英语听力文摘 English Digest 722 加班坏处知多少？

Working Overtime¹

In American culture, working hard is almost always stressed as an unmitigated good. Is it possible to work too hard, though? Of course the answer is yes.

But the actual mental and physical consequences of working too much are less well known. According to a good amount of research, overworking, which is typically defined² as working more than fifty hours per week, is strongly linked to reduced physical well-being³ and also to mental disorders⁴ such as depression.

Now, the science here is not exact. Working fifty or more hours a week may suit some people just fine, and even lead to better mental and physical fitness⁵. It depends on the person in question, and also the type of work involved.

Still, scientists have recognized a phenomenon called the Theory of Time Allocation which, basically, suggests that the more money you make, the more likely you are to work more. In other words, with more money at stake, you’re more likely to see time spent not working as a wasted opportunity.

Even if you’re aware that working too much may have negative consequences, it can be difficult to break the cycle. At that point working becomes something like an addiction⁶.

There’s no easy solution to this problem. Like many addictions⁷, workaholism can be tough to overcome. The first step, experts say, is to recognize and understand the problem. And then, sometimes with the aid of professional help, take steps to beat it.

加班坏处知多少？

在美国文化中，努力工作几乎总是被强调为一件不折不扣的好事。但是，工作是否可能太努力？答案当然是肯定的。

但工作太多的实际心理和身体后果却鲜为人知。根据大量研究，过度工作（通常定义为每周工作超过50小时）与身体健康状况下降以及抑郁等精神障碍密切相关。

现在，这里的科学并不精确。每周工作50小时或更长时间可能适合一些人，甚至可以改善身心健康。这取决于所讨论的人，以及所涉及的工作类型。

尽管如此，科学家们已经认识到一种叫做“时间分配理论”的现象，它基本上表明，你赚的钱越多，你工作的可能性就越大。换言之，随着更多的钱处于风险之中，你更有可能将不工作的时间视为浪费的机会。

即使你意识到工作过度可能会带来负面后果，也很难打破这种循环。在这一点上，工作就像一种上瘾。

这个问题没有简单的解决办法。像许多成瘾一样，工作狂很难克服。专家表示，第一步是认识和理解问题。然后，有时在专业帮助的帮助下，采取措施战胜它。

1 overtime   

adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地

参考例句：

• They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
• He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。

2 defined   

adj 定义的; 清晰的

参考例句：

• These categories are not well defined. 这些类别划分得不太明确。
• The powers of a judge are defined by law. 法官的权限是由法律规定的。

3 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

4 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 fitness   

n.适合，适当，健康，健身

参考例句：

• They're doing exercises to improve their fitness.他们为增强体质而做体操。
• No one questions her fitness for the job.没人怀疑她能胜任这项工作。

6 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

7 addictions   

瘾( addiction的名词复数 )； 吸毒成瘾； 沉溺； 癖好

参考例句：

• He has removed the stigma of drug addictions. 他已经洗去吸毒的污点了。
• Intelligent people are good at using reason to control excessive addictions. 智慧的人善于用理性来控制过度的嗜欲。