LEARNING OTHER LANGUAGES ALSO DISTRACTS ME FROM MY WORRIES

In previous blogs I have spoken a lot about how I use Minecraft, gaming and mindfulness colouring to wind down. All of those things offer me a chance to mentally escape my worries for a brief while. However it’s not solely what would be referred to as “recreational activities” that enable one to become relaxed and calm. Depending upon our own passions and interests, certain activities that involve work and learning are very effective with allowing us to unwind as well.

I do have an example of my own to share for this particular blog. I find that learning about the world’s various cultures and languages gives me the equivalent amount of joy as gaming does. Thus a few years ago I began attending foreign language classes for use in my speaking career, and additionally for my own personal enjoyment.

Whenever I am learning a language many positive feelings arise inside of me, which are very difficult to put into words. However much like when I’m playing a game with a storyline, I get a sensation of facing a series of challenges leading to an exciting completion, whilst learning any language other than (my mother-tongue) English. As well I find that throughout my journey of learning a language, my mind feels immersed within the culture/s of where the language comes from.

So during the learning process, I do receive a sensation of temporarily escaping my present day life and worries. This is no different to how I feel whilst doing activities that would more widely be considered as leisurely, such as gaming.

It is true that whenever we have a passion or interest for any activity, it will always feel leisurely for the most part. This is regardless of whether it is recreational, educational or professional. Whenever I am doing French classes each Thursday, in addition to all of the study outside of class, it does without a doubt involve a lot of work. This is especially true once I’ve almost completed learning a language and the course becomes much more challenging. Yet if we thoroughly enjoy the work that we’re doing, it never feels completely like work. So the activity could more or less be described as a hobby instead.

There’s also another bonus whenever we’re doing work for leisure. After having almost fully learned French, as well as Spanish, I have now additionally gained a very useful tool for me to use in my everyday life. For instance, soon I will no longer have to be translated whenever I am talking on a show, from a country/region where French or Spanish is the most widely spoken language. Also, I am now able to read foreign articles written in both French and Spanish, as well as untranslated material in general written in either of those two languages.

Bringing this all back to the title of this particular blog, I can conclude by saying that various recreational activities give me a great deal of help with calming my mind and thoughts. However just because an activity is considered to be “work or school related” that doesn’t at all mean that it’s boring for every person. Our personal interests and passions are unique to each and everyone of us. 

Something else that I must add too is that even activities which are more widely considered as recreational can be equally educational. This does include games such as Minecraft.