Lack of Unscheduled Time in America

First of all, what is the difference between unscheduled time and scheduled time? Years back when this generation were children, they did not have very much scheduled time. They could do as they pleased as long as those children followed rules set by parents, and other authorities figures.

Usually this generation as children had scheduled time for chores, and dinner with family each and everyday, but that was the most the most time that was scheduled. Children had more time to be with their friends. Also, they were able to have more time to focus on their studies so they could keep up their grades. Children also had more time to sleep and were able to get a better quality of sleep because they were not as busy.

Adults days were less scheduled as well. Beyond their jobs, most of the time left in their days were unscheduled. However demanding their jobs where, the adults were still able to have more free time back then. Adults were more able to spend time with their children, spouses, and even their own parents and family members. Then there are the aspects of the opposite, unscheduled time and the lack thereof.

Some aspects of scheduled time for children today include sports such as football, basketball, soccer, or cheerleading for girls, and sometimes cheerleading for boys. Another aspect is any extracurricular activity like clubs that include debate, drama or Student Government. These sort of things seem to control a students life leaving them with a lack of unscheduled time. When these things are piled up with church, family, and chores a child can feel drained with the lack of unscheduled time. The lack of unscheduled time also heavily effects adults. These days adults work extra hours to have money to pay for everything needed or wanted. When they work the extra hours time is taken away from the time that should be unscheduled.

Next, what are the pros and the cons of Scheduled time versus unscheduled time.? There are some good and some bad qualities on both sides of this argument. On the first hand, scheduled time is more demanding, therefore it can keep a person on their toes, and can keep them in line. However, this may be on the pro side of the argument, scheduled time can cross the line and push a person over their limitations. When a person is pushed over the edge of their limitations, that would be a considered a con for scheduled time. This pro versus con on limitations works for both children and adults because anyone can only be pushed so far before its beyond what they are limited to handle.

Another pro versus con question is the time that is open for family. Daily meals eaten with family members, spending quality time and having conversations with each other is usually limited with a lack of unscheduled time. This lack of family time when days are fully scheduled can effect both children and adults. This lack of family time can make children feel unloved and the adults can feel as if they are missing out on their child’s life.

Next, what effects does the lack of unscheduled time have on Americans? Children can be effected by having less time with their friends. Their grades could suffer because they do not have enough time to focus on their school work. Their sleep habits could also suffer or lose quality. Children could find themselves not getting enough sleep, or not being able to sleep through the night. Children could also be very prone to stress because of the strain that being busy all the time has on them. They could also become depressed, temporarily, or it could lead them into depression in the future.

However, children are not the only Americans to be effected by the lack of unscheduled time, adults are as well. Adults also deal with sleeping loss or bad sleeping habits. Adults are not as prone to doing poorly in school, unless they have gone back to college to get a higher degree. They could be drained from the lack of unscheduled time at work and not live up to the standards required in their job. Adults could be effected with irritability and stress from being drained. They could also be prone to yelling at the people they care about, including their children. Adults could also easily sink into depression, especially if they feel the scheduled time will never end.

Finally, can this problem of the lack of unscheduled time be fixed? If so, how can this problem be fixed? With the advances that keep coming in technology the problem could at the very least be lessened. Technology advancements could come up with some way to do some of the tasks that are needed to be done. For example, preparing a meal for adults, or just simply picking out clothes for a child to wear to school the next day. This surely would not fix the lack of unscheduled time because technology is not that advanced yet, but it could at least help out to an extent. Another solution could be using those who have more unscheduled time, to help out the people with less unscheduled time.

Those with more free time could make meals, do the shopping, prepare organization goals and plans for the family with less free time. Those people with more free time could do the things that those with no free time don’t have time to do themselves. This may not even the best plan of help for this problem, but it would lessen the problem better than technology. The best fix to this problem would be to change the whole ideal of this generation. Make the way of life go back to past generations when it was not necessary to be going 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

All in all, our generation today has a problem with a lack of unscheduled time. There is a big difference between unscheduled time and scheduled time along with a big list of pros and cons which argue which is better. The lack of unscheduled time has a stack of negative effects for children and adults. This problem may only be able to be lessened now, but perhaps it could be fixed if our generation had a new way of thinking. It could be changed if our generation went back to older generation of thinking that time did not have to be consumed of schedules 24 hours a day, seven days a week.