The Role of Leisure in Sustainable Development
47
have time to relax and regenerate, their ability to perform work and the level of work
performance declines. Therefore, from the employer’s point of view, it is important
to encourage the worker to leave the job at the right time or to take a break from
work, instead of working more than the determined limit of hours. It is important
for employees to learn that when the working time is over, they should leave their
workplace, computers/laptops and not answer the phone to perform work-related
tasks. This kind of balance is not easy to achieve, but employees must have the
courage to say ‘no’ and only agree to perform additional tasks in their leisure time
if they are important. Employees will not enjoy life if there is no balance between
work and private life. They will not be available to family members and friends,
and they may even release frustration on those they love. They can also suffer from
diseases and physical disorders resulting from chronic stress, such as heart disease,
alcoholism and even diabetes (Meenakshi et al. 2013).
5 Conclusions
The role of leisure time in sustainable development can be discussed in the context
of its balance with the natural environment, consumption of goods and services
and working time. The use of goods and services that leisure time is filled with
should take place in such a way as to bring an improvement in the quality of life,
while reducing the consumption of natural resources and energy and respecting
nature. In this way, future generations will also have the chance to use them. The
balance between working life and leisure time consists in accepting the fact that
these two areas of life are important to each other. Work and rest should be provided
regularly. The implementation of the concept of sustainable consumption in terms of
leisure time is possible provided that people change their attitudes from egocentric to
ecocentric, and choose such forms of leisure activities that bring satisfaction, take into
account the needs of other people and protect the natural environment. Sustainable
consumption does not mean consuming less, but in a different way that effectively
leads to an improvement in the quality of life. Also, the balance between working
and non-working life does not mean that you should work more or less. It means
people should work only to achieve satisfaction and happiness in these two spheres
of human life, i.e. the working and non-working time.
In speaking of leisure time and sustainable development, it is necessary to indicate
the contact points of these two areas that allow one to meet the needs associated with
rest and the development of interests in a way that will bring satisfaction to people
and will not cause harm to the natural environment through excessive consumption,
exploitation of the places of active rest, and doing everything in a hurry. The ‘slow’
trend may prove to be helpful here (Bombol 2010; Zalega 2013). ‘Slow life’ promotes
the slowing down of the daily pace of life in order to experience pleasant moments
more slowly and deeply. In addition to the trend of slowing down life, there are also
others that are associated with the conscious management of life, following your
own rhythm and needs. The ‘slow food’ trend promotes the celebration of regional
47
have time to relax and regenerate, their ability to perform work and the level of work
performance declines. Therefore, from the employer’s point of view, it is important
to encourage the worker to leave the job at the right time or to take a break from
work, instead of working more than the determined limit of hours. It is important
for employees to learn that when the working time is over, they should leave their
workplace, computers/laptops and not answer the phone to perform work-related
tasks. This kind of balance is not easy to achieve, but employees must have the
courage to say ‘no’ and only agree to perform additional tasks in their leisure time
if they are important. Employees will not enjoy life if there is no balance between
work and private life. They will not be available to family members and friends,
and they may even release frustration on those they love. They can also suffer from
diseases and physical disorders resulting from chronic stress, such as heart disease,
alcoholism and even diabetes (Meenakshi et al. 2013).
5 Conclusions
The role of leisure time in sustainable development can be discussed in the context
of its balance with the natural environment, consumption of goods and services
and working time. The use of goods and services that leisure time is filled with
should take place in such a way as to bring an improvement in the quality of life,
while reducing the consumption of natural resources and energy and respecting
nature. In this way, future generations will also have the chance to use them. The
balance between working life and leisure time consists in accepting the fact that
these two areas of life are important to each other. Work and rest should be provided
regularly. The implementation of the concept of sustainable consumption in terms of
leisure time is possible provided that people change their attitudes from egocentric to
ecocentric, and choose such forms of leisure activities that bring satisfaction, take into
account the needs of other people and protect the natural environment. Sustainable
consumption does not mean consuming less, but in a different way that effectively
leads to an improvement in the quality of life. Also, the balance between working
and non-working life does not mean that you should work more or less. It means
people should work only to achieve satisfaction and happiness in these two spheres
of human life, i.e. the working and non-working time.
In speaking of leisure time and sustainable development, it is necessary to indicate
the contact points of these two areas that allow one to meet the needs associated with
rest and the development of interests in a way that will bring satisfaction to people
and will not cause harm to the natural environment through excessive consumption,
exploitation of the places of active rest, and doing everything in a hurry. The ‘slow’
trend may prove to be helpful here (Bombol 2010; Zalega 2013). ‘Slow life’ promotes
the slowing down of the daily pace of life in order to experience pleasant moments
more slowly and deeply. In addition to the trend of slowing down life, there are also
others that are associated with the conscious management of life, following your
own rhythm and needs. The ‘slow food’ trend promotes the celebration of regional