Leisure is defined as free time when one is not working (Veal, 1992). In 1948, the United
Nations General Assembly made the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 24 of the
declaration states that “Everyone has the right to rest, to enjoy free time, to a reasonable
limitation on the duration of work and periodically paid vacations.” The words “leisure”,
“sports”, “recreation” and “hobby” are often used interchangeably. However, there is a marked
difference between these terms. A sport is an organized physical activity. Recreation refers to all
those activities that people choose to do to refresh their bodies and minds and make their leisure
time more interesting and enjoyable (Khasnabis, Heinicke, & Achu, 2010). A hobby is
considered to be a regular activity that is done for enjoyment, typically during one’s leisure time.
The focus of this paper will be to expound on the importance of leisure and the relationship
between leisure and time management.
Time management is the conscious planning, use, and control of time (Cottrell, 2013).
Time is a nonrenewable resource making it invaluable. At the beginning of industrialization,
several time management beliefs were advanced. However, the advent of the 21st Century has led
experts and managers to reevaluate these beliefs and better define the goals of time management.
Good time management is about focusing on results and not activities. It involves being effective
and efficient as an individual not just being busy. The goal is to work smarter not harder (Mind
Tools, 2016). There is a need to analyze the importance of time management to understand how
it has become a key part of society in every aspect. Time management principles are applied in
schools, public institutions, private companies, and even households.
Importance of time management. Time management is an important tool for any worker.
Time is always a factor of money. For example, it is common for specialists to bill their services
on an hourly basis. Even in cases where the payment is based on the completion of the contract,
there is usually a timeline and a deadline to help keep the work focused. This means that
discipline in regards to time is paramount for any person as it helps to determine their
productivity. Time management helps in promoting the image of an individual or an
organization. Good time management is an indicator of professionalism. This promotes business
by increasing opportunities. Most importantly, time management leads to leisure. Without time
management, a person will always be busy at work. They will feel overwhelmed and it may lead
to poor performance. It is important to manage time to allow for leisure.
History of leisure. Leisure was historically viewed as a preserve for the wealthy in
society (Stearns, 2001). In the 19th Century, it became a status symbol. Those who could afford it
would choose to spend their time away from work as a show of class. This was the case in Great
Britain. In the United States, however, the culture was different. Americans worked harder, had
more money but they did not spare time for leisure. With the Industrial Revolution and the
emergence of the working class, the cultures began to change. Workers needed time to unwind
after work before heading home. The leisure industry emerged in the form of pubs and sports
clubs. As technology began to advance in the 20th Century, the leisure industry welcomed the
radio and the cinema (Mowat, 1955). Culture, technology, and economic ability are therefore
factors that affect leisure. Progressively, the out-of-work life of a worker has proven to be just as
important as their at-work life. The next question becomes, why is leisure important to the
individual and society?
