To much work.

It's only as I get older that I have started thinking about this. It seems to me that work is now a necessary chore.
Yes I need the wages but my free time seems to be more important. Is there a happy balance?
I want to feel that I am getting good value from each week so yes I have to work but I want to feel that I am having plenty of free time to enjoy my interests.
Is it a case that we all work as much as we can every week when in fact most of us could give up one day or one shift a week, just think of the extra time that we could enjoy.
I think that I need to put some thought into this one. Ideas on a postcard please.