A dilemma confronting expatriates like me as we work and live in another country is what to do with our free time. We must decide how to spend the extra hours at our disposal, whether to use them effectively or squander them. Free time can either be an opportunity or a temptation. It presents a chance to be productive, doing something worthwhile that contributes to achieving our personal and professional goals, or it can lead us astray, luring us into mindless distractions or unfulfilling pursuits.

Understandably, the hours we spend not working are moments when homesickness or boredom could set in. Those not equipped with a coping mechanism against boredom and that intense yearning for home and beloved ones, resort to anything that can help them relax and overcome loneliness and emptiness. They find solace in entertainment, socializing, or, sometimes (and unfortunately), vices. More often than not, resorting to vices to overcome homesickness leads to more problems.

Finding a way to be productive with our extra hours is a protection against temptation and homesickness. Admittedly, that isn’t easy to do. Neuroscience and evolutionary psychology reveal that our brains are wired to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Thus, it is much more convenient for some to go out with friends and have a good time during non-working hours. The mind’s circuitry gravitates towards rewarding tasks instead of exerting more effort to do something else.  

Being productive means looking for ways to use the time when we’re not working for worthwhile endeavors. Some of us use them to find a second job to earn extra income, while others use them to pursue a rewarding hobby. There are also those of us who utilize our free time for self-improvement. Of course, some expatriates also seek gratification when they are off duty. Let me clarify that using our free time constructively doesn’t mean depriving ourselves of enjoyment. We are entitled to a day off from time to time to breathe fresh air. For our overall well-being as expatriates, we need to strike a balance between work and life. But we need to draw the line between having fun and going wild.

Expatriates have different ways of using their free time effectively and efficiently, either for productivity’s sake, to protect themselves against temptations, or to overcome homesickness. Based on what I have gathered, most of my colleagues would flock to the capital city for socialization. During long weekends, a few of them would travel. Those with their families with them, of course, would spend their free time with their loved ones. But I would lie if I said that none of us unnecessarily indulged in some forms of vices, particularly gambling and drinking.

What about me? How do I spend my free time? Imagine this: I have 168 hours a week. As I sleep an average of 6 hours a night (42 hours a week), I am awake for 126 hours. My contract requires me to work 19 hours a week, spread over 4 weekdays.  Let me add 3 hours to evaluate and assess my student’s performance. That still leaves me a little more than 100 hours a week. If I spend 3 hours daily on meals and snacks, that’s only 14 hours a week. Which means I still have a lot of free time. What Laura Vanderkam said in her book “168 Hours” is true: “You have more time than you think.”

I have more time than I thought. So, what do I do with it? If I am not communicating with my loved ones in my country of origin, I am either in the gym working out or outside walking. I spend an average of one hour a day connecting with my family, with longer sessions during weekends and holidays. On the other hand, I engage in all the physical activities I mentioned five times a week, each lasting at least an hour.

After doing all the other things I must, I figured I have an average of 50-60 hours a week of free time,  sometimes more. Additionally, I have more free time during winter and summer breaks when the university does not require me to work, except for attending two-hour meetings at the end of a semester or when one begins. We are also required to attend graduation ceremonies two weeks before the start of each semester.

There came a time when I faced the dilemma of determining how to spend those excess hours. It wasn’t a question of whether to use them effectively or squander them. I know that I must walk the path of productivity during my free time and ensure that I don’t succumb to the enticement of a good life.  That’s my mindset. I consider my extra hours an opportunity for growth, not an invitation to waste my resources and self-destruct. Expatriates, particularly those who don’t have their families with them like me, are prone to different kinds of temptations and vices.

And how specifically do I spend my free time?

Spending nights in the bar, particularly during weekends,  is not my thing. I don’t enjoy wine and beer. I consider it illogical to drink a lot and then suffer from a hangover the following day. Besides, I know how much damage alcohol inflicts on human cells. I need to stay healthy, for it is difficult for expatriates like me to get sick and be hospitalized. So, I would rather stay home, read books, listen to audiobooks,  or watch movies. That lifestyle appears boring, but with the many things that I could do, I have no time to be bored. No, I am not allergic to interaction. Quite the contrary, I love mingling with people, discussing anything under the sun with them.  I am what psychologists refer to as an ambivert. I can switch any of my personality’s introvert and extrovert buttons as needed. I do socialize occasionally, but only with a few friends. We go out for dinner and coffee. I go to a noraebang with the same group on special occasions. But there are times when I need to switch to lonewolf mode.

I spend the majority of my free time pursuing my passion for writing. There is no better way to be productive with my extra hours than writing.

Writing has become a sanctuary for me, not just a way to pass the time, but a space where I can thrive emotionally, intellectually, and creatively. It is a refuge that protects me from the challenges of working and living abroad, allowing me to grow and reflect. In the pages of my writing, I have found peace, a workshop for my mind, and a shelter from the storms of life. Those pages shelter me from external and internal noise and help me find clarity.

There were times when writing protected me from my internal struggles. Through it, I could confront my demons and fears and transform them into meaningful and constructive expressions. I release my pain, anger, disagreement, and disappointments by writing about them. Whatever emotions boil within me, I express them creatively, through prose and poetry.

Making writing my sanctuary has not only fueled my productivity and creativity but also become a source of additional income.

Ultimately, how we choose to spend our free time plays a significant role in shaping who we are and how we grow, especially as expatriates navigating the complexities of life away from home. The hours we have at our disposal are a precious resource, allowing us to either build our lives or let them slip unnoticed.

For me, writing has become a powerful tool for personal development, a sanctuary that provides both protection and growth. But regardless of the path we choose—whether through physical activity, self-improvement, or connecting with others—the key is to make the most of every moment. We have more time than we think; with that time, we can either invest in our future or squander it. The choice is ours, and it is up to us to ensure that we walk the path of productivity, growth, and purpose, rather than succumb to temptations that may lead us astray and broke.