New research from RMIT University shows that people who pursued meaningful activities, or things they actually enjoy doing, during lockdown, are more satisfied and those who simply keep themselves busy.

While the research applies to lockdown, the same could easily be said about retirement.

The study reveals doing what you love and adapting it to suit social distancing, like swapping your regular morning walk with friends for a zoom exercise session, has much more benefits than simply occupying your time with mindless tasks.

In fact, simply filling your time will leave you unsettled and unsatisfied, say researchers.

"Busyness might be distracting but it won't necessarily be fulfilling," said Dr Lauren Saling from RMIT University in Melbourne.

"Rather, think about what activities you miss most and try and find a way of doing them."

While participants reported still feeling more positive emotions doing novelty 'meaningless' activities like binge watching TV, they also felt more negative emotions, and often felt unhappy just as much as they felt happy.

Activities such as dining with friends already had positive effects prior to lockdown, and the virtual alternative, such as dining with friends over zoom, also yielded positive emotions during lockdown.

Dr Saling said keeping busy "riles you up" and "passes the time", but meaningful activity - doing what you enjoy - calms you down.

"Extreme emotions are not necessarily a good thing," she said.

"Emotions are a mechanism to make you change your behaviour.

"But when you're doing what you love, it makes sense that you feel more balanced - simply keeping busy isn't satisfying."

The study challenged assumptions that we can stave off sadness by keeping busy.

In fact, keeping busy with mindless tasks yields more frustration.

"The study showed positive and negative affect worked together, not as opposites," said Saling.

"Respondents who simply stayed busy during lockdown reported an increase in both positive and negative emotions.

"This heightened emotionality will tend to shift you away from activity in general and towards meaningful activity."

Which activities did you find the most meaningful during lockdown? Are these the same activities you undertake daily or did you implement them specifically for lockdown? What are the most meaningful activities you undertake in retirement, in general?