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

Nowadays many

people

work

long

hours

, leaving them little

time

for leisure activities. There are some advantages to

this

situation, but

personally

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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 money 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

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there is

also

the sheer stimulus of being involved in something they enjoy

,

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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 some

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 skills over 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 allows 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

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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 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 our society.

Work

is a major part of our lives and it is to be hoped that many find it enjoyable, challenging and stimulating, but it is important to recognize the feed for a

work

-life balance and to ensure that

this

is put into practice.