The Workday Never Ends When Leisure Becomes Labor
8 days ago
- #work-life balance
- #leisure
- #productivity culture
- The '5 to 9' trend on TikTok showcases highly structured evening routines, mirroring work-like efficiency in leisure time.
- Leisure time is increasingly being conscripted into productivity, with activities like exercise, meal prep, and chores being meticulously scheduled.
- The videos reflect a broader cultural shift where leisure is seen as another shift to be optimized, rather than time for relaxation or spontaneity.
- Many creators use their leisure time to prepare for work, blurring the lines between personal and professional life.
- The concept of 'workism'—finding purpose and identity through work—pervades American culture, making it difficult to truly disconnect.
- Historically, leisure was seen as a space for personal fulfillment, but post-WWII, work became central to life's meaning.
- Some videos mock hyperproductivity, showing exhaustion and disengagement, yet work still dominates their free time.
- True leisure, according to philosophers, should be free from any connection to work, but this is rare in a work-centric culture.
- Policies like universal basic income or a four-day workweek could help shift the focus away from work, but a mindset change is also needed.
- Real self-care involves engaging with one's reality and finding meaning beyond productivity, unlike 'faux self-care' which is reactive to burnout.
- Moments of true leisure often involve unstructured time with others or nature, where worth isn't measured by output.