Personal Enjoyment vs Serious Duties

Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People today spend too much time on personal enjoyment, and not enough time on more serious duties and obligations. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Essay:

In today’s fast-paced world, people are often caught up in the pursuit of personal enjoyment and neglect their serious duties and obligations. While it is important to enjoy life and pursue happiness, I believe that people today do spend too much time on personal enjoyment and not enough time on more serious duties and obligations.

One reason I believe this is true is that technology has made it easier than ever to engage in leisure activities. With smartphones, streaming services, and social media platforms, people have constant access to entertainment and can easily spend hours scrolling through their feeds or binge-watching their favorite shows. While these activities can be enjoyable and provide a much-needed break from the stress of daily life, they can also be a significant time sink.

For example, a recent study found that the average American spends over two and a half hours a day on social media alone. This is time that could be spent on more productive activities, such as exercising, working on a project, or spending time with loved ones. In many cases, personal enjoyment can become a habit that is hard to break, and people can find themselves spending more time than they intended on leisure activities.

Another reason why people spend too much time on personal enjoyment is that they may not fully understand the consequences of neglecting their obligations. For example, a person who spends all of their free time on personal enjoyment may neglect their work responsibilities or fail to complete important tasks on time. This can lead to negative consequences, such as lost job opportunities or damaged relationships with coworkers or supervisors.

Additionally, people may not realize the impact their choices have on their long-term goals and aspirations. For example, a person who spends all of their time playing video games may not be able to achieve their career goals or advance in their field. Similarly, a person who spends all of their time partying may struggle to maintain healthy relationships or achieve financial stability.

While personal enjoyment is important, it is also important to strike a balance between leisure activities and responsibilities. One way to do this is to set clear goals and prioritize tasks accordingly. For example, a person could create a schedule that includes time for exercise, work, and personal enjoyment. By setting clear goals and adhering to a schedule, it becomes easier to prioritize responsibilities and ensure that they are met.

Another way to strike a balance is to find ways to combine personal enjoyment with productive activities. For example, a person could listen to audiobooks or podcasts while exercising or cleaning their home. They could also set aside time to pursue hobbies or interests that align with their long-term goals, such as learning a new skill or taking a course.

In conclusion, while personal enjoyment is an important part of life, people today do spend too much time on it and not enough time on more serious duties and obligations. Technology and the ease of access to entertainment can lead to a culture of constant distraction and neglect of responsibilities. However, by setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks, and finding ways to combine personal enjoyment with productive activities, it is possible to strike a healthy balance between leisure and responsibilities. By doing so, individuals can achieve their goals, maintain healthy relationships, and enjoy a fulfilling life.

Word List:

1. Ambivalent – having mixed feelings about something or someone
2. Conundrum – a confusing or difficult problem or question
3. Ephemeral – lasting for a very short time
4. Exacerbate – to make a problem, situation, or feeling worse
5. Facetious – treating serious issues with inappropriate humor or sarcasm
6. Inevitable – certain to happen, unavoidable
7. Obsolete – no longer used or useful, out of date
8. Paradox – a statement or situation that contradicts itself but may be true
9. Resilient – able to recover quickly from difficult conditions
10. Superfluous – unnecessary, more than is needed

Useful writing sentence structures:

1. While it is important to [verb phrase], I believe that [statement].
2. One reason I believe this is true is that [reason].
3. For example, a recent study found that [fact].
4. In many cases, [noun phrase] can become a habit that is hard to break.
5. Another reason why [statement] is that [reason].
6. This can lead to [negative consequence].
7. Additionally, [statement].
8. While [noun phrase] is important, it is also important to [verb phrase].
9. One way to do this is to [verb phrase].
10. Another way to [verb phrase] is to [verb phrase].
11. In conclusion, while [noun phrase] is an important part of [noun phrase], [statement].
12. By [verb phrase], [individuals] can [verb phrase], [verb phrase], and [verb phrase].

duty · enjoyment Toelf Writing