All work and no play is not necessary make Jack a dull boy – it also makes Jack very susceptible to the pressures and stresses of both the workplace and home life. Most people are often under the impression that they have no time for recreations simply because they have too much work and responsibilities to finish first. Taking time out to do other personal activities, it is argued, only serves to decrease the time that is allotted to them to finish their work. Consequently, this lesser amount of time will only increase their stress levels.

However, focusing too much on the work aspects of one's life rather than the recreational aspects can be even more detrimental to one's state of well-being. Always being in the work mindset will cause people to do more poorly at work, because the mind is not allowing it or the body to distress and unwind. When both the body and the brain becomes too tired as a result of work, yet persists on accomplishing these duties, the ability to successfully cope with these pressures are also significantly reduced.

Taking the time out to relax therefore, is not something a person does to procrastinate. Actually, it is one of the mechanisms, which allow a person to recover in between work hours. There are many different reasons why people should always set aside and closely adhere to a schedule that incorporates a time for recreation as well as a time for working.

First, a well-rested person will be able to focus more on the tasks at hand once he or she goes back to work. A tired person is more likely to make more mistakes at work or at home, thereby forcing him or her to spend even longer hours than necessary to try and correct these mistakes. A person who willingly takes a break from work, even if it is just for a half hour or so, is able to return with a refreshed mind, able to see things from a clearer perspective and assess their tasks more clearly. A person who works from nine to five pm for example, goes home and relaxes, then goes and resumes working the next day, will have better results at work than one who works long past office hours and into the night, when he is by then already tiring. In the same way, a person who stays up all night tending to his baby, and still insists on getting up early in the morning to fix breakfast instead of relinquishing these duties to the spouse, will tend to make more mistakes in the process.

Additionally, there are also many physiological side effects that can result from working for too long. The brain can usually only tolerate a certain duration of work without engaging in recreational activities to relax, and when it reaches its breaking point, it sends signals to the body to complain. A person who is aware of any physical and mental fatigue becomes automatically biased to do more work, and if forced, does it very shoddily. When tired or exhausted, work appears to be a great contributing factor adding up to our stress level. People subconsciously sacrifices quality over getting things done in the least amount of time. If the body and mind is well rested however, a person is able to see the situation for what it is. Moreover, can more successfully and effectively manage these tasks?

Finally, something as simple as taking a short stroll, watching television or reading a book can do wonders for pressure management. Always plan out your schedule and make time to enjoy doing activities that you like every once in awhile, especially after you've finished a goal or a certain amount of work. Having time off for a job well done enables you to return to your responsibilities or duties with more energy.