EF p 77. Being Busy. Mediation. Word Formation

TASK 1: 
You come across an infographic about people's addiction to being busy. You find it so interesting that you decide to write a blog entry about it.

Addiction to being busy

People struggle to juggle friends, family, work and fitness

Reasons for busyness:

Feeling anxious when missing an event.

To take your mind off your troubles.

To become successful.


Sample answer:


TEXT 1 
Are you (1)______________ (ADDICTION) to being busy? 
‘Let me check my diary and get back to you’, is a phrase we’ve all (2)_______________ (UTTERANCE). We are constantly on the go, trying to squeeze friends and family, work, and fitness into our (3)________________ (INCREASE) demanding lifestyles. And while we have all struggled with a jam-packed week at some stage, it’s possible some people have developed an actual addiction to ‘busyness’. 
Many busy people suffer from FOMO, which stands for ‘fear of missing out’, and is (4)______________ (DEFINITION) as anxiety, often caused by social media, that an exciting or interesting event is happening somewhere which they are not part of. Others pack their schedules in order to avoid dealing with other things in their lives. ‘When our mind isn’t occupied with a task, we are left with our thoughts and our emotions,’ says psychologist Jaimie Bloch. ‘This makes many people feel (5)______________ (COMFORT) and anxious. For example, those who have recently left relationships might use (6)________________ (EXCESS) activity as a way to keep their minds off the (7)_____________ (BREAK). Others may have a fear of being (8)_________________ (PRODUCE), so busyness feels like a way to achieve success. When these people aren’t busy, it’s a form of (9)_____________ (FAIL).’ Ms Bloch also says that in a society obsessed with (10)______________ (PRODUCE) and achievement, being busy can be a way to elevate your social status. ‘Being busy creates a sense of importance and value. The idea of relaxing, not doing anything, is linked to emotions such as (11)______________ (GUILTY) and shame.’





KEY




1. addicted





2. uttered





3. increasingly




4. defined





5. uncomfortable





6. excessive





7. break-up




8. unproductive





9. failure





10. productivity




11. guilt/ guiltiness

TASK 2: 
You come across an infographic about the effects of being busy on our health. You find it so interesting that you decide to write a blog entry about it.

Being busy and our health

Helps us live longer lives and sleep better

Keeps us physically and mentally stronger

Keeps us socially active

Prevents mental illness 

Don't retire early!
Do volunteer work!

Sample answer:

TEXT 2
What keeps you (1)____________ (HEALTH) is being busy, busy, busy! 
We all dream of leading a life of leisure. Often that dream just keeps (2)_____________ (RECESSION) from our grasp. Pension ages are going up, and smartphones and social media mean we’re never really ‘switched off’. But now, emerging (3)___________ (MEDICINE) research suggests that staying busy helps us to live longer, keeps us strong, and could even keep dementia at bay. 
(4)______________ (RECENT), American researchers revealed that we sleep better when we have lots of reasons to jump out of bed in the morning. (5)____________ (NEUROLOGY) in Chicago reported that people who are (6)_____________ (BUSY) purposeful − in particular, having a packed agenda of future plans − are less troubled by insomnia. And psychologists at the University of Texas reported that the busier people are, the stronger their mental powers, (7)___________ (REGARD) of age or education. 
It appears that keeping busy as we age is (8)____________ (PARTICULAR) beneficial – even if it means working beyond retirement age. Italian neuroscientists have warned that people aged over 50 who retire early are more likely to lose muscle (9)______________ (STRONG) and become ill. Last year, another report found that people who retired later were (10)_______________ (SIGNIFY) less likely to develop cognitive difficulties like loss of memory. Voluntary work has a similar effect. Professor Yannick Griep, a psychologist at Canada’s University of Calgary, says that seniors who volunteer are more  mentally, (11)__________ (PHYSICAL), and socially active, which helps to ward off dementia.




KEY



1. healthy





2. receding




3. medical





4. Recently




5. neurologists





6. busily





7. regardless





8. particularly





9. strength





10. significantly




11. physically

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