours.20% cut in income if they could work fewer hours.

Changing Nature of WorkChanging Nature of Work• The nature of work is changing….more women in workforce, more The nature of work is changing….more women in workforce, more

teenagers, decrease in older men in the workforce due to early teenagers, decrease in older men in the workforce due to early retirements.retirements.

• Flex Time: discretion to organize blocks of time that meet personal Flex Time: discretion to organize blocks of time that meet personal and work goals.and work goals.

• Flex Place: physical location may become irrelevant… home, car, Flex Place: physical location may become irrelevant… home, car, airplane, coffee shop, hotels, etc. due to computers, fax, internet, cell airplane, coffee shop, hotels, etc. due to computers, fax, internet, cell phones, etc.phones, etc.

• Flex Schedule: 4-10 hour days, certain number of days on the job and Flex Schedule: 4-10 hour days, certain number of days on the job and off.off.

• Job Sharing: two or more work together….morning/ afternoons, Mon-Job Sharing: two or more work together….morning/ afternoons, Mon-Tues/Wed-Thursday.Tues/Wed-Thursday.

• If you just won the Lottery (75 million dollars!) would you work at a If you just won the Lottery (75 million dollars!) would you work at a job?job?

– If you were given the opportunity to receive 90% of your salary (say $50,000) If you were given the opportunity to receive 90% of your salary (say $50,000) and not work at a job would you take it?and not work at a job would you take it?

• Why or why notWhy or why not

– If 75%…….would you take it?If 75%…….would you take it?


– If 50%…….would you take it?If 50%…….would you take it?


DiscussionDiscussion

Workaholism: No Life for the Workaholism: No Life for the Leisurelorn?Leisurelorn?

• Workaholics do not just live to work….it is Workaholics do not just live to work….it is a self-esteem based on meeting purely self-a self-esteem based on meeting purely self-imposed standards. imposed standards.

• When they have met a deadline or crisis, When they have met a deadline or crisis, they create new excuses for non-stop toil.they create new excuses for non-stop toil.


• Psychiatrists view workaholics as obsessive-Psychiatrists view workaholics as obsessive-compulsives who dread inactivity….while compulsives who dread inactivity….while some can be bullied into vacations, the true some can be bullied into vacations, the true workaholic shuns even Sundays away from the workaholic shuns even Sundays away from the job.job.

• Bizarre behavior is a serious social sickness Bizarre behavior is a serious social sickness and a distortion of the work ethic.and a distortion of the work ethic.


• A workaholic is someone who thinks fun is A workaholic is someone who thinks fun is an activity you have to work hard to have.an activity you have to work hard to have.

• Cursed with a compulsive drive to work, Cursed with a compulsive drive to work, they deny the existence of fatigue and push they deny the existence of fatigue and push themselves beyond reason….the roots of all themselves beyond reason….the roots of all this include fear of rejection and the need to this include fear of rejection and the need to be universally loved. be universally loved.


• Seldom see themselves as a special population in Seldom see themselves as a special population in dire need of help….primarily because their dire need of help….primarily because their condition is not merely condoned but commended condition is not merely condoned but commended by society.by society.

– A form of patriotismA form of patriotism– The way to win friends and influence peopleThe way to win friends and influence people– The way to be healthy, wealthy and wise The way to be healthy, wealthy and wise – Chosen as the one most likely to succeedChosen as the one most likely to succeed


• Is overwork that bad? What’s wrong with being a Is overwork that bad? What’s wrong with being a workaholic?workaholic?– Some say this is a mythSome say this is a myth

– If you work hard, you’ll have fewer heart attacks, fewer If you work hard, you’ll have fewer heart attacks, fewer strokes, fewer depressionsstrokes, fewer depressions

– It’s the pattern of go-stop-go that is harmful.It’s the pattern of go-stop-go that is harmful.

– Type A people don’t get heart disease until they reach Type A people don’t get heart disease until they reach their objective…. their objective….


• The workaholic has guilt over being idle…The workaholic has guilt over being idle…wasting time…..so they keep their guilt wasting time…..so they keep their guilt under control by being busy all the time.under control by being busy all the time.

• This stems from the Puritan work ethic.. If This stems from the Puritan work ethic.. If you’re a failure, you haven’t worked hard you’re a failure, you haven’t worked hard enough and done what was right.enough and done what was right.


• Workaholics must examine their sense of guilt Workaholics must examine their sense of guilt and realize they have earned the right to and realize they have earned the right to leisure.leisure.

• However, leisure poses problems for most However, leisure poses problems for most superworkers.superworkers.

• Many really don’t enjoy their leisure time and Many really don’t enjoy their leisure time and by and large their work is leisure. They view by and large their work is leisure. They view leisure as unproductive. leisure as unproductive.

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Of Time, Work, and Leisure. If life is a waste of time, and time is a waste of life, why don't we all waste time and have the time of our life?