Context-free and work-related benefits of a leisure crafting intervention: A randomized controlled trial

Leisure crafting (i.e., proactive leisure activities targeted at goal-setting, human connection, and personal development) may have context-free and work-related benefits for individuals. With Study 1 of the present paper, we aimed at making causal inferences about leisure crafting outcomes: A 4-week randomized controlled trial compared an online leisure crafting intervention against a control group on context-free outcomes (meaning in life, need satisfaction, self-efficacy and context-free creativity) and work-related outcomes (work engagement, seeking challenges, and employee creativity). Analyses revealed that the intervention group experienced a greater increase in meaning, self-efficacy, work engagement and employee creativity compared to the control group. Study 2, a cross-sectional survey, replicated the findings of Study 1; additionally, it revealed positive links between leisure crafting and other-ratings of subjective well-being and context-free creativity. We discuss and integrate the findings of our studies and formulate recommendations on how organizations can use leisure crafting to create a happy workforce.