What do you do when you come home from work after a long day? For most people, it involves taking off their shoes and jackets and sprawling over their sofa. Of course, depending on the lifestyle you lead and the responsibilities you have, this might not be possible. You may have to cook dinner for the kids, check in with those you’re caring for, or do one of a thousand other duties you have planned to the minute.
For that reason, when most people have free time to enjoy, they tend to relax and rest as much as possible. That might involve enjoying a nap, unwinding in front of the television, going to see a movie, or just cooking a nice simple dinner and relaxing with a post-bath soak.
All of this is fine. You won’t hear us denigrate you for something so necessary and lovely after a long week (or month, or year). That being said, it’s worth asking if being a little more “productive” with your free time can be helpful. But don’t worry, we’re not going to advocate for you working hard on a side hustle or other focus. Only by taking your free time as seriously as you do your responsibilities (or perhaps sincerely would be a better word), you may get more about it and feel more deeply replenished.
Let’s consider some ways that might be true:
Consider Focus Games Like Chess
Chess might seem like a stuffy old game at this point, but it’s actually pretty great for sharpening the mind. People who play chess often find themselves getting better at focusing on another thing because it trains our memory recall and predictive capabilities – some have even called it a workout for the brain, but way more fun than doing math problems.
Chess can be played online now, so it’s easy to find opponents anytime or just enjoy an offline match without pressure. Better yet, focus of that kind can help you relax after a long day, which sounds unconventional, but it’s true because it causes you to focus on one thing without distractions or rumination.
Set “Time Blocks” For Relaxation Without Distraction
Relaxation might seem like the opposite of going to work and planning your day. After all, shouldn’t relaxing just happen naturally? But think about it – how often does “just a quick check” of the phone turn into an hour of scrolling? We spend this time one way or another, so making sure you enjoy as much free time as you have can feel restorative.
Entrepreneurs have recently been using this approach called “time blocks” to segment their day. Put simply, they set time allotments to work on one thing and one thing only, to fully invest themselves in it without distracting or spinning plates. You can do this by scheduling relaxation time, as through that it becomes more intentional. This could mean setting aside an hour to read or maybe dedicating a whole evening to a hobby without any interruptions.
Turn Off The Non-Emergency Smartphone Pings
Smartphones are great, but those constant pings can be a real nightmare. We’ve all had that feeling of frustration as we’ve constantly been messaged or there’s a heavy news day. It’s like they’re designed to keep us on edge all the time – and in many cases they actually are. I
So, turning off non-emergency notifications can make a huge difference in how relaxed you feel. Sure, it might feel weird at first, like you’re missing out on something. But most of those notifications aren’t actually urgent. People have found that they feel a lot calmer when they’re not constantly being pulled back to their phones. You can also set up emergency contacts to always receive a ping from, so if a family member needs to speak to you, you won’t just ignore them. This also means coming away from social media if you can.
Get Lost In A Great Book
Getting lost in a good book can feel like its own separate timeline, especially if a narrative really hooks you. Put simply, it’s like the rest of the world fades away for a bit. Reading can be a great way to unwind that doesn’t involve staring at a screen, and that’s a victory in 2024 sadly enough.
It really doesn’t matter if it’s a thrilling novel you prefer or a fascinating non-fiction book, even a comic work – whatever grabs your interest. Some people find that reading before bed helps them sleep better and helps veer them away from UV light. Make reading a habit and we can promise your free time will feel more substantive and refreshing. Better yet – you can do it in the bath or enjoy audiobooks on your daily walks.
With this advice, you’ll be certain to be as productive as possible in your free time.