Leisure Weekly

All work and no play?

The rat race in the U.S. might at last be slowing down. Studies show that the working week is getting shorter, people are working less and they have more free time at the end of the week. In fact, the average number of working hours has gone down steadily since 1964. 

However, many Americans feel that they are spending more time at work then ever.Dr. Dennis Arron, a professor of leisure studies, explains: "Our personal free time is rising, but so is our sense of needing more free time. We simply feel like we aren't keeping up with our own demand for leisure time."  

His research is based on government employment data that shows American adults are spending less time at their workplace and more time participating in leisure activities. 

Another reason for the increase in leisure time is that people are retiring earlier. Previously, workers would continue into their mid-60s, but nowadays they are taking their pensions at a much younger age. This frees up more time to go biking, golfing and traveling. 

But why do we feel that we are working more than ever? Maybe it's because we ‘work’ while we are at play, treating our leisure activities as obligations - things to check off a list - whether we enjoy them or not. Today, many people don't relax with a book or a movie: they do intense exercise or take part in adventure sports. This has resulted in our leisure activities becoming more and more competitive. So, when we've finished 'relaxing,' we're exhausted because our bodies haven't had a chance to recharge. As a result, we are more tired and less productive at the end of the day. 

If this trend continues, we may see people coming to work to relax, tired out after a hectic weekend’s leisure!