The Cost of Busy

Everyone seems so busy these days! It’s the new norm. According to scientific time studies, American women spend more hours working and parenting today than we did 50 years ago. And men are feeling the squeeze more too. We’re not making it up. We are busy! What’s the cost of all this busy? Maybe you feel depleted and adrift. You are always juggling multiple balls, shifting tasks from home care, to caring for others, to producing professional results, to planning the social calendar a week in advance, and so on.

It can start to feel like you are a robot who is counted on to reliably manage each day, without ever taking a break or having personal needs. The worst part is looking around and seeing other people who seem to be doing even more, and doing it with a big smile. The guilt and isolation can be overwhelming.

“I don’t know where the time goes!”
“I can’t seem to get to it all done in any one day.”
“I feel like I am going in a million directions all the time.”

Bottom line: it is not sustainable to be endlessly busy. It’s called stress and it has real consequences on your mental, emotional, and physical health. High levels of everyday stress (aka. I’m so busy!) have been correlated to increased levels of depression, anxiety and obesity and deceased immune function and the ability to learn and retain new knowledge. And this is the short list!

It is past time to get off the hamster wheel. Taking some time and space for rest and recharge not only feels amazing in the moment, but it also supports your long term well-being.

And if you need more convincing: sometimes you need the pause to notice what is actually working in your life and what needs shifting. Taking a break from the stress hormone cocktail can help you access your intuition, potential, and greatness. It is an essential part of the human journey to make meaning from the stuff of our lives. To not do more, but to simply BE. Fully human.

When was the last time you made time for that?