Goodbye Busyness... How to Practice the Forgotten Art of Leisure
Appearing busy has become a new status symbol, researchers claim. Here's how to stop, de-stress and find some stillness
A curious new status symbol is creeping into the collective conscious in many western countries. It’s probably not what you think and, ironically, it’s nothing you’d consciously wish for. Busyness, overworking and leading leisure-deprived lifestyles have evolved into perplexing symbols of success, claim researchers from Columbia, Georgetown and Harvard universities.
Silvia Bellezza, a professor of marketing at Columbia Business School, has published a series of studies on the topic in the ‘Journal of Consumer Research’ along with Neeru Paharia and Anat Keinan. Her findings? That many of us perceive people who are overly busy as being more competent, ambitious and highly sought after in the job market than people who have ample leisure time on their hands. If this strikes a chord, it may be time to hit ‘pause’ and reclaim some lost leisure time.
The rising status of being busy
How often have you heard a colleague mourn their lack of free time or proclaim (often rather loudly) that they’re on deadline – again – and have to work through the weekend – again – and are in drastic need of a holiday but are too busy to take time off?
Or maybe your partner often laments how hard it is to make the kids’ lunches, get them dressed in time for school, clean the house, do the laundry, ferry everyone to after-school activities, help with homework and then cook dinner…
How often have you heard a colleague mourn their lack of free time or proclaim (often rather loudly) that they’re on deadline – again – and have to work through the weekend – again – and are in drastic need of a holiday but are too busy to take time off?
Or maybe your partner often laments how hard it is to make the kids’ lunches, get them dressed in time for school, clean the house, do the laundry, ferry everyone to after-school activities, help with homework and then cook dinner…
I’ll be the first to cringe in recognition, put my hand up and admit that when friends ask how I am, I’ve been guilty of occasionally replying “busy!” A quick scroll through social media uncovers a barrage of hashtags such as #crazyschedule, #nolifesincepromotion or #vacationplease. According to Bellezza, these ‘humblebrags’ are “the act of showing off about something through an ostensibly self-deprecating statement”.
In other words, there are hordes of individuals who see busyness as something to be secretly or subconsciously proud of and view the resulting stress and lack of leisure time as an aspiration, a symbol of success.
In other words, there are hordes of individuals who see busyness as something to be secretly or subconsciously proud of and view the resulting stress and lack of leisure time as an aspiration, a symbol of success.
The lost art of leisure
Historically, having leisure time was one of the greatest status symbols of all time and the home was as good a place as any to while away the hours. As far back as 44BC Cicero, the legendary Roman writer, orator, political figure and lawyer, wryly stated that, “A citizen who gives his labour for money degrades himself to the rank of slaves”.
This belief persevered well into last century. Western societies’ affluent classes were often considered to be solely employed attending endless luncheons, followed by 10-course dinner parties where diners were not even expected to wash up a teaspoon at the end of the night.
Historically, having leisure time was one of the greatest status symbols of all time and the home was as good a place as any to while away the hours. As far back as 44BC Cicero, the legendary Roman writer, orator, political figure and lawyer, wryly stated that, “A citizen who gives his labour for money degrades himself to the rank of slaves”.
This belief persevered well into last century. Western societies’ affluent classes were often considered to be solely employed attending endless luncheons, followed by 10-course dinner parties where diners were not even expected to wash up a teaspoon at the end of the night.
From past to present
So how did we get from that historical ideal to the leisure-poor lifestyles that so many of us lead today? Bellezza believes it’s partly due to the Western world’s transition from industries such as agriculture and manufacturing to services, which call for increased intellectual capital.
But the greatest reason is that some cultures regard leisure as a virtue while in others, it’s considered more of a vice. In the same way that busyness has been conflated with status, let’s not make the same mistake and confuse leisure with laziness. The masterful Russian writer Anton Chekhov wrote in 1894, “I despise laziness,” but believed that leisure was an “essential element of happiness”. And in many circles where intense productivity is praised, distinguishing between the two is vital to dissolving the gnawing guilt that many of us feel when free time lands in our lap.
So how did we get from that historical ideal to the leisure-poor lifestyles that so many of us lead today? Bellezza believes it’s partly due to the Western world’s transition from industries such as agriculture and manufacturing to services, which call for increased intellectual capital.
But the greatest reason is that some cultures regard leisure as a virtue while in others, it’s considered more of a vice. In the same way that busyness has been conflated with status, let’s not make the same mistake and confuse leisure with laziness. The masterful Russian writer Anton Chekhov wrote in 1894, “I despise laziness,” but believed that leisure was an “essential element of happiness”. And in many circles where intense productivity is praised, distinguishing between the two is vital to dissolving the gnawing guilt that many of us feel when free time lands in our lap.
What part does culture play?
Busyness as a status symbol is regarded differently in various countries, and culture, age and demographics all play a moderating role. Your social standing might rise a notch in the eyes of your colleague if you bemoan the fact that you rarely leave the office before midnight. But try repeating that phrase to your parents’ generation and they’re likely to perceive you in a less than lofty light. Similarly, Bellezza found that “while busyness at work is associated with higher status among Americans, the effect is reversed for Italians”.
Busyness as a status symbol is regarded differently in various countries, and culture, age and demographics all play a moderating role. Your social standing might rise a notch in the eyes of your colleague if you bemoan the fact that you rarely leave the office before midnight. But try repeating that phrase to your parents’ generation and they’re likely to perceive you in a less than lofty light. Similarly, Bellezza found that “while busyness at work is associated with higher status among Americans, the effect is reversed for Italians”.
Shift your mindset
Perhaps the most important steps in debunking the busyness myth are distinguishing between leisure and laziness, and increasing your self-awareness of when you may inadvertently conflate busyness with status (either privately or publicly). Being busy is one thing, but feeling that this time-poor state somehow increases your social or professional standing is quite another.
For those who have fallen victim to this mentality, take inspiration from the majority of Italians who participated in Bellezza’s study and associate a leisurely lifestyle with elevated status.
How to Set Up Your Home to Avoid 9 Top Daily Stresses
Perhaps the most important steps in debunking the busyness myth are distinguishing between leisure and laziness, and increasing your self-awareness of when you may inadvertently conflate busyness with status (either privately or publicly). Being busy is one thing, but feeling that this time-poor state somehow increases your social or professional standing is quite another.
For those who have fallen victim to this mentality, take inspiration from the majority of Italians who participated in Bellezza’s study and associate a leisurely lifestyle with elevated status.
How to Set Up Your Home to Avoid 9 Top Daily Stresses
Embrace (the right) technology
Technology is a slippery little subject. These days, it’s as common to feel chronically busy and leisure-deprived as it is to relieve yourself of precious hours each day glued to social media, the web or any type of screen. While some technologies hinder your search for lost leisure hours, other advancements around the home can serve up extra time on a silver platter by doing jobs for you.
Feel overwhelmed by how often your floors need to be vacuumed and mopped? There are robotic floor cleaners on the market that have you covered. No time to cook a meal after work? Delegate dinner to your slow cooker before you leave home in the morning or cook for an army and freeze multiple meals. Keep neglecting to water the garden because you’re short on time? Consider installing a timer-operated sprinkler system.
Technology is a slippery little subject. These days, it’s as common to feel chronically busy and leisure-deprived as it is to relieve yourself of precious hours each day glued to social media, the web or any type of screen. While some technologies hinder your search for lost leisure hours, other advancements around the home can serve up extra time on a silver platter by doing jobs for you.
Feel overwhelmed by how often your floors need to be vacuumed and mopped? There are robotic floor cleaners on the market that have you covered. No time to cook a meal after work? Delegate dinner to your slow cooker before you leave home in the morning or cook for an army and freeze multiple meals. Keep neglecting to water the garden because you’re short on time? Consider installing a timer-operated sprinkler system.
But beware the status-rich, time-poor associations of using some time-saving technologies. According to Bellezza, “Findings from this study demonstrate the signalling power of brands and products associated with an overworked lifestyle, such as a timesaving grocery brand [which offers online shopping and delivery] or a multitasking bluetooth headset.” We’re guessing this will generate an influx of products advertising their time-saving benefits in the future, so you may need to choose judiciously.
Tip: If you find yourself wasting too much time online, investigate internet disabling devices that shut off your home’s wifi at a certain hour or block specific apps or websites, such as social media.
Tip: If you find yourself wasting too much time online, investigate internet disabling devices that shut off your home’s wifi at a certain hour or block specific apps or websites, such as social media.
Differentiate between what’s important versus what’s urgent
This fast-paced world we live in is expert at convincing us that so many things are urgent when in reality they can wait. It’s true that sometimes you need to answer that urgent late-night email within the next few minutes, though do you really need to go through the rest of your inbox now or is a restful sleep more important?
It can help to accept that as soon as you tick a task off your to-do list, another job can crop up just as quickly. The trick here can be to prioritise what’s most important before tackling what’s urgent (and what’s not urgent, these days?).
By doing what’s important you’ll make progress in achieving your own goals; while doing what’s urgent usually helps others achieve theirs. This is how former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower reportedly managed his time to be effective, not just efficient. If it’s good enough for someone who was that busy, it’s good enough for us.
Sun Salute: How to Set Up a Morning Yoga Routine
This fast-paced world we live in is expert at convincing us that so many things are urgent when in reality they can wait. It’s true that sometimes you need to answer that urgent late-night email within the next few minutes, though do you really need to go through the rest of your inbox now or is a restful sleep more important?
It can help to accept that as soon as you tick a task off your to-do list, another job can crop up just as quickly. The trick here can be to prioritise what’s most important before tackling what’s urgent (and what’s not urgent, these days?).
By doing what’s important you’ll make progress in achieving your own goals; while doing what’s urgent usually helps others achieve theirs. This is how former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower reportedly managed his time to be effective, not just efficient. If it’s good enough for someone who was that busy, it’s good enough for us.
Sun Salute: How to Set Up a Morning Yoga Routine
Get organised
We admit it’s not the most scintillating subject, though having an organised home and schedule can be the difference between feeling busy, rushed and stressed or operating smoothly, calmly and on-time. In the home, organisation equates to everything having its own place, from that spare set of keys for guests to the shoes, coats and bags that are flung aside when people traipse through the front door. Routines also help, so try aiming to do a grocery shop on the same day every week or set aside some time each weekend for other domestic tasks.
Organisation made Easier, Step by Step
We admit it’s not the most scintillating subject, though having an organised home and schedule can be the difference between feeling busy, rushed and stressed or operating smoothly, calmly and on-time. In the home, organisation equates to everything having its own place, from that spare set of keys for guests to the shoes, coats and bags that are flung aside when people traipse through the front door. Routines also help, so try aiming to do a grocery shop on the same day every week or set aside some time each weekend for other domestic tasks.
Organisation made Easier, Step by Step
Start with 10 minutes
Regardless of how genuinely busy and constantly rushed you are, we can all find a few moments a day to take a breather. Aim to claim 10 minutes of time for yourself each day or, if that feels too scandalous, try for just 60 seconds. We’ve all heard ideas about how you can actively find this essential time for yourself – get up earlier, combine chores, introduce systems, delegate – so let’s not repeat them here (after all, you’re probably a busy person!).
You might choose to fill these 10 minutes with a cardio workout or you may prefer a soak in the tub. Perhaps you enjoy playing with a pet or maybe the idea of quietly sneaking away from the din of your home and meditating is your idea of 10 minutes well spent.
Regardless of how genuinely busy and constantly rushed you are, we can all find a few moments a day to take a breather. Aim to claim 10 minutes of time for yourself each day or, if that feels too scandalous, try for just 60 seconds. We’ve all heard ideas about how you can actively find this essential time for yourself – get up earlier, combine chores, introduce systems, delegate – so let’s not repeat them here (after all, you’re probably a busy person!).
You might choose to fill these 10 minutes with a cardio workout or you may prefer a soak in the tub. Perhaps you enjoy playing with a pet or maybe the idea of quietly sneaking away from the din of your home and meditating is your idea of 10 minutes well spent.
Regardless of how you relax, go on: make yourself a cuppa, sit down, put your feet up. Create some time to enjoy doing nothing but feeling the warmth of the mug against your palms, tasting each sip and tuning in to the sounds, sights and smells of your home.
Fancy taking it one step further? Be bold, dare to finish a book or indulge in little more than lazing on the sofa listening to your favourite tunes. Unless, of course, you’re just #toobusy #overworked or #needaholiday to accomplish all that jazz.
Tell us
Do you feel chronically busy? In the Comments, tell us what you do for time out and how you seize these precious moments of leisure. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, save it and share it with someone you think could do with a break.
More
Find a professional organiser in your area who can get your home in order so you get to relax more
Fancy taking it one step further? Be bold, dare to finish a book or indulge in little more than lazing on the sofa listening to your favourite tunes. Unless, of course, you’re just #toobusy #overworked or #needaholiday to accomplish all that jazz.
Tell us
Do you feel chronically busy? In the Comments, tell us what you do for time out and how you seize these precious moments of leisure. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, save it and share it with someone you think could do with a break.
More
Find a professional organiser in your area who can get your home in order so you get to relax more