Why are we addicted to being busy?

When's the last time you paused and took stock of your calendar? In this two-part column, we explore the correlation (or lack thereof) between being busy and being successful, and explore how to navigate activity with purpose. Read part two here

“Leaving at 6pm, ah? Half day today?” This was a common refrain at one of my previous jobs. At my first proper job as a writer, my boss once told me ominously: “I know what time you leave…” What she meant was, she knew that I left work at 7pm on the dot (our work hours were from 11am to 7pm), while my colleagues would stay till 2 or 3am. 

Looking back, I realise now that leaving on time meant that I was meeting my deadlines adequately and managing my time effectively – but back then, the implication was that my good performance counted for naught because I didn’t do OT (or over time, for those of you lucky enough not to know this term).

I ended up internalising these seemingly innocuous jabs, and they led me to believe that being constantly active and working till 11pm every night meant that I was being productive, efficient, and worthy of climbing the career ladder. 

And I know I am not alone. In Singapore, the typical response to “How are you?” is “Busy”, and we wear that busyness like a badge of honour. “[We say busy] almost as a brag, or as a statement that shows [we] are part of the professional elite,” says Mette Johansson, founder of Singapore-based career consultancy Metamind. 

Are we addicted to activity?

Research in the US has shown that people who are perceived as busy are rated higher on the social status scale. Writing for the Harvard Business Review, researchers Silvia Bellezza, Neeru Paharia, and Anat Keinan posit that “the more we believe that one has the opportunity for success based on hard work, the more we tend to think that people who skip leisure and work all the time are of higher standing”. 

Ruchi Parekh, executive and life coach at her eponymous company, agrees, adding: “There definitely are societal pressures and expectations that contribute to our busyness. We live in a culture where high value is given to productivity and achievements. 

“This creates an environment where individuals feel pressured to fill schedules with activities and obligations that demonstrate their worth or meet others’ expectations. There is an unspoken belief that busyness equals productivity.” 

But beyond the social expectations, keeping busy is also a habit that’s become hard-wired in our brains. Our brains crave activity, says Ruchi, adding that “when we complete a task, the brain releases a hormone called dopamine, which is the feel-good hormone”. She adds: “It’s easy to get used to the feel-good factor and hence, we want to repeat behaviour leading us to do more activity that gives us that feeling.” 

There is another subtle implication too – being busy implies that you’re in demand, whether professionally, personally or socially, and that your contributions are being valued. As Mette puts it: “It is a way to feel important – that we are irreplaceable.” 

Finding purpose 

Today’s hustle culture might require us to be constantly on the move, but the “busyness” might be a red herring. 

When was the last time we took a moment to hit the pause button and truly immerse ourselves in the tasks at hand? While we sprint to finish our obligations, have we ever stopped to question whether we’re running aimlessly on a treadmill, or embarking on a purposeful journey with a clear destination?

Engaging in repetitive tasks can often serve as a clever diversion for our minds, deflecting our attention away from what truly matters. It’s as if our brain conspires to shield us from confronting the crucial issues that demand our attention, substituting meaningful action with seemingly productive busyness.

Take the example of one of Ruchi’s clients, who was heading a team of 500 as the head of a private bank in Singapore. 

“He was always involved in the day-to-day stuff, leaving no time to strategise or plan for the future. He wanted to take a step back from running the day-to-day affairs, but feared that doing so would affect the organisation since he was knee-deep in everything. He was afraid to delegate, but also felt that he would burn out if he did not take any action.” 

After several sessions, they realised that he was the “fall-back guy” for everyone. This was because “his team was not empowered to make the big and difficult choices, because they knew he would do it; he had no boundaries, worsening the pace of his burnout; and he had no time to plan for the future of the business or succession, which could be disastrous for the bank”. 

Together, they found several solutions, including moving from a fear-based mindset to an abundance mindset. They introduced other changes, such as not being involved in every aspect of every team’s decisions, and sending an e-mail that he would not be available after 6.30pm.  

“The benefits of these small changes were both professional and personal: With the freed-up time, he was able to think more about the strategy and direction of his business, and personally, he could now get home in time for dinner with his kids – something he hadn’t done in years. He felt his life had changed from always being busy to now having time to do bigger and better things for his organisation and himself,” explains Ruchi. 

The negative side effects of busyness

His example demonstrates another unspoken side effect of busyness: It can have a debilitating effect on our mental, physical and emotional health, as we’re constantly chasing an obscure goal at the expense of our well-being. 

Farina Ghanie, founder of health and wellness platform Arise, says: “There is research these days showing people who work longer hours have more health issues, and if we neglect the warning signs, it could lead to serious health consequences such as heart problems and high blood pressure. 

“Our body is a vessel, and it is constantly giving us warning signs. However, if we continue to push at a rate that is not sustainable, we will create disharmony within ourselves and, in the longer term, this can lead to irreparable health issues.” 

Ruchi adds: “When your cup is empty, it’s harder to focus on all the things that are important to lead a healthy and happy life. You end up running life on autopilot, which is extremely harmful to your physical and mental health.”