Atelic activities: what are they and why they matter

The word telic means 'moving towards an outcome or an end'.

For example, you study to get a degree which leads to a job. Or you start a side hustle to escape the 9-5 and build additional income.

People often carry out such activities to meet an end goal.

Atelic activities are quite the opposite. These are activities that don't move you forward towards some specific life goal.

And this post, we're going to explore atelic activities and why they matter. By the end of this post, you'll rethink how you spend your time and start living more in the present.

What atelic activities are

Let's look at a few examples of atelic activities to begin with:

• Reading a book for pleasure
• Going on a hike to enjoy nature
• Sitting down with a cup of tea
• Feeding the birds in a park
• Doodling
• Building things with blocks

The idea is that these activities are done for their own sake. You're not trying to make money or build your social media following. Not that you shouldn't.

And it's not that you can't carry out telic activities as atelic ones. Many people like to learn things, work hard, and push themselves in a workout because they love the process.

However, it's critical to indulge in activities that have no goal. Let's explore why in the rest of the post.

1. Reclaim leisure

Our society values the productivity ethos. So much so that even our leisure time must be put to productive use. Many people learn music, attend fitness workouts, or do other activities as a way to improve themselves.

Or they take on extra classes online or physically to go up the career ladder.

The problem with this approach is that it seeps into every area of our lives. We're no longer able to just relax and do nothing.

We feel guilty for not being productive and meeting some goal.

But atelic activities are crucial for our mental wellbeing. They help us relax, recharge, and come back to our responsibilities with a clear head.

And we need to reclaim leisure for what it is: time when we're not working towards something.

2. Connect with our emotions

In the world of work, we're often told to leave our emotions at the door. We're expected to be rational and logical in our decision-making.

But when we're only focused on productivity, we can lose touch with how we feel about things. We might not even know what we want in life.

Part of the reason is that we never give ourselves the time and space to process our emotions. We're too busy chasing after some goal.

But atelic activities give us an opportunity to connect with our emotions. They help us get in touch with how we feel about things and what we want in life.

And this is important for making decisions that are in line with our values.

3. Atelic activities help us live in the present

The thing about atelic activities is that they're often done in the moment. You're not thinking about the future or the past. You're just focused on the activity itself.

This helps us live in the present which is something that many people struggle with. We're always thinking about what's next on the to-do list or what we should be doing.

But atelic activities help us focus on the here and now. And this is important for our mental wellbeing. Studies have shown that living in the present can help reduce stress and anxiety.

4. We need balance in our lives

The truth is that we need both telic and atelic activities in our lives. It's important to have goals and work towards them. But it's also crucial to have time when we're not focused on anything in particular.

Otherwise, we can become too obsessed with productivity and achieving things. And this can lead to burnout and stress.

The key is to find a balance between the two. Make sure that you're spending enough time on atelic activities that help you relax and connect with your emotions.

And don't forget to enjoy the process, not just the end goal.

5. You're not obligated to be productive

One of the biggest myths about atelic activities is that they're a waste of time. But this couldn't be further from the truth.

Remember, you're not obligated to be productive all the time. And there's nothing wrong with taking a break from your responsibilities to do something that has no goal.

6. Experience more joy

There's something unpleasant about working on a hobby for money or always trying to meet a goal - it gives you the feeling that you'll never have enough. Or that you can never rest.

Turning every moment of rest or even using your hobbies to build a following or an online business will turn the things you like into something sour.

Joy and happiness come from living in the present and enjoying things for the sake of them. Atelic activities are a great way to do this.

Conclusion

Atelic activities have multiple benefits. Above all, they help us feel the joy of being alive. We don’t need to justify existing by being productive or doing useful things for future growth. Being present in the here and now can be more valuable than postponing happiness for some future event.

And we need to reclaim leisure for what it is: time when we're not working towards something.

So next time you find yourself with some free time, don't feel guilty about it. Just enjoy the moment and don't worry about being productive.

After all, atelic activities support our mental health and overall wellbeing. And these are more important than many things in life including earning a profit or winning accolades.

So go ahead and do something for the sheer joy of it. It's good for you!