In our days we do not have much free time. If you manage to spend some free time, the following tips will help you enjoy more.
Do not plan every minute
When you schedule each minute of your free time, you create anxiety in yourself, thus reducing the enjoyment of your free time. Also, when you select a specific day and time for an activity you are happy with, it can reduce your pleasure because this activity starts to seem like a duty to you. So instead of planning to see a friend at 5:00 pm. planned to see him sometime in the afternoon.
Put down your cell phone
According to a study by Kent State University, people who use their mobile phones for more than 10 hours a day feel more nervous and anxious during their free time than people who use their phones for about three hours. Researchers say people who are constantly on their phones tend to feel obligated to stay connected to them, which can cause stress even when they try to have fun or relax.
Take a picture
While it's not good to spend your life with your face stuck on a screen, taking pictures can give you special pleasure. In a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, volunteers participated in a pleasant activity such as eating an open space, taking a bus ride, or taking pictures. People who took photos largely outweighed all other activities as to how much pleasure they felt. So, take your cell phone and take photos whenever you can.
Do not change channels in ads
It may sound strange, but people who watch a project or an episode of ads enjoy the program more than people watching it without ads, according to a study by the Journal of Consumer Research. The authors of the study say viewers get used to the fun they feel while watching TV. Stopping the episode or work with ads raises the level of enjoyment when the program comes back after the ads.
Not so fast
A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research called volunteers to eat a widely popular food, such as ice cream, or to play a video game. Participants could either eat or play at their own pace or follow instructions on how quickly they could do it. People who followed the pace of their choice stated that they felt more pleasure than the other groups. Researchers argue that when we extend a pleasant activity, this makes the experience more efficient and results last longer.
He watched a drama
A comedy can probably make you laugh. But a sad movie can please you more. The key is to think about your loved ones rather than your own life as you watch the movie. In a study by Ohio State University, volunteers who attended a tragedy while thinking about their loved ones felt happier at the end of the film. But people who had egg-centered thoughts like "my life is not as bad as the people in the movie" did not have the same sense of happiness.
Make volunteering
Research has shown that offering your fellow human beings enhances your self-esteem, brings optimism, reduces stress, and simply makes you feel good. It is true that when we contribute to a purpose, we activate the same parts of the brain that activate when we eat or have sex.