ARE YOU RUSHED OFF YOUR FEET? - Learn English With Mr Duncan #englishaddictwithmrduncan

I don't know why, but it seems as if these days we are always in a rush.

We always seem to have so much to do.

But so little time to do it in.

Is it because we are so busy with our lives?

Or is it because there is too much for us to do?

A person might find themselves in a situation

where they just don't have enough time to do those all-important things.

Something all-important is an activity that has to be given priority above all other things.

To give priority is to put that thing at the front and to give it all of your attention.

The priority is the important thing.

It is the thing that must be done straight away or as soon as possible.

A person who always has things to do might be described as being rushed off their feet.

They have so little time to themselves.

They are rushed off their feet.

In business, a person can be rushed off their feet

if they are having a lot of customers coming through their door.

A shop assistant might be rushed off their feet

because there are so many customers in the store demanding attention.

A person working in a cafe might be rushed off their feet

because there are lots of hungry customers waiting to order some food.

In our daily lives, we can be rushed off our feet.

If there are many chores to do.

Perhaps you have a family to take care of

and other responsibilities that you must also give attention to.

We can describe this type of lifestyle as demanding.

Something that is demanding is a thing that needs constant attention

and cannot be done lightly.

Certain types of jobs can be demanding if a lot of effort is needed to do it.

Physical work is often described as demanding.

It takes a lot of energy to do that particular job.

If your job involves working for long periods of time, we can also describe it as demanding.

It is hard work.

That particular type of work is tiring.

After working all day,

a person might describe themselves as feeling ‘exhausted’, ‘tired out’,

they have no energy left. They are ‘dead on their feet’.

That person needs a break.

Of course, the opposite can be true.

A person might have some time that is not taken up by anything, they have free time.

They have nothing to do. They are free.

We can also say that a person has time on their hands,

they have spare time in which to do whatever they want.

This can be referred to as having time on your hands.

It would be fair to say that these days,

people must take those small moments of freedom in their daily lives and use them wisely.

You might only have a short time in which to relax.

You grab some time for yourself.

You take a short break from everything.

It is always possible to do too much and try to fit too many things into your daily life,

whether it is in your job or in your general day to day routine,

it is always important to take a few moments away from all the stress and strain of daily life.

We often say that we have to find a balance in the way in which we use time.

You might have to ask yourself some harsh questions.

How much time do I have to myself?

Am I giving myself enough time to relax?

Are there some things that I don't need to do?

You might find that you will have to make some changes to your routine,

although quite often it is easier said than done.

I think it is possible for all of us to find a happy medium when it comes to the amount of rest time we give ourselves.

That happy medium is a comfortable situation.

We often describe something that is just right as a happy medium.

I will do some work and I will make sure that I also take a break.

That is my happy medium.

Now I am going to take a well-deserved break and put my feet up for a while

before I have to make my next English lesson.

It is time to relax.