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

Nowadays many

Accept comma addition

Nowadays, many

people

work

long hours, leaving them little

time

for leisure activities. There are some advantages in

this

situation, but personally I feel there are more disadvantages. The advantages include the possibility of earning more money, if the employer pays overtime for extra hours worked.

This

can be a real bonus if someone is saving with a particular goal in mind: a holiday,

for example

, or saving to buy a house or flat. Another advantage might be that more

time

spent at

work

enables a more thorough knowledge and understanding of the job. Some professions

such

as law and accountancy require familiarity with a wide range of rules and requirements and these cannot all be learned through study; they have to be learned on the job. For younger people there is

also

the sheer stimulus of being involved in something they enjoy, so that they do not object to, or count, the hours they spend at

work

. Unfortunately, if people do not have enough

time

to relax, there are quite major risks associated with

this

. Health often suffers, either physically or mentally, and sometimes both. Taking

time

out for physical leisure activities has positive effects on health through the release of chemicals that make us feel better both physically and mentally. Other leisure activities may involve spending

time

with a group of people,

activating

Suggestion

Activating

skills other than those used at

work

and

thus

encouraging supportive social networks. Friendships can

also

be weakened because of not making enough

time

to stay in touch, but using only a little of your free

time

to have a meal or go to the cinema with someone helps to maintain that friendship. Listening to your friend’s problems, or talking through your own, reinforces your relationship with them, as well as allowing you to switch off mentally from the things that have been happening at

work

.

This

‘distancing’ from

work

helps you to get things back into perspective and can sometimes help you to find solutions to matters that have been bothering you. Within a family situation a partner may feel neglected If the other one spends long hours away at

work

, or a child may feel neglected because mummy/daddy

is

Suggestion

has been

never around for birthdays, school performances or a vital sports match.

This

lack of involvement is a major contributor to family breakdown, which in turn has wider repercussions

in

Suggestion

on

our society.

Work

is a major part of our

lives

Suggestion

life

and it is to be hoped that many find it enjoyable, challenging and stimulating, but it is important to recognise the need for a

work

-life balance and to ensure that

this

is put into practice.