The Art of Making (and Not Making) Plans

New York Times

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Adult life is full of commitments: bills to pay, family to see and a job you probably have to show up for. But in a world where many of us complain of being overscheduled, there’s something uniquely depressing about having no control over the time once quaintly called “personal” and “free.”

A recent study by The Ohio State University found that scheduling leisure time with friends — for movies, drinks, bike rides — can make these otherwise enjoyable activities feel like chores, which is often why we cancel them.

Other Media Mentions on this Research

For an interview on the topic, see BYU radio.

To-do lists may make leisure time less enjoyableDeccan Herald – Online | 04/12/2016To-do lists may make leisure time less enjoyableBusiness Standard (in) | 04/12/2016 (2 hours, 29 minutes ago)To-do lists may make leisure time less enjoyableBusiness Standard – Online | 04/12/2016 (3 hours, 22 minutes ago)Do not plan your leisure time it may fizzle out the funThe Economic Times | 04/12/2016 (11 hours, 5 minutes ago)Here’s why you shouldn’t schedule ‘fun’, according to scienceScienceAlert | 04/11/2016 (1 day, 8 hours ago)The scientific reason you aren’t enjoying your free timeWZVN-TV Online | 03/27/2016 (2 weeks, 1 day ago)The Scientific Reason You Aren’t Enjoying Your Free TimeABC News Online | 03/25/2016 (2 weeks, 3 days ago)This Is What Makes You Enjoy Your Free Time LessIMAGE – Online | 03/24/2016 (2 weeks, 5 days ago)The scientific reason you aren’t enjoying your free time | Fox NewsFOX News Channel Online | 03/24/2016 (2 weeks, 5 days ago)The scientific reason you aren’t enjoying your free timeLocalNews7.com | 03/24/2016 (2 weeks, 5 days ago)The scientific reason you aren’t enjoying your free timeThe World 247.com | 03/24/2016 (2 weeks, 5 days ago)Scheduling Time For Leisure Activities Takes Away From The FunHeadlines & Global News | 03/23/2016 (2 weeks, 5 days ago)The Scientific Reason You Aren’t Enjoying Your Free TimeThe Huffington Post | 03/22/2016 (2 weeks, 6 days ago)The Scientific Reason You Aren’t Enjoying Your Free TimeTIME Online | 03/22/2016 (3 weeks, 1 day ago)Why You Should Never Schedule Fun, According To This StudyBustle | 03/18/2016 (3 weeks, 4 days ago)The Scientific Reason You Aren’t Enjoying Your Free TimeHealth.com | 03/15/2016 (3 weeks, 6 days ago)Scheduling Leisure Time Makes Fun Feel Like a ChoreLaboratory Equipment Online | 03/14/2016 (4 weeks, 1 day ago)Missouri Ag Connection – How Scheduling Takes the Fun Out of Free TimeMissouri Ag Connection | 03/13/2016 (4 weeks, 1 day ago)How To Make Sure Having Fun Doesn’t Feel Like WorkAskMen | 03/12/2016 (4 weeks, 3 days ago)Do Your Social Engagements Feel Like Chores? Here’s What You Need To ChangeAskMen UK | 03/12/2016 (4 weeks, 3 days ago)The Simple Trick That Will De-Stress Your WeekendReal Simple Online | 03/11/2016 (4 weeks, 3 days ago)New Study Confirms That Scheduling Your Free Time Takes the Fun Out of ItGlamour Online | 03/11/2016 (4 weeks, 3 days ago)Having Fun?CKIZ-FM – Online | 03/11/2016 (4 weeks, 4 days ago)Why Vacations Have Become Less FunBellaOnline | 03/11/2016 (4 weeks, 4 days ago)Why vacations have become less funExaminer | 03/10/2016 (4 weeks, 4 days ago)Scientists say schedulers have less funUnited Press International Online | 03/09/2016 (4 weeks, 5 days ago)How scheduling takes the fun out of free timeScienceDaily | 03/09/2016 (4 weeks, 5 days ago)How scheduling takes the fun out of free timePhys.org | 03/09/2016 (4 weeks, 6 days ago)

Celebrate or Commemorate?

Celebrate or Commemorate?

New research from researchers at Ohio State shows material goods might win out over experiences when marking special life events

Graduation, marriage, the birth of a child. All are significant life events that people want to remember as vividly as they can. We often mark these events with a purchase: either a celebratory experience or a material commemoration. Recent research has indicated a general consumer preference for experiences over material goods when it comes to giving and receiving gifts. but perhaps material goods have an advantage when it comes to marking significant life events?

New research shows when marking a major life event, consumers might be better off with material items as opposed to experiences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.newswise.com/articles/celebrate-or-commemorate

For an interview on the topic, see BYU radio.

People

Joe Goodman

joegoodman

Joe’s research investigates choice overload, variety seeking, and consumers’ attraction to large product and feature assortments. He also investigates Internet research methodology (aka, Mturk), as well as the consumption and purchase of experiences and material goods and its effect on happiness. Joe received his PhD from The University of Texas at Austin, and enjoys travelling, pick-up ball, Europe ’72, Friendster, and consuming in the natural habitat.

Selin Malkoc

selinmalkoc

Selin’s research specialties include inter-temporal choice, the role of consumer mindsets and representations in decision making. Her research also examines how consumers can make better decisions, increase happiness, and simply be more spontaneous. She holds a B.A. from Bilkent University and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina. She enjoys travelling, Jeffrey Campbells, Tarkan, and experimenting in both the lab and her Turkish kitchen.

Gabbie Tonietto

gabbietonietto

Gabriela (Gabbie) Tonietto holds a B.S.B.A. and expects to complete her Ph.D. in 2017, both from Washington University in St. Louis. Tonietto’s research interests include time perception and consumption, scheduling, and intertemporal preferences. Her research focuses on helping consumers to make better decisions about their time, and the research based on the first essay of her dissertation is forthcoming in the Journal of Marketing Research.

 

Affiliates, Co-Authors, & Alumni

Cynthia Cryder. Cindy was a long time faculty member of the lab and is Associate Professor at Washington University in St. Louis

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Rebecca Reczek. Rebecca is a coauthor and lab affiliate, and Irwin Lab alum. She is currently Associate Professor at The Ohio State University.

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Joshua Morris. Former RA and current PhD student at Stanford

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Kelly Lee. Former Post-Doc and current faculty at Oklahoma State University.

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Brittney D. Stephenson. Former RA and current PhD student at Wash U.