I feel like I go back and forth on this question a lot: Is staying busy good or bad?
Most would say good, but I think there is a fine line between where keeping busy is good and it is bad. I believe staying busy is bad when it is affecting your mental health. It’s all about balance.
When you’re so busy that you can’t even find time to do basic things like clean up or do laundry or even cook for yourself, then you know it’s time to hit the brakes. Sometimes it’s hard to accept that you can’t please everyone.
I think sometimes we get so wrapped up in doing activities to “build our resume” that we lose sight of making time for ourselves. We accept invitations from all sorts of clubs or take on more hours at work, and before we know it we can barely see our friends or have time to sleep. That’s not healthy!
Your resume will be just fine with a couple of activities. Instead of spreading yourself thin, really pour your heart into 1-2 things. It’s better to be invested in a couple of things than half-heartedly doing eight things! At a certain point being super busy affects your productivity.
NBC News wrote an article about how staying busy is seen as a sign of prestige. Researchers created a fake Facebook user and posted about working nonstop. When people were asked to read the user’s posts, they believed the user had a higher status and more money because of the posts about working nonstop.
Why did the people believe this? I personally believe social media creates an illusion because it’s only a highlight reel. I’m sure if the fake Facebook user posted about how they cried in the shower before work in the morning because they’re so stressed, people wouldn’t view nonstop work as a status symbol.
In conclusion, staying busy is good – to a certain extent. Put effort into a couple of things you truly care about and say farewell to the rest. It’s good to be involved but remember to say no when you need to. Most of all: take time for yourself once in a while! It may make you feel selfish or guilty, but it’s healthy to allow yourself to relax and recuperate.