‘I don’t enjoy having free time, I don’t find any pleasure in having free time’
It might be good for you, it gives you perspective. ‘
This is a dialogue from The Crown, between Queen Elizabeth’s sister and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
It had me thinking not because I don’t like having free time but because I don’t struggle to have much. I am not one of those who say that they do not have time, that they work a lot, that they have a lot to do (I have a lot to do but I am glad about that, especially during this period of time). We all have 24 hours. But we can choose how to fill them up and I’m sure we can make time for what really matters. If we want to, of course. If not, we find excuses. I’m not, but I know when I fill my time and why I do it.
But the idea that it is good to give ourselves free time, in order to have the opportunity to see things from other perspectives is one that deserves all of the attention.
Nietzsche said that many great ideas pop up in our heads during walks. That’s when we allow ourselves to stop focusing on something, stop rushing against the clock, but to be part of the world, to mix with it, to participate in our life by being, not constantly looking for work.
But I wonder when was the last time we left free time for anything in particular but just for walks, disconnecting, not having a fixed schedule, enjoying the moment.
Before the pandemic, we had a transition time every day. It was the time to and from the office. On our way between two destinations, we would get into the work mood, and then we would detach, we would make up our minds, the eventual tension accumulated during the day would vanish.
Last year was one in which we were efficient, we worked harder, personal and professional space overlapped in many cases, but we kept strong, we did not let ourselves be defeated by the pandemic. But this state is prolonged, the hope that it ends quickly faded, and we need new energy, we need endurance, ideas, the ability to reposition ourselves, not to mention to learn constantly, to reinvent ourselves.
But in order to be able to reposition ourselves, it is necessary to stop, from time to time, to take a break, to let our minds wander wherever it wants, to enjoy the sun, walks, the sea, the mountains, parks, a good book, friends.
Here are some free time ideas:
Go for a drive, a walk in the park, on Calea Victoriei, wherever you enjoy
Go to a museum – how many of the museums in your city have you been to?
Go to a fair of Romanian creators – there are many who deserve all the attention
Take a walk in the botanical garden
Go out on a terrace with family, friends or even just with a book, as Parisians do
Take a ride on a scooter or bicycle
Think about what you liked to do when you were younger, what you were passionate about then; resume those activities (for example, playing the guitar, playing a sport)
Go to the sea or to the mountains by train
Look for a guided tour of parts of Bucharest or the city where you live
Take a tour of the bus that takes you around Bucharest and listen to the story of the places, like a tourist
Invite someone you haven’t talked to in a long time to a coffee shop in the city or at home
Go to an antique shop
Search online what’s happening in your city over the weekend – there are many events we don’t know much about
Do something you’ve never done before – carting, parachuting, ballooning, escape room, flight simulator, for example;
Go to a wine tasting
As much as possible, go to a theater
But I would like to find out about other ideas for free time. What do you?