‘I’m bored’ took on a new meaning in 2020 as people across the globe were ‘locked’ in at home as they have never been before in modern history. New an innovative ways to keep entertained and pass the hours created new enterprises and YouTube and Zoom went wild.
And some people just kept ‘busy’.
Now, new research shows people who pursue meaningful activities – things they enjoy doing – during lockdown feel more satisfied than those who simply keep themselves busy.
The study, published in PLOS ONE, shows you’re better off doing what you love and adapting it to suit social distancing, like swapping your regular morning walk with friends for a zoom exercise session.
Simply increasing your level of activity by doing mindless busywork will leave you unsettled and unsatisfied.
Continue what you enjoyed before lockdown
Co-lead researcher Dr Lauren Saling from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia said while novelty lockdown activities – like baking or painting – have their place, trying to continue what you enjoyed before lockdown can be more rewarding.
‘Busyness might be distracting but it won’t necessarily be fulfilling,’ she said.
‘Rather, think about what activities you miss most and try and find a way of doing them.’
Survey participants rated their level of wellbeing as it was during social distancing and retrospectively one month beforehand.
They also indicated how much time they spent engaged in various activities and nominated how important each activity was for them.
Although participants reported feeling more positive emotions while doing novelty ‘meaningless’ activities like binge watching TV, they also felt more negative emotions – they felt unhappy just as much as they felt happy.
The virtual alternatives
But when substituting activities enjoyed before lockdown – like dining with friends – for a virtual alternative, their positive and negative emotions were more subdued.
Saling said busyness riles you up, prompting you to change your behaviour, but meaningful activity – doing what you enjoy – calms you down.
‘Extreme emotions are not necessarily a good thing,’ she said.
‘Emotions are a mechanism to make you change your behaviour.
‘But when you’re doing what you love, it makes sense that you feel more balanced – simply keeping busy isn’t satisfying.’
Is keeping busy to stave off sadness a myth?
Saling said the study challenged assumptions that we are either happy or sad and that we can stave off sadness by keeping busy.
Rather, those who kept busy with mindless tasks felt more frustrated and even when they were happy felt less fulfilled.
‘The study showed positive and negative affect worked together, not as opposites,’ Saling said.
‘Respondents who simply stayed busy during lockdown reported an increase in both positive and negative emotions.
‘This heightened emotionality will tend to shift you away from activity in general and towards meaningful activity.’
The study also found the biggest change in positive emotions before and during lockdown was experienced by people aged under 40.
Saling said this was likely because it was harder for that age group to successfully substitute meaningful activities into a lockdown context.
Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19
The Global Carbon Budget is about to be refreshed, giving the world a critical insight into how efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are (or are not) progressing. Masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport from tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September. SW Police are urging festival-goers at this weekend’s music festival to celebrate in a safe and responsible manner, whilst also being aware of COVID-Safety measures. The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that to 4pm yesterday, Sunday May 22, there were 40 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU. The AEC says that voters who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 will be able to phone in their vote in the federal election. The Northern NSW Local Health District says that to 4pm yesterday, 15 May, 384 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the District, including 82 positive PCR tests and 302 positive rapid antigen tests. Volunteering Australia says volleys are the backbone of the country in times of crisis and emergency. Today there are 41 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with none of these in ICU. The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) reports that there are 37 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU. The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterday, 1 May, 274 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the area, including 56 positive PCR tests and 218 positive rapid antigen tests
Five graphs you need to see before the Global Carbon Budget...
Public transport mask mandate to end
NSW Police: be COVID-vigilant at Splendour in the Grass
COVID-19 update for the NNSWLHD – May 23
AEC says COVID voters can phone from home
COVID-19 update: May 16
It’s National Volunteer Week
COVID-19 update: May 9
COVID-19 update: May 6
COVID-19 update: Monday 2 May
