Last week, I asked my friend, “How are you?” and the answer was “Busy.” I immediately thought, “When did “busy” become the right answer to “How are you?” And I smiled. I smiled because I’ve answered this question the same way countless times. The fuller our calendars, the more “successful” we seem. But if hustle is the key to happiness, why do we feel so drained?
The blog will take you through modern society’s normalized way of living: life as one long to-do list, and it will show you the hidden cost of rushing.
The Busy Culture Trap
Studies show that the average person checks their phone 96 times a day. From the moment of waking up, we grab our phones, check emails, scroll, reply to messages, prepare breakfast, and listen to some podcast simultaneously to productively use the time. We commute to the university or work, and we make a to-do list for the evening in our phone’s notes, ironically one of which is “relaxing.” We don’t give ourselves a second to just be. Reason behind our behavior? It’s really simple; checking off tasks feels good. Accomplishment of even small tasks releases dopamine in our brains, which causes pleasure and motivation to do even more. However, in today’s world, more has become never-ending.
Social Expectations & Pressure
Long before I joined social media, the main source of my pressure was my mom and family, to meet their expectations and to be successful, but today I feel obligated to meet the expectations of all these people who post about their endless productivity: 5AM workouts, side hustles, 10 years of senior-level experience by the age of 30, naturally, all of us feel like we are falling behind. Think about the last time when your stomach dropped while you were scrolling LinkedIn and someone from your school got your dream job. It won’t take you too long, I bet. But do we actually take a moment and think about how different privileges and paths we all have before actually comparing ourselves to others?
The Cost of Being Stuck in “Busy Mode”
The constant need to be productive comes at a price: burnout, exhaustion, mental and physical health neglect, and disconnection from life.
Have you ever thought that the digestive issues that you have could be caused because of your constantly packed days? Or acne, which isn’t getting cleared no matter how expensive the skincare products you buy. Well, I didn’t think about it till my body forced me to see it. Even better, once, I spent my entire vacation thinking about work. Looking back, I barely remember the trip, and it was so good that I was taking a lot of selfies; at least I have proof that I was there. Not being present- another price of being always productive.
What If We’re Doing It Wrong?
We assume doing more will bring us closer to success, but studies show that overworking actually leads to worse results. Could slowing down be the real secret to getting ahead? Think of the time when you were late somewhere and trying to leave the house really fast; how many times did you forget to turn off lights? How many times did you struggle to find your keys? What if success wasn’t about how much we do but about how intentionally we do and how much we enjoy it.
Next up: Slowing Down Isn’t Lazy-It’s Smart
