Busy Life in America

Busy Life in America

By: Amanda Pettit

Table of Contents

• Reflection-What is a Busy Life in America?• Americans: Overworked, Overstressed• Are Americans Too Busy?• How busy are Americans?• The Myth That Americans Are Busier Than Ever• Overwhelmed: Looking at America's obsession with being busy • Final Reflection-What I’ve learned

Reflection- What is a Busy Life in America?

Hmmm.. What do I know about the busy life in America? My guess is that this will be about the working class, family life and communities which make up America. Basically the good and bad of living life in America. When I hear "busy" I think working or keeping busy, therefore I think this topic digs deeper into the working class and the struggle to make a living in America.

View Article HERE

Americans: Overworked, OverstressedBy: Dean Schabner

This article discusses the “streamlined” workforce and how Americans are working more hours now than ever before. While companies are down-sizing and laying off hours for some, the “streamline” workers are then picking up those hours. Also, mentioning women now taking up a good part of the workforce rather than being a housewife.

Some important points made in this article include:In 1999, more than 25 million Americans - 20.5 percent of the total workforce - reported that they worked at least 49 hours a week, and 11 million of those said they worked more than 59 hours a week. The overall figures for how many hours a week the average American works have been held down by the increasing number of part-time service and retail jobs in the economy. But since many of the part-time jobs have been filled by the increasing number of women in the workforce, and many of these women had previously been housewives, there are fewer hours when anyone is taking care of household chores.

Instead of coming home to find the refrigerator and cupboards stocked, dinner ready, the table set, the clothes washed, the house clean and the children entertained, men are coming home and finding they have to chip in, because their wives aren't "the little woman," anymore. They are now sharing duties as breadwinner, which means men have to share household chores.

Are Americans Too Busy?By: Peter Lawler

View Article HERE

This article is about America choosing to be busy, stating that those who could have more time off choose otherwise. It talks about how Sunday is the day which marks the end of a busy work week and that not enough Americans are taking advantage of this day, instead choosing to work or spend that time in front on the TV rather then enjoying the outdoors or other activities outside of the home and workforce.

The article did go into detail regarding single mother which I though was a valid point: Single parents work (jobs plus housework and childcare) the most and are very strapped for time.

I personally agree with this statement, even though I may only work Monday-Friday 9-5, still my job is never done and that time on Sunday to spend in front of the TV or enjoying other activities is almost never an option.

How busy are Americans?By: Daniel Wesley

This article discusses the amount of work society is doing on a daily basis. As you’ll see on the graph the types of occupations and daily hours spent per occupation. And what we choose to do with our limited spare time.

For many, the end of the day means having a splitting headache, aching feet, and the realization that you need eight more hours in a day.. With all this pressure, have you ever stopped and wondered how much time you really spend completing daily tasks?

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The Myth That Americans Are Busier Than EverBy: Derek Thompson

This article gave a different point of view than the previous articles I’ve read. This article points out that America is working less now than we did in the 1960’s and 1980’s. Since 1950, young married women's work hours have tripled while married men's hours have declined, according to the Philadelphia Fed.

The article states:There is little evidence that America, as a country, is working more. Many of us—perhaps most of us—enjoy downtime that would look luxurious to a mid-century time-traveler.

View Article HERE

Overwhelmed: Looking at America's obsession with being busyBy: Jeanette Marantos

The article discusses PTO and Vacation pay and a lot of Americans don’t even use this benefit. Unlike most countries, the U.S. doesn’t have required vacation time or limits on how much a salaried employee can work. The article discusses once again how women are working 2 jobs, a full-time day job then full-time housewife. One thing the article points out about being busy in America is “There’s no such thing as being ‘wired’ for multitasking. The studies have shown that multitasking makes you as stupid as being stoned.”

View Article HERE

Final Reflection

A Busy Life in America has been going on for decades; working hard and having a busy life seem to be what society does. That seems to be changing with people finding that they feel less rushed and less busy, having more time on their hands seems to be a non-existent. Busy life and time are becoming more equal over time and even switching spots of more time and less of a busy life.

From researching this topic I found some very interesting facts that I did not know before. Now days only one third of Americans say they are busy and it is interesting because a decade ago half of Americans were saying they were busy or too busy. The busy life is still happening, but less Americans say they are busy; the busy life is dropping and starting to be replaced with a life with less hustle and bustle. Less and less people are feeling the rush of a busy life in America. I’ve learned there has actually been a gradual drop in Americans feeling rushed. I learned that the busy life is not as common as it was decades ago.

This information for the future will help me keep in mind of the changes that are occurring in America. In the future being able to watch and see if the busy life takes another turn back up into more Americans feeling rushed and busy or seeing if the trend keeps going where more and more Americans feel less rushed and less busy. The busy life in America is constantly changing, watching for the changes and understanding them is part of the fun living this busy life I America.