Counterpoint: More Free Time Does Not Mean More Happiness
Everybody thinks at one time or another that more free time is the key to more happiness.
The reality is having free time has absolutely nothing to do with happiness. You could have free time because you lose your job, or break up with a significant other, or simply because you don’t have any hobbies. This would mean more free time, but would also mean there’s a huge void with nothing to fill it with. Is this free time bringing happiness? Of course not. In fact, having nothing to do in your free time can feel sickening.
Yes, there are really busy people in the world who would be happier having nothing to do. But this is actually the point. Free time is not what makes busy people happy. Being free to do what they want to do is what makes them happy, and for busy people that’s doing nothing. For everyone else, being free to do the things that are meaningful is what leads to more happiness. However, if you don’t have any meaningful activities to enjoy, then you have a big problem.
Purpose Not Free Time is the Key to Happiness
This is why living life with purpose is the ultimate cure for the lack of happiness. This may sound harsh, but it has to be said. When your free time is overwhelmingly made up of mind numbing activities such as binge watching shows, scrolling through apps, and living vicariously through others, you have a purpose problem not a free time problem.
Luckily though, purpose problems are easier to fix than free time problems. When you have a free time problem, you don’t even have time to work on your purpose. When you have a purpose problem, all you need is intention and commitment, which are free. It comes down to choosing to make your free time purposeful by doing purposeful things. What’s more, the first purposeful thing you should do is learn more about your strengths, motivations, and mindset. Or to put it differently, develop your self-awareness and know yourself better.
If you or someone you know has a purpose problem, I would love to help. Please contact me here and I will share specifics on how I can help get you or a loved one on a path to living a purpose driven life.