My personal leisure philosophy is that leisure is a state of mind as well as an activity. It is about making time for yourself and having fun without the stress of everyday life. I believe that leisure is essential for human function, especially for students. Leisure is about a healthy mind and body. It is about each individual 's wants and needs, and the balance between them and the rest of their lives. Another important leisure factor for me is being part of nature. While I do watch television and participate in other indoor activities during leisure time, I feel that the most meaningful leisure time is spent outdoors. In order for something to be a "leisure activity" it should be either challenging or stimulating. I also …show more content…
If I was not working or studying I know I would have the resources to exercise regularly.
I found the following excerpt important because as mentioned previously, I want my personal life to reflect my academic life. This proves that being active is beneficial to my mental state and is not hurting my studies in any way. Anderson and Stanek 's study found the following:
Exercise can not only improve stress symptoms but also improve cognitive function through participation in PA during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The ATSs in our study participated in more PA than the general population, and based on a recent systematic review, this could lead to better academic performance. Results from the review suggested that more than 50% of all associations between PA and academic achievement were positive, whereas only 1.5% were negative; the remaining 48% showed no association. …show more content…
I find it hard to juggle my classes and working without losing time with my friends or for activities. When one part of my life is lacking the imbalance makes me uneasy and everything suffers. Some activities that would allow me to reduce stress could include meditation, massage, reading, running or dancing. Anything that is takes my mind away from work or school helps to alleviate stress. I danced all through highschool and find it to be therapeutic if I am feeling extra anxious during the day. I do almost all of my leisure activities alone, so I think that joining a group sport could work as a stress coping mechanism. I would spend less time in my head and more time interacting with others. It would also be a great way to meet people and learn something new.
Cultural Influences
I am mixed-race and grew up in Saskatchewan. My Dad was born in Trinidad and loves running as well as soccer. He made sure I was active from a young age and encouraged me to participate in sports, especially track and field.
Conclusion
I should put more effort into streamlining my leisure philosophy, I learn many different viewpoints in my classes and it is hard to separate others ideas from my own. My profile also has room for improvement. In the future I want to spend less time alone and pursue other