Article

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/202201/how-take-better-break

OLD DRAFT

Individuals who worked in fast food and restaurants, data, or analysis, and wait for staff might be replaced by self-service technologies by 2030. People who anticipate this future work harder to improve their survival chances, making them part of the productivity culture. These workers may experience depression and other issues as they dedicate themselves more and more to their careers (Zubernis, 2022). In a Psychology Today article titled "How to Take a Better Break," written by Lynn Zubernis, the author focuses on identifying better strategies workers can take to make time for themselves at work, home, or school.

The genre of the text is non-fiction, as the author tried to convey information about real-world issues and suggest different approaches that individuals can use to take breaks at work. One of the issues mentioned in the article is how the COVID-19 pandemic changed the nature of work, like when it is done, where it is done, and the actual meaning of the workday. It also emphasized one thing that has stayed the same in work: the need to take a break (Zubernis, 2022). A non-fiction genre focuses on facts, and the author of the Psychology Today article identified reports from the National Bureau of Economic Research indicating the average minutes Americans work more than before the pandemic. The author focused more on the need for workers to take breaks because no reports suggested that they did.

Zubernis aimed to show workers how to take a break despite the demanding work. "The Great Resignation" is the rate at which employees walk away from their jobs, which has caused many debates that have led to experts citing the contribution of burnout. According to recent surveys, most workers experience burnout when working, and two-thirds believe their feelings of burnout have worsened (Zubernis, 2022). Burnouts make workers less efficient even if they spend much time working since, historically, the culture of not working has made individuals feel guilty when they take any time off.

The author targeted individuals who found it challenging to take breaks and not work continuously. She aimed to show them that taking a break is always a good use of time. Individuals hardly find an escape from work, which is crucial now because most jobs have shifted to the home. Most people report feeling increased pressure to be busy and purposeful at their makeshift workstations despite having some real benefits of working from home (Zubernis, 2022). When they pursue a few leisure moments, they feel guilty or selfish, which increases the pressure they experience. People who devalue leisure time may experience challenges in their personal and work experiences.

The article's core idea is how workers can reduce burnout by normalizing breaks without feeling guilty or selfish. Gabriela Tonietto of the University of Rutgers Business School led a recent analysis of four studies from four different nations with over 1,300 participants to arrive at the following conclusions. They identified individuals who found leisure activities as a waste of time as having higher levels of stress, depression, and anxiety compared to those who are open to it (Zubernis, 2022). Zubernis showed how the research was more interesting because individuals who found leisure activities a waste of time could not enjoy themselves even when permitted. The article identified the benefits of leisure and supported it with reports from psychologists who linked it with mental health.

According to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, leisure is a core component of self-actualization, and Albert Bandura also evidenced that leisure experiences were essential for healthy social development (Zubernis, 2022). Individuals can gain some sense of self-control when they pursue an activity that is not considered productive traditionally, which they can hardly gain in other aspects of their lives. There is a constant increase in pressure for people to become effective, with more people working from home and online (Zubernis, 2022). Most people have been conditioned to believe that working without breaks makes them productive.

Workers' moods improve, and their energy levels are renewed when they engage in leisure activities while taking work breaks. "Living through a pandemic reduced people's sense of control, research has found, leading to greater feelings of helplessness and depression. Engaging in a leisure activity for pleasure can be a powerful antidote, as research finds that people who engage in such activities report greater satisfaction with their lives overall." (Zubernis, 2022). The selected quote supports the core idea of the text by showing the importance of workers taking breaks and enjoying their leisure time to avoid experiencing burnout. Zubernis make workers understand that the quality of their life improves with the type of leisure activity they engage in. The feelings of guilt should not interfere with the moment workers take off work.

Conclusion

Lynn Zubernis, in the Psychology Today article titled "How to Take a Better Break," focused on identifying the strategies workers can use to make leisure time for themselves. Despite the demanding work nature, workers are encouraged to take a break to avoid experiencing burnout, which can impact their productivity.

Part 1.

1. Identify the topic of the text.

2. Explain the writer's choices in relation to the genre of the text.

3. Describe the writer's purpose.

4. Explain the writer's choices in relation to the audience,, purpose,, and//or subject of the text.

5. Determine the historical and//or cultural context of the text.

6. Articulate the core idea of the text.

7. Summarize details of the text that are relevant to the core idea.

8. Support your analysis of the core idea with evidence from the text.

A. Include at least one quote from the text.

B. Explain how this evidence supports the core idea.

Part 2.

Identify a new audience: Before you get started with your second version, choose a new audience and writing situation by addressing the following items in a few short paragraphs:

1. Identify an audience for the second version of your paper.
   1. This audience must be different from the one you addressed in the first version of your paper.
2. Describe the needs of that audience.
3. Describe the needs of the writing situation for the second version of your paper.
   1. Choose a writing situation different from the one you addressed in the first version of your paper. Then, describe the needs of that writing situation.

Second version of the paper: Now, revisit the analysis you wrote for the first version of your paper. Make changes to it based on the needs of the audience and writing situation you described in the previous section. This part of your project should be about 1 to 2 pages long. Specifically, do the following:

1. Adapt your writing style based on the needs of your audience.
   1. Adapting your writing will require you to make a significant number of changes. While the core idea of your paper will remain the same, the style that you use to communicate it to your audience will be different. Additionally, the changes you make should be consistent throughout the paper.
2. Adapt your writing conventions based on the needs of the writing situation.
   1. Adapting your writing will require you to make a significant number of changes. While the core idea of your paper will remain the same, the way that you communicate it to your audience will be different. Additionally, the changes you make should be consistent throughout the paper.