40
B. Kolny
English have two expressions: (French) le temps libre and le temps de loisir, (English)
free time and leisure time. Sociologists of time (e.g. Grazia 1994) strongly emphasized this difference. The first notion (le temps libre, free time) refers to the size of
time and its sections represented by quantitative measures, i.e., the clock time of
hours and minutes. The second one (le lemps de loisir, leisure time) means a whole
composed of non-productive activities. It is a time of value, internal relief, contemplation, peace, lack of haste, and freedom from duties and constraints. In this sense,
it is a way of life rather than a period of time (Tarkowska 2001).
In economics, leisure time is approached as a time of consumption in which
people satisfy their needs. The problem of balance in satisfying these needs arises
at the time of excessive consumption of material goods and services, with artificially created needs that do not lead to an improvement in the quality of life. Sometimes, while satisfying these needs, only the possession, multiplication and use of the
goods with no concern about other values are the most important issues for people,
regardless of social, ecological or individual costs (Jano´ s-Kresło 2008). Meeting the
needs in leisure time can take place at home (e.g. watching TV, resting, using the
computer, reading a book), in service-providing facilities/institutions (e.g. cinema,
theatre, fitness club, restaurant), as well as in the natural environment (e.g. forest,
park). Therefore, the concept of permanent and sustainable development—which
aims to integrate political, economic and social activities while maintaining natural
balance and durability of basic natural processes in order to guarantee the possibility
of meeting the needs of people both now and in the future—is becoming important
in the context of leisure time management (Journal of Laws 2001 No. 62 item 627).
Maintaining balance in the consumption of goods and services that fill up free
time is as important as having time free from the duties and necessities of life in
which this consumption is realized. Since the beginning of the formulation of the
concept of free time, several interpretations have evolved, including ‘freedom from
work’, freedom of leisure time, and the state of mind that accompanies free, usually
intellectual, activity (Truszkowska-Wojtkowiak 2012). Work and leisure time are two
inseparable facets of contemporary peoples’ lives. The integration of professional
with non-professional life is attracting increasingly more attention, because it offers
an alternative to the traditional approach, according to which both of these areas of
life are, and should be, separated.
The purpose of this chapter is to present the concept of leisure time in the context
of its balance with the natural environment, consumption of goods and services, and
working time.
2 Leisure Time and Sustainable Development
in the Context of the Natural Environment
Defining leisure time is a difficult task because, depending on the scientific discipline,
other aspects of the concept are highlighted. For example, from the point of view
B. Kolny
English have two expressions: (French) le temps libre and le temps de loisir, (English)
free time and leisure time. Sociologists of time (e.g. Grazia 1994) strongly emphasized this difference. The first notion (le temps libre, free time) refers to the size of
time and its sections represented by quantitative measures, i.e., the clock time of
hours and minutes. The second one (le lemps de loisir, leisure time) means a whole
composed of non-productive activities. It is a time of value, internal relief, contemplation, peace, lack of haste, and freedom from duties and constraints. In this sense,
it is a way of life rather than a period of time (Tarkowska 2001).
In economics, leisure time is approached as a time of consumption in which
people satisfy their needs. The problem of balance in satisfying these needs arises
at the time of excessive consumption of material goods and services, with artificially created needs that do not lead to an improvement in the quality of life. Sometimes, while satisfying these needs, only the possession, multiplication and use of the
goods with no concern about other values are the most important issues for people,
regardless of social, ecological or individual costs (Jano´ s-Kresło 2008). Meeting the
needs in leisure time can take place at home (e.g. watching TV, resting, using the
computer, reading a book), in service-providing facilities/institutions (e.g. cinema,
theatre, fitness club, restaurant), as well as in the natural environment (e.g. forest,
park). Therefore, the concept of permanent and sustainable development—which
aims to integrate political, economic and social activities while maintaining natural
balance and durability of basic natural processes in order to guarantee the possibility
of meeting the needs of people both now and in the future—is becoming important
in the context of leisure time management (Journal of Laws 2001 No. 62 item 627).
Maintaining balance in the consumption of goods and services that fill up free
time is as important as having time free from the duties and necessities of life in
which this consumption is realized. Since the beginning of the formulation of the
concept of free time, several interpretations have evolved, including ‘freedom from
work’, freedom of leisure time, and the state of mind that accompanies free, usually
intellectual, activity (Truszkowska-Wojtkowiak 2012). Work and leisure time are two
inseparable facets of contemporary peoples’ lives. The integration of professional
with non-professional life is attracting increasingly more attention, because it offers
an alternative to the traditional approach, according to which both of these areas of
life are, and should be, separated.
The purpose of this chapter is to present the concept of leisure time in the context
of its balance with the natural environment, consumption of goods and services, and
working time.
2 Leisure Time and Sustainable Development
in the Context of the Natural Environment
Defining leisure time is a difficult task because, depending on the scientific discipline,
other aspects of the concept are highlighted. For example, from the point of view