Are We Having Fun Yet?

Thoughts / Questions I had while reading "Are We Having FUN
YET?" in the UTNE reader: We (Americans) need to re-think the way
that we view work in our lives. Why does working hard = 40+ hour
weeks, 8+ hour days? It seems (to generalize) that we center our
lives around work and forget about other pursuits that are equally
(and sometimes more) important and valuable. I believe that most
workers average three productive days per week (as the Microsoft
survey pointed out), but I do not think it is because we are
spoiled or lazy. I think that most jobs can be done well in that
amount of time. The rest of the time is spent avoiding boredom,
waiting to go home. Jobs have changed (that is common knowledge).
We are not our grandparents. I do not spend 14 hours per day
working in a refinery. Jobs are different, people are different,
expectations are different. I do not think this is necessarily a
bad thing. Maybe it is time for us (Americans) to realize that we
need to change the way we work. If we can get our jobs done in 4
hours per day, then we should only work 4 hours per day (also
change the way we pay for work and what is considered full time).
We could use the rest of the time to pursue intellectual interests,
spiritual interests, family , etc. In the long run it seems
businesses could only benefit from stimulated and well rounded
employees. When we are at work we would be working not wasting time
paying bills online, talking to friends, sending personal email. It
is time to get rid of the guilt and judgment surrounding our work
that comes with being an American. We feel we have to "work hard,"
and we feel guilty for wanting other things in our lives. We may
need to redefine what "hard work" looks like, and add-- work that
is done outside of our jobs-- to that equation. Don't give us fun
at work as a substitute for what we really want: to go home, to
spend time with family (the people we should be having fu