In March, I experimented with cutting my work hours by 17% to see how it would affect my
41 and well-being.
For two weeks, 42 working from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and reading a work-related book during lunch, I worked from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. and took a half-hour lunch 43 .
Parts of my experience were 44 — for example, I felt quite rushed during the first few days of the 45 . Other parts were less expected — like the fact that I was just as productive as before. But the most surprising finding is that I 46 spending more money.
On a (n) 47 workday, I dine on something particular, like a peanut butter and banana sandwich, while 48 in the Business Insider Kitchen. But during the first week of the experiment, I was so excited about the 49 that I wandered happily to the local food shop and 50 a sandwich that I ate while sitting in Madison Square Park. When I left work early, and 51 when I was killing time before plans with friends later in the evening, I 52 myself with tea and magazines.
So if you do decide to 53 your work hours, it’s probably wise to plan some 54 in advance — like visiting a 55 or a free museum that’s open during lunch or in the evenings, depending on your personality, 56 could potentially be even more meaningful than 57 at a coffee shop.
I should decide at some 58 in the future to go back to a(n) 59 workweek because that benefits me so much, and it’s certainly 60 I’ll keep in mind.
41. A. ability B. personality C. productivity D. nationality
42. A. more than B. other than C. or so D. instead of
43. A. breath B. chat C. look D. break
44. A. believable B. predictable C. comfortable D. reasonable
45. A. work B. step C. experiment D. progress
46. A. ended up B. started with C. speeded up D. lived with
47. A. terrible B. obvious C. flexible D. typical
48. A. sitting B. sleeping C. listening D. finding
49. A. freedom B. snack C. love D. happiness
50. A. borrowed B. bought C. found D. made
51. A. actually B. exactly C. especially D. quickly
52. A. educated B. reminded C. devoted D. entertained
53. A. take B. cut C. make D. spend
54. A. activities B. lists C. ideas D. goals
55. A. school B. factory C. library D. restaurant
56. A. that B. which C. where D. what
57. A. trying out B. putting out C. taking out D. hanging out
58. A. aspect B. point C. direction D. entrance
59. A. shorter B. cleverer C. easier D. longer
60. A. everything B. nothing C. something D. anything