Leisure's Not a Luxury. It's a Requirement for Top Leaders

For strivers, leisure may be the hardest skill to master--but it's also one of the most important. Arthur C. Brooks, author of "The Happiness Files" and "The Meaning of Your Life", argues that leisure is not laziness or escape, but a serious practice that can make us more creative, grounded, and effective. He challenges leaders to rethink “work-life balance” and instead pursue a more integrated, meaningful life. For ambitious professionals, the lesson is clear: learning how to use leisure well may be one of the most important skills for long-term happiness and success. More from Arthur C. Brooks: http://themeaningofyourlife.com/ and https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Files-Insights-Arthur-Brooks/dp/B0F4MFQ6VN Books, tools, and more: store.hbr.org Follow us: https://hbr.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review/ https://www.facebook.com/HBR/ https://twitter.com/HarvardBiz https://www.instagram.com/harvard_business_review Sign up for Newsletters: https://hbr.org/email-newsletters #HarvardBusinessReview #YourCareer #Career #Job #Work #Business #Harvard #HarvardBusinessSchool Copyright © 2026 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices