The Heart Of It | Why Do We Romanticize Being Busy?

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"Stressed" and "being busy" seems to be the status symbol everybody desires. These two concepts naturally have a negative ring to them, yet today we praise such a thing. Our society humbly brags about being too busy, or constantly stressed about everything. 

Naturally I have been guilty of this, I think every one has been at least once! It's the answer we conclude to when trying to avoid an invitation, when we are asked how our day is going, or simply to gain attention. I get it. I'm a full time student, work one-two days a week, and write part-time for the blog (see, humble-bragging). Busy, I am all the time. Stressed should be my middle name. I mean, we go way back in high school! It's hard to avoid, and I know I'm not alone.

It's easy to get caught up in the loads of homework, Friday afternoon errands, city traffic, overtime hours at work, hair and nail appointments, chores to complete at home, social gatherings, and spending quality family time. I tend to be a huge procrastinator, and in high school the littlest things would set me off, and before I knew it I had my usual stress headache. Even with our busy lives, here is what I've learned...

Hearing that pathetic excuse of being too busy doesn't make it easier for me to understand, or have sympathy for your day, but rather it makes me feel like my life isn't important at all. I'm told constantly, "oh I wish I had time for blogging," or "it must be nice not having to work this semester." I have time for blogging, not because I don't have a life, but because it's a passion of mine and therefore make time for it. It is nice not having to work part time with 20+ hours a week like before, but I know your not envious of my free time, especially in that condemning tone. 

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of hearing how everyone is suddenly-extremely-so-busy-all-the-time. I've noticed this past semester, during my small talk conversations to an from classes that it has suddenly become a competition on who has the busiest day ahead of them. When I reply I have an english essay to begin, it's followed by "me too, plus a math test." I shouldn't have to compete with anyone, or prove to anyone that I live a successful, busy, or sociable life. 

Our society values the input more than the output. Us working gals are the first to clock in, and last to clock out, because we are so desperately seeking that new promotion, or sense of recognition. Us college students are drinking more coffee than a Gilmore girl because we are adding more college credits than we can handle in one semester. We think that the more we do leads to greater success. But in fact, our sense of identity, reputation, or worried with leaving first impressions shouldn't be on the amount of tasks we achieve each day. There is plenty of value in hard work, but with a healthy balance of knowing when to pull back. 

If we stopped romanticizing our busy lives, imagine the meaningful conversations we would have with each other. Speaking from experience, I have wasted so much of my day just thinking about all that my day entails.  What if we stopped celebrating how busy we are based off a measurement of importance, but rather spending more time enjoying quality time with loved ones. So the next time someone asks you how your time is going, I hope you'll think twice about bragging about your busy to-do list!