Leisure, Health and Stress

Abstract

The term ‘leisure’ derives from the Latin “licere” meaning “ to be permitted”, and is defined in the modern dictionary as freedom from occupation, employment, or engagement. Leisure has meant different things in different cultures, and today, unfortunately, there is too little agreement as to what it does mean, and what it implies. Leisure is seen by many as freedom from work. Others view it as an instrument for social control, a status symbol, an organic necessity, a state of calm, quiet, contemplative dignity, or a spiritual aesthetic, cultural condition. No matter how one tries to modify the concept of leisure, ‘time’ is its essence. Leisure can no more be divorced from the element of ‘time’ than it can be completely separated from the function of ‘work’. Ultimately, leisure must be identified with ‘when’ quite as much if not more than, the ‘how’. This is not to deny, however, that it is the endless ways in which leisure can be used, for good or bad, which makes it significant.