Not long ago people believed that in the future we would work less,have more free time,and be more relaxed.But sadly this has not happened.Today we work harder,work longer hours,and are more stressed than 10 years ago.We walk faster,talk faster,and sleep less than previous generations.And although we are obsessed with machines which save us time,we have less free time than our parents and grandparents had.But what is this doing to our health?An American journalist James Gleick in a new book,Faster:the acceleration of just about everything,says that people who live in cities are suffering from 'hurry sickness'-we are always trying to do more things in less time.As a result,our lives are more stressful.He says that if we don't slow down,we won't live as long as our parents.For most people,faster doesn't mean better.
1.No time for the news
Newspaper articles today are shorter and the headlines are bigger.Most people don't have enough time to read the articles,they only read the headlines!On TV and the radio,newsreaders speak more quickly than 10 years ago.
2.No time for stories
In the USA there is a book called One-Minute Bedtime Stories for children.These are shorter versions of traditional stories,specially written for'busy parents'who want to save time!
3.No time to listen
Some answerphones now have 'quick playback' buttons so that we can re-play people's messages faster-we can't waste time listening to people speaking at normal speed!
4.No time to relax
Even when we relax we do everything more quickly.10 years ago when people went to art galleries they spent ten seconds looking at each picture.Today they spend just 3 seconds!
5.No time for slow sports
In the USA the national sport,baseball,is not as popular as before because it is a slow game and matches take a long time.Nowadays many people prefer faster and more dynamic sports like basketball.
6...but more time in our cars
The only thing that is slower than before is the way we drive.Our cars are faster but the traffic is worse so we drive more slowly.We spend more time sitting in our cars,feeling stressed because we are worried that we won't arrive on time.Experts predict that in 10 years' time the average speed on the road in cities will be 17km/h.
1.No time for the news
Newspaper articles today are shorter and the headlines are bigger.Most people don't have enough time to read the articles,they only read the headlines!On TV and the radio,newsreaders speak more quickly than 10 years ago.
2.No time for stories
In the USA there is a book called One-Minute Bedtime Stories for children.These are shorter versions of traditional stories,specially written for'busy parents'who want to save time!
3.No time to listen
Some answerphones now have 'quick playback' buttons so that we can re-play people's messages faster-we can't waste time listening to people speaking at normal speed!
4.No time to relax
Even when we relax we do everything more quickly.10 years ago when people went to art galleries they spent ten seconds looking at each picture.Today they spend just 3 seconds!
5.No time for slow sports
In the USA the national sport,baseball,is not as popular as before because it is a slow game and matches take a long time.Nowadays many people prefer faster and more dynamic sports like basketball.
6...but more time in our cars
The only thing that is slower than before is the way we drive.Our cars are faster but the traffic is worse so we drive more slowly.We spend more time sitting in our cars,feeling stressed because we are worried that we won't arrive on time.Experts predict that in 10 years' time the average speed on the road in cities will be 17km/h.
When You Have To Choose Between 2 Possibilities:
1.Take your time.The most important thing is not to make a decision in a hurry.
2.Make a list of the positive and negative points for both opinions.Then decide which points are most important and compare the two lists.
3.If you ask other people for their advice,don't ask more than 1 or 2.If you ask a lot of people,this will probably confuse you.
4.Use your imagination to help you.Imagine yourself in both situations.How do you feel?Relaxed or stressed?
5.When you've made a decision,wait a bit before you tell other people,to see how you feel.If you feel comfortable with your decision after an hour,you have probably made the right decision.
6.Finally,remember that you can't have everything.Choosing one of two possibilities always means that you can't have the one you didn't choose.And it's impossible to always make the right decision!
1.Take your time.The most important thing is not to make a decision in a hurry.
2.Make a list of the positive and negative points for both opinions.Then decide which points are most important and compare the two lists.
3.If you ask other people for their advice,don't ask more than 1 or 2.If you ask a lot of people,this will probably confuse you.
4.Use your imagination to help you.Imagine yourself in both situations.How do you feel?Relaxed or stressed?
5.When you've made a decision,wait a bit before you tell other people,to see how you feel.If you feel comfortable with your decision after an hour,you have probably made the right decision.
6.Finally,remember that you can't have everything.Choosing one of two possibilities always means that you can't have the one you didn't choose.And it's impossible to always make the right decision!
