C 2 · Science, techonology & space · Workplace & jobs

C1/C2 Listening 3 Rules for a better work-life balance

person using gray laptop
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels.com

With the massive increase of technology in the workplace, many have seen how emails and messages constantly make their way into their free time. There’s no denying that tools and technologies have helped improve productivity, flexibility and collaboration among employees, however, the same technology that gives them the ability to work anywhere also makes them contactable at any time and leaves them unable to switch off.

According to experts, this lack of boundaries between work and private life is not only taking its toll on employees’ right to rest, but also has a significant productivity loss for companies.

In this listening, behavioural scientist and Harvard Business School professor Ashley Whillans, shares three practical steps for reframing the boundaries between work and leisure.

This is a sentence completion listening activity. As usual, read the questions first. Check the meaning for new words as the questions for advanced and proficiency levels usually paraphrase what the speaker said and avoid repeating the exact words from the spoken sample. Then play the video twice filling in the blank with the word or words you hear. Before completing the task, check for spelling errors.

Created by blogdeserena

C1-C2 Listening 3 Rules for a better work-life balance

Read the questions and watch the video twice. Fill the blanks the the word/words you hear (there may be one or two words). You have an example (zero).

Video from TED Talks

Activity by Serena

zero example

Protection of our time can improve if we take a few 0) ___ ____ Key smart strategies.

Research suggests that constant interruptions from work during a person's time off adds up to a 1) ______.

Tourists visiting an iconic church remembered 2) ____ a week later.

Constant interruptions cause a 32-days loss of companies' productivity due to 3) ___________.

When having time off, we have to seek out ways that will enable us to enjoy the available leisure instead of perceiving it as an 4) __________ to our work.

Another strategy is to create 5) ________ for your time off.

In order to succeed, work as a team and when checking on progress, if the team is unsuccessful, work to help 6)____ personal goals.

Last of all, one suggestion within negotiating for time, is to ask for more time on 7) __________  so as to avoid working during your weekend.

According to Whillians' data, workers that had  explicitely asked for more time were perceived as more 8) _________ and professional by their colleagues.

On realising the impact that reframing rest has on your life, you will feel entitled to make others respect and 9) ________ your approach to time.

Speak for a minute

  • In general terms, has the use of technology helped you gain a work-life balance or has it had the opposite effect?
  • How possible is it to leverage technology and make the most of work-life balance?
  • What amount of prioritization should one allocate between work, personal life, and family?
  • Indeed, research shows that the primary cause of stress is workload, being almost a 50% over other causes of stress. What is, in your opinion, responsible for this?

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