Breaking the Bias: Why All Forms of Leisure Are Valid

Reclaiming the Value of Rest and Enjoyment in a Productive World

It’s the start of the weekend, and like many others, I find myself staring at my calendar, wondering what to do next. Across my nightstand lies a book I’ve been itching to read for days, a novel that promises new ideas and perspectives. A few inches from it sits the remote to my new 55-inch TV, beckoning me to relax and catch up on my favorite shows.

In deciding which to choose, I’m reminded of a recent conversation I had with two friends about how we use our free time and the pursuit of meaningful hobbies.

Friend A, a wildlife ecologist, spends her days doing research in the field. When she's off the clock, she prefers reading, climbing, and playing pickleball. Friend B, a computer scientist, also enjoys climbing and pickleball, but he spends much of his free time playing music, watching YouTube, and indulging in TV shows.

As I listened to them talk about their passions, I realized something: I had an implicit bias toward Friend A’s choice to prioritize reading over digital media like YouTube or TV. This realization prompted me to reflect on why I had such a preference and whether it was fair to view one form of leisure as more "worthy" than another.

The Bias Toward "Productive" Leisure

When I first became aware of this bias, I felt discomfort. I’ve always thought of myself as someone who strives to be impartial, working on my biases whenever I notice them. Left unchecked, I know biases can evolve into prejudice, breeding contempt and resentment. So when I caught myself dismissing some forms of leisure, I felt an immediate need to dig deeper.

Where did this bias come from? Why did I feel that certain activities, like reading, were inherently more valuable than others, like watching TV or gaming?

I realized that my perspective on my friends’ leisure choices wasn’t just about them—it reflected my relationship with time. I’ve always been hyper-aware of time passing, much like Whiterose in Mr. Robot (Season 2, Episode 5), a character who surrounds herself with clocks to emphasize that time never stops, even when nothing seems to be happening. This constant awareness weighs on me, making me feel like I need to optimize every second of my day.

While I don’t necessarily believe that leisure needs to serve a specific purpose—like productivity or fulfillment—I do feel the pressure to make the most of the time we have.

However, when we prioritize only one aspect of our lives, such as work or productivity, it creates an imbalance that will eventually reveal itself. And this is where my bias toward "productive" leisure comes into play. Society, and much of social media, tells us that only certain activities are valuable. We’re bombarded with messages that we should always be actively engaged, constantly working toward some form of self-improvement or success.

I often find myself feeling guilty when I’m not pursuing these so-called "worthy" goals. I think about the content curated for me on social media—how it tells me that the only worthwhile pursuits are those where I’m actively creating, working out, or learning.

But what about the simple act of resting, of allowing myself to unwind and enjoy a TV show or game without feeling like I’m wasting time?

Why the Bias Exists

This guilt stems from the capitalist framework we live in, where success is measured through productivity. From school to work, we are constantly evaluated by performance metrics—grades, exams, promotions. The ideal capitalist society is a meritocracy, rewarding those who do more in the least amount of time. Leisure that doesn’t directly contribute to economic growth or self-improvement is often dismissed as unproductive.

But this isn’t a universal truth. In more collectivist cultures, for example, there’s a greater acknowledgment of the value of community and rest. People in these societies understand that each individual has intrinsic worth, regardless of their economic output. It’s not about what you can produce—it’s about the role you play in your community, the connections you foster, and the well-being you share.

In capitalist societies, however, we see a trend where those who don’t or can’t contribute to the economy—such as the homeless or disabled—are often treated as undesirables. This creates a culture where leisure is only seen as valid if it’s contributing to something larger, like career growth or self-improvement.

Technology and the Changing Landscape of Leisure

Part of the reason we’re so dismissive of certain types of leisure, like watching TV or playing video games, comes from an outdated mindset that doesn’t recognize the value these activities can provide. It’s frustrating when older generations dismiss new technologies and platforms as distractions or "brain rot." Their refusal to adapt to new ways of learning and engaging with information doesn’t just affect them—it affects all of us.

Take YouTube, for example. While it’s often written off as a time-waster, the platform allows users to engage with information in ways that are meaningful and applicable to their lives. We still emphasize memory retention in education because there’s a market for it—many people don’t have access to the same knowledge frameworks, so they’re forced to prove themselves by demonstrating their ability to memorize information. But with tools like YouTube, AI, and search engines, we now have the ability to distill knowledge into bite-sized, practical bits that we can apply in real-time.

This has allowed me to engage with the world in ways that wouldn’t have been possible through traditional learning methods. Instead of having to sift through entire manuals or textbooks, I can search for exactly what I need, in the moment I need it. It’s not about hoarding knowledge—it’s about applying it when it’s relevant and meaningful.

The Value of Leisure as Personal Validation

Leisure, in whatever form we choose—whether it’s reading, gaming, watching TV, or scrolling through social media—is a form of self-expression and personal validation. It’s not about being rebellious or rejecting societal norms—it’s about finding joy in the things that bring us rest and peace.

When I engage in these activities, the enjoyment is definitely the first part. But there’s also a deeper recognition that I’m doing something for myself, something that no one else can do for me. Leisure provides conscious rest, a chance to let my mind relax and recharge.

Yet, because we still operate within a framework of productivity and shame, people often feel the need to justify their leisure choices. They feel like they have to prove that their downtime is "worth it." But each individual should be free to choose how they spend their time, without guilt or pressure to conform to some higher standard of productivity.

Conclusion: Embracing All Forms of Leisure

Ultimately, leisure is valuable in all its forms. It’s time to dismantle the idea that only certain activities are worthwhile. Whether you’re reading a book, watching TV, or gaming for hours, your leisure is valid because it brings you joy and rest. Life is rich, and so is our time. Instead of feeling guilty for how we spend our free moments, let’s embrace all aspects of our needs—honoring them without shame.