Asian Scientist (Sep. 9, 2013) – How well retirees plan their free time is more important than the amount of free time on hand, according to a study conducted in Taiwan.
The study, published in Applied Research in Quality of Life, found that effective management of free time has a greater impact on a retiree’s quality of life than the amount of time the the person actually has for leisure activities.
The researchers studied the responses of 454 Taiwanese retirees to understand if there is a link between their management of free time and their overall quality of life.
For the study, free time was defined as those periods when people are under no obligation and can decide for themselves what to do. The retirees were asked about the goals they set for their free time, their general attitude towards it and how they schedule and manage it.
Previous studies have revealed that leisure time is important for older people, and that it has a positive influence on their quality of life, happiness and sense of peace. Other studies have also shown that a lack of planning can create problems such as boredom and an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle.
“Quality of life is not affected as much by the amount of free time that a retiree has, but on how effectively the person manages this time on hand,” said Wei-Ching Wang, the leader of the study.
“Therefore it is important to educate people on how to use their free time more effectively to improve quality of life.”
According to Wang, governments, community centers and service organizations should consider the introduction of guidance programs or leisure education that teach people the management techniques that they need to schedule their free time better and to make the most of their retirement life.
The article can be found at: Wang et al. (2013) Free Time Management Makes Better Retirement: A Case Study Of Retirees’ Quality Of Life in Taiwan.
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Source: Springer; Photo: ming1967/Flikcr/CC.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
