Have you ever heard of escapism? It’s defined as the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy. We’ve all done this from time to time and it’s actually necessary for our minds to take a break. However, just like anything in life, there needs to be balance. An excessive amount of escapism will create a disconnect from reality and cause any number of problems. Here we’ll cover why someone might indulge in escapism, healthy vs unhealthy activities, and how you can keep proper balance for improved results.
The Purpose of Escapism
Picture this, you just bought a mega millions lottery ticket, hoping to win the 1 billion dollar jackpot. What’s the first thing you do? You take a moment to fantasize about what you would do if you won the jackpot. It’s a moment in time where you take a break from reality and fantasize about how your new life would be. This sums up the idea of escapism.
Now, the purpose of escapism is to allow your mind a moment of relief. We all have busy lives filled with work, appointments, raising children, errands, and any number of stressful situations. By taking a few minutes from time to time, you’re allowing your mind to take a break and recharge.
Without moments of escapism, one is likely to burnout and lose focus. We all had recess in elementary school, break periods, and lunch periods. Even as working professionals we take breaks and step out for lunch. Can you imaging working a solid 8+ hour day with zero breaks? You may be able to tolerate it for awhile, but you’d eventually burn out after a few hours, days, weeks, etc. Escapism allows you a moment to relax, recharge, and come back with clear focus.
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Escapism
There are many different forms of escapism. People take a break from their busy lives by reading a book, watching television, playing games, exercising, movies, or any number of activities. There are however a few forms of escapism that I would consider unhealthy or not conducive to a positive outcome.
Drug and alcohol abuse for example is quite common in today’s society and I believe it to be fueled by escapism. People don’t want to face their harsh reality and have no plans to improve their situation in life. Therefore, they turn to drugs and alcohol for an escape. While this may work in the short term, it’s self-destructive behavior that doesn’t resolve the issue. While I believe escapism is necessary for health and creativity, this is not a positive form.
Healthy escapism comes in many different forms. One of my favorite forms of escapism is exercise. When you’re working out, all the stress of daily life just melts away as you focus on the physical challenges in front of you. Additionally, you could listen to your favorite music or podcast which allows your brain to take a break from everyday life. Other examples would include reading a book, playing an instrument, watching television, or playing video games. While some of these activities may be more beneficial than others, they all have their time and place.
Striking a Balance Between Escapism & Reality
When striking a balance between escapism and reality, it’s important to identify what it is you’re trying to escape/avoid. If you find yourself taking every opportunity to escape, that’s not a good sign. This is an indication that you need a change in life that makes your reality more enjoyable. This may take time, effort, and determination, but will help you live a life with presence.
That said, the opposite is true as well. Spending long hours focused on work, coming home to manage family responsibilities, and not allowing yourself the opportunity to relax, could lead to burnout. However, if you love what you do for work, this could be sustainable to a degree.
Reducing Escapism
The key is to find the right balance in your life and work towards an improved reality. Why live a life filled with escapism when you can build a life of presence. This could take years of effort, but there are things you can do today to start moving in the right direction. For example, instead of playing video games all night, go out with friends and build stronger relationships. Instead of binge watching Netflix, learn a new skill. Instead of drinking and smoking, try going to the gym to exercise.
While these may still be considered forms of escapism, they produce results that are far more beneficial to your life. Escapism is a necessary part of life, but with proper balance and healthy choices, you’ll be on your way to living a happy, productive life, in the moment.
What are your thoughts? Do you find yourself regularly escaping reality? Is there a healthier/more productive option? Leave a comment or question below!
