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Are You Addicted to Busyness? Here’s How to Break the Habit *ONLINE ONLY*

November 2024

By Jill Palmquist

Life is breathtaking and magical when you take time to really notice and savor it, but you can’t do that when you’re flying through every moment at 90 miles per hour so you can get everything done on your to-do list. Your “busyness badge” not only wears you out, but it also robs you of the very experience of living.

There are plenty of possible reasons why we stay so busy. For example:

• Busyness is a status symbol. We get a buzz from feeling busy, important, and admired.

• We think we must live this way. We learned from our parents or just American culture in general that busyness is “normal.”

• We are fear-driven. If we slow down, we might fail at our goals or be left behind those around us.

• We feel guilt or shame when we are not productive. This might stem from the Protestant work ethic that created our capitalist society and pushes us to seek virtue by diligently working ourselves into an early grave.

• It lets us avoid dealing with painful truths and feelings. If we wrap ourselves up with work and other obligations, then we don’t have to deal with things we’d rather not think about. In some cases, busyness might even be a response to a trauma we’ve suffered.

Your proud wearing of the busyness badge is a sign that you’re an addict. You’re addicted to the energy and chaos of busyness, so it’s going to be hard to stop…yet the cost is too high not to.

How to break the busyness habit? Here are a few tips:

Do a life audit. Set aside some time to think about all the parts of your life: work, family, friends, goals, romance, spirituality, health and wellness, hobbies and interests, relaxation, travel, etc. What do you value the most? What is missing? Where are you just enduring? Where are you squandering your precious time? Looking ahead, if things don’t change, what do you imagine your future regrets will be?

This can be an emotional exercise. We have only a certain number of seconds allotted to us. When we really see how we’re spending them, it can be a shocking revelation.

Ruthlessly cut what doesn’t align with your values or enhance your life. Often we endure things that drain our energy and resources (or are even harmful) because we believe there is no other option, but that isn’t true. It might mean taking drastic steps, like quitting an emotionally draining job or leaving behind an interest that you’ve outgrown or no longer prioritize. It can be frightening to make these transitions, but endings are necessary for new beginnings.

Lean into the relationships that matter most. You have only so much time to devote to others, so make sure you’re not investing in low-quality relationships or letting toxic people suck up all your time. This might mean reassessing your social circle, or rearranging your schedule so you can spend more time with your child or parents or partner or cherished friend. Mostly, though, it means getting real about what that time is like.

Don’t be half present in your relationships, with your mind on that looming deadline and one eye on your phone. Be all in. You may find at first you have to drag your attention back to the person you’re with, but with practice, it will get easier.

Get your dream on your calendar. Maybe it’s too late for you to become a Hollywood movie star (or maybe not!), but nothing can stop you from taking an acting class or joining a scene study group. Maybe you’ve got fodder for a long-dreamed-of book languishing in the depths of your computer. This is the important part: Sign up for the class or block out your book-writing time on your schedule. If you don’t plan for it, it won’t happen.

Schedule time for rest and for fun. Everyone needs time to do things they love. Leisure time renews your spirit and brings a big dose of joy when you need it the most. Schedule downtime for you and your family. This might mean travel and vacations, but it also can include weekend picnics, weekly walks and catch-ups with your best friend, a long massage, or checking out a local attraction. Keep your calendar full of dates, events, and activities you can look forward to, so life never gets too serious or boring.

Life doesn’t happen twice, so there’s no need to delay what will bring you joy. If you let go of your busyness badge and start living intentionally today, you are sure to never have regrets tomorrow—or twenty years from now.

About the Author - Jill Palmquist is Life Time vice president and chief storyteller and the author of In This Lifetime, a coffee table book that celebrates the beauty and reminds us of the brevity of the human experience. A graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Journalism, she worked as an agency copywriter. With the birth of her daughter, she took a leap to go freelance, working on a variety of fun brands for a variety of fun companies, including luxury leisure and lifestyle company Life Time. While never pretending to understand the founder’s brilliant brain, she did understand his heart and realized her desire to help people see the magnificence of their lives was completely aligned with his. Both her love of the company and responsibilities grew, proving what they say is true: time flies when you’re having fun. (That baby girl is now 23 years old.) While happy with all the work she’s done for the company, it’s true fulfillment she feels in contributing to the brand’s recent transformation.

About the Book - In This Lifetime (Wise Ink, September 2024, ISBN: 978-1-63489-689-4, $105.00) is available from Life Time, Inc.

About Life Time - Life Time (NYSE: LTH) empowers people to live healthy, happy lives through its portfolio of more than 170 athletic country clubs across the United States and Canada. The health and wellness pioneer also delivers a range of healthy-way-of-life programs and information via its complimentary Life Time Digital app. The company’s healthy living, healthy aging, healthy entertainment communities and ecosystem serve people 90 days to 90+ years old and is supported by a team of more than 45,000 dedicated professionals. In addition to delivering the best programs and experiences through its clubs, Life Time owns and produces nearly 30 of the most iconic athletic events in the country.