Do you get stressed by doing nothing on a rest day? Do you feel the need to fill your agenda with activities, without a moment of rest? You may be afraid of leisure.
The word leisurephobia, devised in 2017 by Rafael Santandreu, a Spanish psychologist, combines the fear of not having something to do with current problems of self-improvement thatcontrary to being a reason for happiness for an achievement achieved, generates phobia when thinking about free time in the future.
The first act of leisurephobia is demonstrated when people reach the peak of their professional career and do not enjoy it. Instead, they resort to phrases like: ““I’m very busy” or “I have a full agenda” when it comes to moments of leisure..
The psychologist Moisés Suárez, points out in that:
“This is something quite common in today’s society because people try to keep most of their day and life busy, since they are afraid of having to face empty time.”
Symptoms
For those who experience this type of phobia, it is essential to have something to do, even on days of rest, so They will end up cooking or cleaning the house and will not allow themselves a moment of leisure watching a movie, reading a book or resting. These activities can cause anxiety.
Let us remember that anxiety is a feeling of fear and restlessness that is reflected in the sympathetic nervous system by increasing its intensity inside and giving a feeling of imminent danger in the future.
The need to be busy full time gives rise to the phobia of not having the day planned. In fact, these excessive thoughts of productivity and efficiency put gestures of self-love and rest before them.
Causes of leisurephobia
Since the industrial revolution, where the efficiency of production was rewarded (greater quantity and better results), society has replicated the feeling of being fulfilled with the abundance of obligations because they generate feelings of importance.
However, psychologist Suarez points out that the sense of achievement “It is an external reason to always go further and enjoy the process while achieving those set goals.”.
People exposed to leisurephobia feel an emotion of loneliness or emptiness when they cannot find a responsibility in a day, since they negatively interpret what they “should” be doing about what makes them happy.
Hence the importance of learning to control obligations and adopt habits of leisure and relaxation recommended by expert Moisés Suárez:
- Recognize: It is important to identify fear and be aware when accepting the situation you are going through. It’s okay to express how you feel and look for the cause of the problem.
- To look for help: Expressing emotions with a close person is the first step to releasing any feeling of fear. Verbalizing what makes you feel anxious, without shame or shame, will allow you to seek help from a professional and improve day after day.
- Lower expectations: Not generating high expectations will avoid disappointment and will not determine the rapid or slow progress of your goals.
- Have rest times: You need to take a break from your to-do list. Define a space to relax, without seeing the hours tick by on the clock and without blaming yourself for wasting time. This simple gesture of calm will avoid moments of anxiety.
- Flexibility: Don’t overload your work hours, open a space to share with family and friends. Your mind and body will thank you.
- Minimize the requirement: It is vital to set goals and deadlines and know how to recognize the limits of your effort; do not blame yourself if something does not go as planned.
At the end of the day, only you will be able to celebrate each goal achieved and feel proud of it, so reward yourself for “doing nothing” and share with your loved ones everything that makes you feel good.