Introduction
The international health catastrophe triggered by the emergence of COVID-19 has led to the implementation of mechanisms to restrict the epidemic’s transmission. Care for others, such as bringing a loved one to dinner, and care for oneself, such as exercising at a fitness facility, and enjoyment like watching movies, are common leisure activities (Dieser, 2020). Therefore, amid the COVID-19 outbreak, this essay aims at discussing how leisure has transformed generally for individuals and communities and, in particular, individuals of color. Consequently, the paper analyses how leisure is expected to change for another year if individuals continue to adhere to the social distancing rules and regulations.
How Leisure has Transformed
Individuals and Communities
Individuals’ and communities’ leisure during the COVID-19 lockdown has appeared to be paradoxical. This means organized recreational events freed up significantly more time, yet outside and face-to-face pleasure alternatives were eliminated (Liu et al., 2022). Indeed, confinement and social isolation have created a paradoxical scenario in which, on the one hand, autonomy has been restricted. Consequently, people have even more time to participate in pastimes often connected with relaxation. Thus, leisure time was no longer restricted to venues that provided significant relationships beyond the household and workplace spaces.
Communities of Color
The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has increased racial prejudice towards non-citizens and people of color. The racist rhetoric of US President Donald Trump, who branded COVID-19 the Chinese Virus in public press releases, fueled emotions and violent deeds (Saini, 2020). As a result, their recreational activities have been restricted, and most of them have been forced to remain home out of fear of discrimination. The significance of leisure’s involvement in physical growth and good performance remains constant throughout our lives, but its nature evolves (Russel, 2017). Without leisure, such populations risk death as their immune systems may not combat the COVID-19 virus.
How Leisure may Change
If states still require people to adhere to the social distancing rules and guidelines for another year, this might transform how individuals and communities partake in their leisure activities. The result is that leisure activities would increase among people and households for their emotional and physical well-being. As leisure is frequently viewed as an emotion, a happy state of mind, its involvement in the growth of psychological wellness is especially noteworthy (Russel, 2017). Therefore, engagement in recreational activities is substantially associated with well-being across the lifetime, and this association may have important ramifications for mental wellness during COVID-19.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented numerous health challenges, and leisure activities have played a significant role in combatting it. During the COVID-19 confinement, it has seemed counterintuitive for people and neighborhoods to engage in leisure activities. However, racism has greatly impacted the participation of communities of color in leisure exercises as most are seen as vectors of the disease, increasing their risk of succumbing to the virus. With the continued socialization guidelines, leisure is expected to increase as it would help household cope with their emotional and physical well-being.
References
Dieser, R. B. (2020). Coronavirus pause: People need people, but it’s risky to resume social activities so soon. USA TODAY. Web.
Liu, H. L., Lavender-Stott, E. S., Carotta, C. L., & Garcia, A. S. (2022). Leisure experience and participation and its contribution to stress-related growth amid COVID-19 pandemic. Leisure Studies, 41(1), 70-84. Web.
Russel, R. V. (2017). Pastimes: The context of contemporary leisure (6th Ed). Sagamore Publishing.
Saini, A. (2020). Stereotype threat. The Lancet, 395(10237), 1604-1605. Web.