Topic 49 常做的帮助工作/学习的事情

1. What’s the routine of people in your country?
I think that most people in China work 9-5 jobs450. So they’re busy during most of the day. But they
have evenings and weekends to spend at home. If they’re students, their routine is based around
school451. They go to classes during the day and study at night. People usually only change their routine during vacations or holidays. Those usually come around summer or winter.

2. Some people don’t have a daily routine. Is it good?
Honestly, that sounds very relaxing. But it seems to me that having a daily routine is important. It keeps you focused and lets you avoid wasting time on meaningless things452. A routine can help people from becoming depressed or lazy453. It isn’t good to do nothing all day or change your routine too much.Having a daily routine can help you be productive.

3. Is it important for children to have a daily routine? Why?
It’s very important for children to have a daily routine. It gives them a sense of order454. Kids can feel like things are in control. This will help them have less stress and anxiety. It also teaches them to manage their time well. That’s a skill that will help them in the future. In general, People with good time management are more productive at work.

4. Which kinds of jobs need a routine? Which kinds of jobs don’t need a routine? Why?
Off the top of my head455, manufacturing jobs require a routine. You have to do things in a very specific order456 at factories. So things are pretty routine in those kinds of jobs. But jobs that involve service don’t have the same kind of routines. It doesn’t matter if you’re in sales or designing457. You can be more flexible because customers’ demands change over time458. Plus, jobs that involve research also don’t need a routine. People who do that have to be creative. They can’t be limited by a fixed schedule459.

5. Should daily routine on holidays be the same as usual?
Well, if you’re on holiday, you don’t have to follow your usual daily routine. One of the best things about holidays is that they’re a break from routine460. It gives you the chance to change your routine. You know, most adults are tied up with work and study on weekdays. They have a stressful schedule every day. So I think it’s important to take a break. Otherwise you can get too stressed out. You might also get bored with your life.

450 work 9-5 jobs：朝九晚五的工作
451 their routine is based around school：他们的日常生活都是绕着学校转的
452 wasting time on meaningless things：把时间浪费在无意义的事情上
453 help people from becoming depressed or lazy：不会让人们沉沦抑郁或者变懒惰
454 a sense of order：秩序感
455 Off the top of my head：不假思索，我立马可以想到的
456 in a very specific order：特定规划好的顺序
457 It doesn’t matter if you’re in sales or designing：不管你是学设计还是干销售
458 over time：随着时间的推移
459 be limited by a fixed schedule：被固定的日程安排限制住
460 they’re a break from routine：从日常生活工作中脱离休息一下