The Pyramid of Leisure: How We Spend Our Free Time Matters And How Dumbphones Can Help.

Published on January 24, 2026 by Eric Bouchard

Leisure time is often treated as something neutral. Whatever helps us relax must be good, right? But not all leisure is created equal. Some activities restore our energy, sharpen our minds, and improve our mental health, while others quietly drain us. One useful way to understand this difference is through the Pyramid of Leisure: a hierarchy that ranks leisure activities from the most enriching at the top to the most passive and harmful at the bottom. At the very bottom of this pyramid sits one of the most common habits of modern life: social media doom scrolling.

The Bottom of the Pyramid: Doom Scrolling and Passive Consumption

Doom scrolling endlessly through social media feeds without intention is one of the worst forms of leisure time. It is almost entirely passive. You’re not creating, learning deeply, or engaging meaningfully; you’re simply reacting.

This kind of consumption has several negative effects:

Attention span erosion: Short, fast paced content trains the brain to crave constant stimulation, making it harder to focus on longer or more meaningful tasks.
Mental health strain: Doom scrolling is strongly linked to anxiety, comparison, low self esteem, and emotional burnout.
“Brain rot” effect: Over time, constant low effort content dulls creativity and critical thinking.

While social media itself isn’t inherently bad, mindlessly scrolling a news feed with no goal or endpoint is a poor use of leisure time and arguably not leisure at all.

Slightly Higher: Movies, Shows, and Intentional Media

Movies and TV shows sit higher on the pyramid, but their value depends on intent. Passive binge watching can still be draining, but well chosen films can: inspire creativity, teach new perspectives, evoke meaningful emotions or spark conversation and reflection.

Watching a thoughtful documentary, a beautifully written film, or something that motivates you is vastly different from watching content just to kill time.

Video Games: Not as Bad as They’re Made Out to Be

Video games often get a bad reputation, but many belong solidly in the middle of the pyramid. Games that encourage problem solving, strategy, creativity, or cooperation can actually be mentally engaging.

Puzzle games, story driven games, and multiplayer games that involve teamwork can improve:

Cognitive flexibility
Decision making skills
Social connection

Like any activity, moderation and intention matter. Playing a game that challenges you is very different from mindless repetition.

Social Activities: Friends, Family, and Real Connection

Spending time with friends and family ranks much higher on the pyramid. Humans are social by nature, and real world connection:

Improves emotional well being
Reduces stress and loneliness
Builds memories and meaning

Even simple activities like talking, sharing meals, walking together provide emotional nourishment that no algorithm can replace.

Sports and Physical Activity: A Pillar of Healthy Leisure

Physical activity deserves its high position. Sports and exercise engage both body and mind, offering:

Improved mental health
Better focus and energy
Stress relief
A sense of progress and achievement

Unlike passive leisure, physical activity actively restores you rather than leaving you more tired than before.

The Top of the Pyramid: Creativity and Creation

At the very top of the Pyramid of Leisure is creative work. Painting, writing a book, composing music, building something these activities are deeply fulfilling because they turn you from a consumer into a creator.

Creative leisure:

Strengthens identity and self expression
Improves focus and flow
Produces lasting satisfaction
Builds skills over time

This is the kind of leisure that leaves you feeling energized rather than empty.

Where Social Media Can Be Useful

Social media isn’t always bad. When used intentionally to learn, research interests, follow educational content, or connect meaningfully it can move higher up the pyramid.

The problem isn’t the tool. It’s the default behavior of endless scrolling without purpose.

Dumbphones: A Simple Solution to a Modern Problem

One powerful way to escape doom scrolling is the use of dumbphones phones without addictive apps and constant notifications. By removing easy access to social media, dumbphones:

Reduce temptation
Restore attention span
Encourage more intentional leisure
Push people toward higher quality activities on the pyramid

Instead of relying on willpower, dumbphones redesign the environment so better choices become the default.

At Bouchard Industries, our mission goes beyond raising awareness about the mental health impacts of smartphones. We are actively creating solutions. We are developing a thoughtfully designed dumbphone to help individuals reclaim focus, reduce stress, improve sleep, and foster real life connections.

Conclusion

Leisure time shapes who we become. The Pyramid of Leisure reminds us that the most accessible activities are often the least fulfilling, while the most rewarding ones require intention and effort.

Doom scrolling may feel relaxing in the moment, but over time it costs us focus, creativity, and mental health. Choosing higher quality leisure especially creative and active pursuits leads to a richer, more satisfying life.

How we spend our free time is not trivial. It’s foundational.