The Busyness Epidemic

A Disease of Misplaced Priorities

There’s a pervasive illness plaguing our society, and it’s not a virus. It’s the epidemic of busyness, a cultural disease that values constant activity over well-being and meaningful productivity. While a forced 21-hour workweek might seem drastic, perhaps the cure lies in simply acknowledging how irrational our current attitudes have become.

Historically, wealth, achievement, and social standing were all intertwined with leisure. As Thorstein Veblen, the 19th-century economist, put it, “the true badge of honour” was having the freedom not to work. Today, the equation has flipped on its head. We equate busyness with high status. Sociologist Jonathan Gershuny captures this perfectly: “’The best-off in our society are often very busy, and have to be,’” he says. “’You ask me, am I busy, and I tell you: ‘Yes, of course I’m busy — because I’m an important person!’”

The absurdity of valuing sheer activity is highlighted by a story shared by behavioral economist Dan Ariely. He recounts the tale of a locksmith he encountered early in his career. “He was just not that good at it,” Ariely explains. “It would take him a really long time to open the door, and he would often break the lock.” Despite this, customers readily paid his fee and even tipped him. However, as the locksmith honed his skills and became faster, complaints about his fees arose, and the tips stopped. Wouldn’t one think regaining access to their home or car quickly would be the priority? Apparently not. People placed a higher value on witnessing the locksmith’s visible effort and time spent, even if it meant a longer wait.

This misplaced value on busyness permeates our lives. We often adopt a similar attitude not just towards others, but ourselves. We measure our worth not by the results we achieve, but by how much time we spend doing. We lead frenetic lives, at least partly, because busyness provides a twisted sense of self-worth. It’s a nonsensical equation, to say the least. Perhaps, if we weren’t so busy chasing our tails, we might take a moment to realize the absurdity of it all.

Confessions of a Busy Bee:

I recently experienced this phenomenon firsthand. The past two weeks were a whirlwind of positive developments — a series of “life wins” that felt exhilarating. It was a dopamine rush unlike any other. But this high had a dark side. It translated into a surge of excess energy, and I found myself falling prey to the classic American trap. The insidious voice whispered that I needed to capitalize on this momentum, to do more and add more to my already overflowing plate. The idea of simply basking in my accomplishments felt unproductive, almost lazy.

Thankfully, I had a moment of self-awareness. I recognized the pattern — the busyness monster rearing its ugly head. Instead of succumbing to the urge to “do more,” I. realized I needed to release this excess energy. Thankfully, yoga has always been a refuge for me. With this realization, I purchased a new student yoga month pass. This wasn’t just about staying active; it was about channeling that ingrained busyness into something truly enriching, empowering, and healthy for my whole being.

This experience solidified the dangers of the busyness epidemic. It’s a constant battle, but by recognizing the signs and having the tools to combat them — like yoga in my case — we can break free from this cycle and learn to celebrate our achievements without feeling pressured to chase the next “win.”