Many people work long hours, leaving very little time for leisure activities. Does this situation has more advantages or more disadvantages ?

Working overtime is becoming a lifestyle for many workers nowadays, causing them to have a limited or even no time to pursue their personal interests. While there are some benefits,
such
as the ability to gain an extra income and fasten one’s
career
progression; the drawbacks, namely an increase in depression level and unhealthy lifestyle, are draconian. Some workers find it beneficial for them to
work
longer hours than ever before. One of the main factors is related to finance. As we may be aware, some people have been struggling to cope with the increased cost of their daily expenses, and
therefore
, working an extra hour seems to be a viable solution for them to earn more income in order to support their lives.
This
phenomenon can be seen in many developing countries in Asia, where the rate of working overtime is rising.
In addition
, some employees, especially in the lower-level rank, tend to sacrifice their leisure hours to
work
instead
in order to climb their
career
prospects faster than usual. These people wish by over-performing others, they will have more chance to move into the
next
level in their
career
path.
This
method has been proven to
work
effectively in Japan, where staff, who usually stay longer in the office to
work
will receive a higher performance rating during the appraisal period. Sacrificing our personal lives to
work
longer hours is not without its shortcomings,
however
. Some people may neglect their lives without realizing what more important for them is to have a
work
-life balance. Many employees are suffering from acute depression as they are either required by the company or it is their own decision to
work
overtime. Recent research conducted by the University of Cambridge,
for example
, has revealed that 80% of young executives suffer from mental illness problems due to the heavy load and stress caused by
work
.
Furthermore
,
this
trend has led many workers to live a sedentary lifestyle, which can be detrimental to their overall well-being. A prime example can be seen by the growing number of employees, who have to combat the overweight issue as they are getting busier with working than exercising. In conclusion, there are pros and cons to people leaving their free time working over the required hours. While there are some benefits that can be obtained from
this
trend,
such
as gaining extra money and progressing faster in the
career
, the drawbacks, which detriment one’s physical and mental health, far outweigh the advantages.
Therefore
, it should be avoided and prevented by all of the workers.

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Answer the 'Advantages and Disadvantages' topic

IELTS advantages and disadvantages questions normally give you a statement and ask you to comment on the advantages and disadvantages of that statement.

Answer structure for the type of essay

  • Introduction
  • Body paragraph 1 – advantages
  • Body paragraph 2 – disadvantages
  • Conclusion

Examples to start your body paragraph:

  • The main advantage is...
  • The disadvantage of this...
  • The main benefit...
  • Despite these advantages...
  • One possible drawback...

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Topic Vocabulary:
  • work-life balance
  • mental well-being
  • burnout
  • stress relief
  • productivity
  • economic growth
  • career progression
  • skill enhancement
  • quality time
  • financial security
  • leisure activities
  • physical health
  • personal relationships
  • stress-related illnesses
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