Why does free time feel like something we have to use productively now?
I've noticed that doing absolutely nothing has started to feel almost uncomfortable.
If I have a free Saturday and spend a few hours watching something, sitting outside, or just doing whatever I feel like, part of me starts thinking that I should be doing something more useful.
Exercise. Clean the apartment. Learn something. Work on a project. Plan the next week.
It's strange because free time is supposed to be the part of life where we don't have obligations, yet we've somehow created expectations for that time too.
Even hobbies sometimes seem to become projects. You can't just enjoy running; you track your progress. You can't just read; you set a yearly reading goal. You can't just cook; you try to get better at it.
I'm not saying goals are bad. I just wonder when simply enjoying time without improving anything started to feel like wasting it.
Do you think we've become too focused on making every part of our lives productive?