We've all heard the phrase "use your time wisely" in our lives. How can we use our time "wisely"? In an increasingly urbanizing world, we are busier, required to do more to get into college or other higher academic institutions, or to get a job and do well at it. Because of that, things we do to relax, like reading a book, going out with friends or napping, are becoming rarer.
Doing something that doesn't quite directly help you reach your goal (like the things for relaxation) is often viewed as "wasting your time" because we only have limited time. But even if relaxing or having fun takes time away from being "productive", they shouldn't be considered "a waste of time". If we don't do things for fun, what is there to enjoy in life?
There have been numerous studies indicating how relaxation and going out with friends can improve your mental and physical health. Being able to take part in an enjoyable hobby or spend time with someone you enjoy being around can help release "feel good" hormones (荷尔蒙) that can reduce some stress in your daily life, thus improving physical health in the long run.
But of course, as a part-time hypocrite (伪善者) on this topic, sometimes when I find myself enjoying a book, playing a video game, or scrolling on TikTok, I get this awful feeling instantly after that I could have used that time to do something productive like taking textbook notes or finishing an assignment. Or maybe I would go out with my friends during the day and come back to my dorm just to think about how I could have used that time to study for an upcoming exam. We've all been there.
However, even if it isn't evident, doing those little things prevents us from burning out too fast. It creates some positive memories hanging in your mind that will hopefully get you through a tough patch. You need to relax in order to be productive later on. The popular concept of a work-life balance also tells us you should do things that you enjoy to keep the balance, and therefore, would not be considered "a waste of time".
