I recently read a review article (Takiguchi, Kikutani, & Matsui, 2023) looking at the psychological impact of leisure across the lifespan. Three big takeaways stood out.<\/p>\n
First<\/strong>, leisure is best understood as the things we choose to do in our free time because they feel meaningful, enjoyable, or satisfying. The study emphasises that leisure is subjective \u2014 it isn\u2019t defined by the type of activity, but by the value the person places on it. What counts as leisure for you might not count as leisure for me. Whether it\u2019s sport, music, gaming, art, volunteering, or simply spending time with friends, leisure reflects who we are and how we like to spend our time outside of our obligations.<\/p>\n Second<\/strong>, leisure matters because it reliably supports two pillars of psychological functioning: subjective wellbeing and cognitive health. Across many studies, leisure has been shown to increase positive emotions, build resilience, strengthen social connection, and provide opportunities for autonomy, mastery, and meaning. It also contributes to cognitive functioning through mental stimulation, social engagement, and physical activity. While leisure isn\u2019t essential for basic survival, the authors describe it as a \u201ccrucial contributor toward a successful life.\u201d<\/p>\n Third<\/strong>, leisure choices made early in life shape how we function later on. The activities you engaged in as a child have likely influenced your interests and skills as an adult. And the choices you make now about how to use your spare time will shape how well you age. In this sense, leisure isn\u2019t just a life add\u2011on \u2014 it\u2019s one of the quiet forces that shapes our developmental trajectory.<\/p>\n I\u2019m old enough and ugly enough to have seen all three of these in my own life. I\u2019ve been fortunate to have had a number of leisure activities across the years (art, exercise, gardening, computers, music). I\u2019ve seen how they\u2019ve helped me develop useful skills, provided escape from daily challenges, and shaped later stages of my life.<\/p>\n For some of you, your leisure patterns are already in motion \u2014 music, sport, gaming, volunteering, art, gardening, hiking, coding. Breaks like the upcoming mid\u2011year break are a chance to deepen those interests.<\/p>\n For others, leisure might have been more accidental than intentional. If that\u2019s you, the mid\u2011year pause might be the perfect moment to explore something new.<\/p>\n One of the easiest ways to do that at university is through clubs. They\u2019re low\u2011pressure, low\u2011cost, social, and full of variety \u2014 sport, culture, creativity, activism, games, faith, performance, and more. If you\u2019re curious, the FUSA club list is a great place to browse: https:\/\/fusa.edu.au\/clubslist\/<\/a>. Someone from FUSA mentioned recently that clubs ran over 1500 events in 2025, so there\u2019s plenty happening.<\/p>\n To be clear, despite the title of the post, you don\u2019t have to join a club. One of the risks of discussing leisure in an academic way is turning it into another lifestyle factor you \u201cshould\u201d pay attention to, potentially stripping it of its fun. But if you\u2019re looking for something that\u2019s enjoyable now and quietly beneficial later, experimenting with leisure is a pretty good bet. Just focus on finding things you enjoy \u2014 not what other people (including me) tell you should enjoy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/student-health-and-well-being\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/71\/2026\/07\/leisure-activities.png\")
<\/p>\n[\u270d\ud83c\udffcIf you’d be interested in writing an article for BetterU on the interplay between your leisure life and your study life, please consider getting in touch – gareth.furber@flinders.edu.au]<\/h3>\n