Unique Content Article: A Good Quality Of Life Needs Some Down Time

<h2 class = 'uawtitle'>A Good Quality Of Life Needs Some Down Time</h2><br />
<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>by Carol Frank</div><br /><br />
<div class='uawarticle'>Americans are over worked, stressed out, and anxiety ridden. Our fast-paced lifestyles are wearing us out. We are told that there is no recession but don't believe it. More people are afraid of more things beyond their immediate control. One recent report said that, for the very first time, anxiety and depression medication prescriptions are greater than anything else and that includes prescriptions written for both elevated BP and to deal with cholesterol. It appears that anxiety, stress, and <a href="http://century21fitness.com/mental-health-therapy-signs-of-depression/">depression</a> have turned out to be our frequent companions.<br />
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More than thirty years ago one psychiatric disorder study revealed that somewhere between two and four percent of adults in the U.S. suffered from one type of anxiety disorder or another. Fast forward thirty years and that number has increased more than 12 times, up to almost 50%. Based on the current population that 50% figure means that over 110 million people are now, or have been, affected at one point or another.<br />
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What is happening? What is it that has caused us to become an anxious and fearful society? Our lifestyle has certainly something to do with it. Unlike other cultures, ours does not value leisure or free time. For many reasons we don't typically enjoy extended lunch breaks in the middle of the day or multiple weeks of paid vacations as do other cultures. Compared with most other developed countries we work more hours with fewer breaks. Other leading nations such as Germany typically have 35 hour weeks and more vacation time and their productivity is still very high. On average, people there may have lower income rates, but their standard of living and quality of life are in many ways above the U.S.<br />
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For these reasons, and others, some are asking if our continued efforts are paying off the way we want them to. <br />
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The 40 hour work week has been around for quite a while but that number refers just to the amount of time spent at the place of work. Other responsibilities like children, housework, and commuting leave fewer hours in each day. Doing nothing once in a while, lying in a hammock, listening to music, reading a book, painting a picture, playing an instrument, going on a trip -- all that, it seems, has become an impossible dream. Is this the way we are really supposed to be living?<br />
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The good news is that there are some things that are beginning to change. Some progressive companies, often in the tech sector, are experimenting with methods to enhance employee creativity.<br />
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And its not just big companies who are experimenting. In one example, a small software company gave their engineers a month off to work on anything they wished and the results were more than they expected in terms of benefit to both the engineer and the goals of the organization. While this approach might not be possible in every type of business, it does show that a less structured enviornment can bring about results that are beneficial not only to the employer but to the employee as well.<br />
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<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br />
About the Author:<br />
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<div class='uawlinks'>Living today seems to me more challenging than ever before. Learn more strategies for dealing with the pressures and <a href="http://century21fitness.com/category/mental-health/">stress</a> of our every day world. Visit us at <a href="http://century21fitness.com">Century 21 Fitness.com</a>. </div><br />
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New Unique Article!<br />
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Title: A Good Quality Of Life Needs Some Down Time<br />
Author: Carol Frank<br />
Email: dirasu.88471.0@articlesamurai.com<br />
Keywords: the quality of life,stress,depression,quality of life<br />
Word Count: 515<br />
Category: Motivation<br />
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