Make Time for Enjoyable Distractions in 2023
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Chapter 1: Embracing Leisure in the New Year
As we welcome the New Year, it's essential to consider how we can incorporate enjoyable distractions into our lives. This guest post by Bryan Gentry from Idea Link encourages you to think about making time for activities that bring joy, whether it's binge-watching a show or enjoying your favorite music videos on YouTube. Whatever your preferred pastime, allocate time for it and indulge without guilt.
It's important to recognize that scheduling leisure can seem counterproductive, but it may actually enhance your overall well-being and help you achieve your broader objectives.
Section 1.1: The Power of Planned Distractions
Recent studies have explored the intricate relationship between distraction and our sense of fulfillment. In particular, a research paper I encountered reshaped my perspective on binge-watching. It revealed that engaging in this activity isn't inherently negative; the context—such as when you engage in it, your schedule, and the company you keep—plays a significant role.
The researchers conducted a survey involving 280 participants to examine how self-control and emotions interact during binge-watching sessions. They found that individuals with lower self-control experienced a temporary surge of happiness at the start, which later gave way to feelings of guilt and sadness as the hours passed. Conversely, those with higher self-control reported sustained happiness and lower feelings of boredom, guilt, and fatigue.
Key insights from the study included:
- Unplanned binge-watching often led to increased feelings of guilt and boredom, especially when it conflicted with other priorities.
- Participants with high self-control managed to organize their viewing habits so that they didn't interfere with their overarching goals.
Section 1.2: Understanding Binge-Watching Dynamics
The researchers distinguished between two types of binge-watching behaviors: "cringe-watching" and "feast-watching." Cringe-watching is characterized by being solitary, spontaneous, and distracted, resulting in more negative feelings. In contrast, feast-watching is intentional, social, and focused, leading to a more positive experience.
By planning your viewing as a group activity, you may find that it adds meaning to your life, rather than detracting from it.
Chapter 2: Timeboxing for Balance
In my journey of self-improvement, I came across Nir Eyal's concept of timeboxing—allocating specific periods for tasks based on our goals and values. As Eyal states, “By transforming our values into time, we ensure we devote time to what truly matters.”
Implementing a timebox calendar allows you to engage in leisure activities guilt-free. If watching a show like Stranger Things for three hours weekly brings you joy, make it a scheduled part of your routine.
I have started applying timeboxing more rigorously, setting dedicated times for various activities, including email, social media, exercise, and even for indulging in past procrastination habits like watching TV and reading webcomics.
Section 2.1: New Year’s Resolutions for Enjoyable Distractions
As the New Year approaches, I urge you to embrace the idea of incorporating enjoyable activities into your routine. Imagine returning to work and proclaiming, “I’m going to relax in front of the TV every Thursday night. Care to join me?”
Nir Eyal, a former Stanford lecturer and bestselling author, has made a significant impact in this area with his books Hooked and Indistractable, the latter of which has received numerous accolades and was recognized as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year. For those interested, Eyal also offers a free Indistractable workbook on his blog, NirAndFar.com.