Some people prefer to plan activities for their free time very carefully. Others choose not to make any plans at all for their free time. Compare the benefits of planning free-time activities with the benefits of not making plans. Which do you prefer – planning or not planning for your leisure time?
Use specific reasons and examples to explain your choice.
While planning activities does allow one to maximize their time, there are also some benefits to not planning, such as allowing one to experience spontaneity and spontaneity in life. In general, I prefer not to make plans. I believe that spontaneity is something that is drawn from life, and when it occurs, it carries its own value.
Those who choose to make a plan for their free time often do so to avoid boredom and to be certain of having something to do when free time arises. While there is no doubt that planning can be fun, planning can also stifle spontaneity. One never knows when a chance encounter may lead to a new friend or a new experience. Planning one’s free time can limit one’s options and prevent one from experiencing the joy of spontaneity.
The first problem is that, when planning an activity, one must take into account the time it will take to complete it. This limits spontaneity in that one must schedule the free time around the activity. For example, a person who plans to spend time playing tennis may schedule this for an hour before dinner every night. This might mean eating dinner late, or eating a light dinner. Furthermore, the planned activity might not happen at all, as severe weather conditions or illness may prevent the planned activity from taking place. A plan may also not work out as intended. A tennis match may be interrupted halfway through due to rain or an injury, and a person who planned to play tennis after work may find he or she has nothing to do so that.
This lack of spontaneity can also have emotional consequences. A person who plans his free time may miss out on interesting experiences. A spontaneous outing to a museum or concert could be one of the best experiences a person has, especially if it arises from a chance encounter with a new friend. A planned activity may also be a disappointment. A concert may sell out, or a restaurant may run out of food. Such events would not arise when spontaneous.
Another problem with planning is that it limits the possibilities. A person who plans his free time may miss out on the opportunity to try something new. For instance, a person may plan to go on a hiking trip, but if he is afraid of heights, he may miss out on some of the spectacular views that are offered. A person who does not plan her free time may not be constrained by such limitations, as she might choose to try a new hobby instead. For example, a person may enjoy visiting art galleries and plan to do this every weekend. However, if none of the art galleries have exhibits of paintings that appeal to her, she may miss out on a hobby that she really enjoys.
One of the reasons that some people prefer to make plans is to avoid having to think about what to do. They would rather just go on autopilot and allow life to unfold naturally. However, life is not always so straightforward. The world is full of unexpected twists and turns, and these can ruin a perfectly good plan if one does not account for them.
In summary, planning one’s free time can be fun, but it can also limit spontaneity and spontaneity can provide valuable life lessons. It is best to strike a balance between these two extremes.