I have an extensive vocabulary, but I have never before come across the word atelic. It means doing something for its own sake, with no particular outcome or purpose in mind, just for the enjoyment of doing it. I love it! it’s the opposite of an instrumental activity, something you do to achieve something.

For example, are you going for a walk to keep fit or to exercise the dog – instrumental – or are you going for a walk because you enjoy it for its own sake. It could well be the same walk, but it has very different flavours.

When we engage ins something in an atelic way, we give ourselves fully to the experience. We aren’t thinking about what to have for dinner, or what we need to do when we get home, or how quickly we can get this over with. We are there, present with the experience, paying attention to it. This not only makes it more enjoyable, it also quiets our mind and gives us respite from our normal busyness.

This is such a simple shift of perspective, which we experience once in a while, maybe while watching a good movie, or doing a hobby we love.

But we could experience it every day, giving ourselves a break for half an hour by doing something we enjoy for its own sake.

What a lovely way to improve our wellbeing, our lives, and so simple!