Too much spare time is just as dangerous as not having enough.

Those who drive themselves to exhaustion all day to get away from job, house, children, and chores, and never have time for themselves, are not much worse off than those who have all the time necessary (and even more.) to dedicate to one's passions, care for one's health and mind, and laze. It may appear unbelievable, but research backs it up.

According to recent research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, having too much leisure time is almost as hazardous for your health as not having enough. In the beginning, as free time improves, so does one's sense of well-being, but only to a degree."People frequently moan about being too busy and wishing they had more time for themselves." Is more time, however, associated with more happiness? "We've discovered that working fewer hours correlates to more stress and lower subjective well-being," says Marissa Sharif of the University of Pennsylvania. "However, although having too little time is undesirable, having too much time isn't necessarily better."

The researchers examined data from over 21,700 Americans who took part in the American Time Use Survey between 2012 and 2013. Participants submitted a thorough record of their activities during the preceding 24 hours, including the time of day and length of each activity. They also measured their sense of well-being. Unsurprisingly, the findings reveal that having more free time increases well-being. However, after around two hours, the happiness level stabilized and began to fall.

The researchers also examined data from over 13,600 American workers who took part in the National Study of the Changing Workforce between 1992 and 2008. Among the poll questions was this: "On average, on the days you work, how many hours do you devote to your leisure time activities?" The findings demonstrate, once again, that free time is associated with higher levels of well-being, but only up to a certain point.

Two online trials involving over 6,000 individuals were used to further the study. In the first experiment, respondents were instructed to envision having a particular amount of free time each day for at least six months. Participants were randomized into three groups at random: those with little free time (15 minutes per day), those with a reasonable amount (3.5 hours per day), and those with a lot of spare time (seven hours). Participants were asked when they would have fun, happiness, and fulfillment.

People with too little and too much free time reported lower levels of happiness than those with a balanced amount. Those who were very occupied felt anxious, while those who were overly free felt unproductive.

In the second experiment, participants were instructed to envision having either 3.5 hours or 7 hours of free time. It has also been advised that they picture spending that time on constructive things like training or hobbies, rather than unproductive activities like watching TV.

When participating in unproductive activities, those with greater free time reported lower levels of well-being. However, when engaged in productive tasks, they felt fulfilled in the same way that individuals with a modest amount of spare time did.

"Our findings show that taking entire days off to fill at one's leisure can make a person unhappy," the scientists write. "Instead, people should aim for a reasonable amount of free time to spend as they see fit." However, when you have too much time on your hands, such as when you retire or lose your work, it is best to put it to good use ».

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Wero