Do You Feel Guilty Relaxing?

People who don't value leisure time are more prone to stress and mental health issues

If we want to feel good about ourselves, we're taught to be hyper productive. But that impossible to-do list needs one more item: have fun. Liderina/Shutterstock

In this busy, modern culture, there can be a lot of pressure to be on the go, doing something “productive.” This societal attitude can make us feel as though we’re wasting time whenever we engage in activities such as watching TV shows (or sports), having whimsical conversations with friends or family, or simply spending time outdoors relaxing.

I’ve felt this myself when doing something leisurely, which used to make me feel rather guilty. Although I knew it wasn’t particularly healthy to work every second from the time I hop out of bed in the morning to the time that I go to sleep at night, I’d still have this nagging feeling that I should be busier, doing more work-related activities, rather than “any of that fun stuff.”