23 June 2026
Bilbao
As part of the lecture series "Adding life to our years", the Pedro Fabro Association of Retired Staff at the University of Deusto held a talk on 19 May entitled “Inner leisure”, delivered by Manuel Cuenca. In front of 45 attendees and 4 online participants, the author reflected on the radical changes in leisure consumption from the late 20th century to the 21st century and presented his new concept of leisure.
As he explained, we have moved from a static and regulated form of leisure (such as sitting down to watch the few television channels available in the 1980s) to a ubiquitous, individualised and digitalised form of leisure (streaming platforms, Spotify, constant use of mobile phones and headphones). In this context, leisure today is no longer defined by ‘doing activities’, but by consuming ‘pre-packaged experiences’. Hence, younger generations (Millennials and Generation Z) prioritise leisure, living life to the fullest and enjoying the present moment over traditional materialistic values such as work, security or the accumulation of physical goods (flats, records, books).
In contrast to traditional research that divides leisure according to physical space (indoors or outdoors), Manuel Cuenca defines inner leisure as an intimate and spiritual experience (linked to the spirit, from the Latin spirare: that which gives life and meaning). It has its roots in the Greek scholé (non-utilitarian activity carried out for its own sake) and is based on three classical ethical pillars: freedom (to be, not only to choose), deep fulfilment, and gratuity (difficult to understand in a commodified society).
According to Professor Cuenca, indoor leisure has three key areas. The first key area is ‘love and relationships’, supported by the landmark Harvard study (cited by Robert Waldinger), which shows that the healthiest and happiest people are those who maintain warm and close relationships. This is evident in the family (a welcoming environment), friendship (essential for enjoying life together) and volunteering/community involvement (where selflessness brings personal fulfilment).
It also requires ‘nurturing relationships’, which begins with self-care and is practised through authentic dialogue (an encounter characterised by presence, body and face, which requires taking one’s time and functions as a ‘playful, pointless act’ that brings us closer to the other), and deep listening (a transformative process that demands we fall silent to give the other person a voice, and which can even have healing effects).
The second key area is the ‘attentive gaze’, whose focus is beauty, understood not only as something external but also as an intimate connection with the spirit that generates calm and positive emotions. This perspective, which seeks to uncover the simple things, involves pausing to reflect on the everyday (a scent, springtime, ordinary objects such as a cardboard horse that serves as a metaphor for childhood) rather than constantly rushing towards the exotic. Similarly, when viewed creatively, leisure allows us to break away from routine, give free rein to our imagination and engage in self-reflection. Looking closely does not change the external object, but rather transforms the viewer and distinguishes a conscious, meaningful life from one that is not.
Finally, the third key area is ‘spirituality or self-discovery’, an aspect linked to the need for calm, introspection and a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
