Managing leisure<\/p>\n
How long does it take to cover a distance of 100 feet? A study
\nrevealed that for the average Indonesian it takes 27.2 seconds.
\nThe Japanese take first place by clocking in at 20.7 seconds.
\nThey are followed by the British with 21.6 seconds and the
\nAmericans with 22.5.<\/p>\n
We cannot help but be reminded of that survey because of the
\npresent debate over the government's decision to introduce a
\nfive-day-work week, which is planned to start in August of next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Surprisingly, while most people talk about the pro's and con's
\nof the proposed scheme, very few have raised concerns over how
\nthe long week-end system will impact our productivity levels. As
\nthe survey cited above has shown, the productivity levels of the
\naverage Indonesian are not particularly high. In fact, they are
\nsome of the lowest in the world. There is no guarantee that
\ngiving an additional day off per week is going to ensure that our
\ncivil servants and workers will return to work with recharged
\nbatteries on Monday and work harder.<\/p>\n
What is also surprising is the fact that -- except for some
\nvague expressions of hope that the plan will strengthen family
\nbonds and enable city dwellers to visit villages in the provinces
\nand thus help develop their economies -- even less attention has
\nbeen given to the question of how people should go about
\nreorganizing their lives in step with the long-weekend plan.<\/p>\n
Since it is almost certain that the five-day-week scheme will
\nbe implemented next year, given that President Soeharto has given
\nit his stamp of approval, we are of the opinion that we should
\npay more attention to the problem of the management of leisure.<\/p>\n
For one thing, in our present society with its increasing
\ndegree of consumerism, spending time on leisure costs money. For
\na middle class people, the management of leisure is relatively
\neasy since they can afford to bear the costs.<\/p>\n
But what about the lower-paid government employees? One of
\nthem, in a letter published in this newspaper the other day,
\nvoiced his displeasure over the plan because staying home for an
\nadditional day would not only cut down his income, it subject him
\nto a \"seven-round bout of headaches\".<\/p>\n
Of course, one could argue that there are many leisure
\nactivities which cost almost nothing. But, how many of these
\nlittle or no-cost activities are really out there? We have too
\nfew public parks to offer the public as play grounds. Squares and
\nsport fields where our children could play football are rapidly
\ndisappearing. Window-shopping will surely ignite more economic
\njealousy among people. Parents won't be able to find any relief
\nin letting their children watch television during those extra
\nholidays, because programming contains so much violence and cheap
\nsoap operas.<\/p>\n
Even reading material is becoming more costly and the recent
\ngovernment clamp down on the freedom of the press has caused the
\nlocal papers to become more cautious. Their reports are now even
\nmore dull and surely now worth spending a holiday with.<\/p>\n
We suggest therefore that a concerted and realistic plan be
\ndrawn up to see how people, particularly those who would be most
\naffected by the five-day-work-week, should manage their leisure
\ntime.<\/p>\n
Only by doing this can we reap any real benefits from the
\nfive-day-work scheme, including relaxation, intellectual
\nenrichment, getting closer to nature, increased productivity and
\nefficiency, strengthened family bonds and, perhaps, even a boost
\nin the rural economies.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/managing-leisure-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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