Band 6+: Some people regard work as the most important thing in life and have little interest in anything else. Other people are more enthusiastic about their hobbies and leisure interests than their jobs. Discuss both these attitudes and give your own opinion.

Some people live for their work. They are obsessed with it and work incessantly. Workaholics like this often experience health problems after a while because they do not rest or eat properly and are in a permanent state of stress. They do not know how to relax and do not know how to enjoy life. This surely cannot be a good thing. However, some people whose job is the most important thing in their lives are perfectly happy. If you are lucky enough to have a job that you love, doing it all the time is not exhausting or problematic because you enjoy it constantly. People who have careers that make them happy do not need hobbies and leisure pursuits for relaxation—they are happy and satisfied anyway.

Of course, it is true that most people have to earn a living, and unfortunately, this often involves doing a job that you do not enjoy. Many people have jobs they hate or find very boring or depressing. For such people, hobbies and leisure pursuits are extremely important. They provide something to look forward to at the end of a working day or week, and they offer an outlet for enthusiasm and attention. For example, a strong interest in playing or watching sports allows people to forget their jobs and other problems for a while and concentrate fully on something that is simply enjoyable. Hobbies that may seem strange to others can also give people something to focus their energies and thoughts on.

In my opinion, hobbies and leisure pursuits are vital. You should not think only about work! You need a balance in your life, something that offers simple pleasure and compensates for the unpleasant aspects of work. Some people do not need this because their jobs are also a source of pleasure for them, but I do not know many people like that!