Using leisure wisely

TIME MANAGEMENT Develop leisure interests such as reading, writing, music, karate, computers, languages or music so that you do not waste time in idle gossip, loitering about aimlessly or watching TV excessively.

NEW DELHI: One of the purposes of education is to teach youngsters to spend leisure time wisely. It is necessary to have diverse leisure interests such as reading, writing, music, karate, computers, languages or music, so that they do not waste time in idle gossip, loitering about, watching too much television or playing mobile games. In this context, it’s very important for parents and teachers to encourage youngsters to spend leisure time productively.

Another aspect is that since many children are nowadays overburdened with a heavy schedule that includes school, tuitions, homework and commuting, they are left with little free time. Whatever time they get should be creatively utilised so that their minds and bodies are rejuvenated. This School Times reporter reached out to a cross- section of students in Delhi-ncr to find out their views on these issues.

Armaan Mathur of Class 10, Birla Vidya Niketan, rightly said that since time does not wait for anyone, using it wisely and to the fullest is of vital importance.

“When we describe anyone as having been educated, we refer to a person whose knowledge is more practical and less bookish. He will use time wisely in the true sense of the word; he will expand his knowledge by interacting with people and learning from them. As an educated person, I also am dutybound to work for social uplift in my leisure time.”

Highlighting the role of education in this context, Aditi Negi, a Class 5 student of LBS Sr Sec School, RK Puram, said it is fundamental to a person’s all-round growth in the personal and professional spheres. “Education helps one take the right decisions in various areas including the wise use of leisure time through productive activities rather than unproductive ones such as an excess of TV, mobile games or surfing the Internet,” she said.aditi further added that while there are many areas which one’s leisure time can be spent productively, it varies from person-to-person, as well as depends upon one’s educational qualifications and hobbies. Giving examples of what she considers to be some productive ways to spend one’s leisure, she mentioned reading a good book, learning a foreign language, blogging, meditation, exercise, cooking or painting. Spending leisure time on productive things makes a person more positive and confident, she said.

Elaborating on the importance of leisure for rejuvenation, Mahalakshmi M Patil of Class 12, Basava International School, said that leisure is basically spending some time away from work and relaxing for a short duration of time. “We can spend free time in activities and hobbies such as walking, travelling, doing exercises, swimming, dancing, listening to music, surfing the Internet, blogging, photography or cooking. We can also collect stamps or do social work. Or we can read books and magazines to expand our knowledge. Leisure time can also be spent with the rest of one’s family, including grandparents, parents and siblings,” she said.

One can find free time even in our busy life. Niharika Garg of

Class 11, Army Public School,

MANY CHILDREN ARE NOWADAYS OVERBURDENED WITH A HEAVY SCHEDULE

THAT INCLUDES SCHOOL, TUITIONS, HOMEWORK AND COMMUTING, THEY ARE LEFT WITH LITTLE FREE TIME. WHATEVER TIME THEY GET MUST BE CREATIVELY UTILISED