As a former extra-curricular addict and proud child of the 1990s, I can vouch for the anxiety borne out of being overscheduled. The millennial generation has encountered an economic climate in which we must fiercely compete for available jobs, kind of like The Hunger Games, but with résumés instead of weapons. In 21st century American society, it should not be difficult to notice the increasing equation of self-worth with certain ideas of success – but it is. This summer, when I returned to my family home in a spacious tri-state suburb, I overheard a conversation between two mothers. One mother was discussing her struggle to cram another activity into her 9-year-old daughter’s schedule. Somewhere amidst cheerleading practice, soccer practice, and three dance classes, she just could not seem to fit in the fourth dance class! Thanks to my renowned eavesdropping abilities, the conversation reminded of an article I had read a year earlier. “The Busy Trap,” written by the talented essayist and cartoonist, Tim Kreider, addresses the ever-escalating pace of life in contemporary America. While I love Kreider’s writing and concur that there is too much emphasis placed on success in American society, I think that he condemns “the busy trap” too quickly and too broadly.
In “The Busy Trap,” Kreider inquires, “Do you fall into the busy trap?” He writes of his friends, “they’re busy because of their own ambition or drive or anxiety, because they’re addicted to busyness and dread what they might have to face in its absence.” Well, though this observation applies to a great number of people, it does not apply to everyone. Some people, myself included, are busier due to activities that improve mental clarity and inner calmness, like yoga. I know many of my friends opt for a workout, rather than traditional relaxation. I won’t lie, I adore my free time, and every time I pile up extra-curriculars I wish that I could just sit on my bed and sing Doris Day. However, sometimes healthy activities that decrease stress and blood pressure are even more relaxing than good ole’ down time. Instead of denouncing busyness in general, it is more beneficial to declare the importance of unscheduled time, the kind that allows the imagination to roam wildly. Despite my personal preferences, it is often a good thing to be busy, and it is especially inspirational to watch people become immersed in their passions.
What I am concerned about is the need to do things for the sake of being busy. The idea of signing up for an endeavor so that you can bolster your résumé is wrong in itself. Such disingenuous decisions perpetrate a suffocating sensation of pressure, at least in many young adults who choose this route. So, rather than posing Kreider’s original question: “Do you fall into the “busy trap?” I would like to amend this proposal to ask: Do you fall into a busy trap you wish that you could evade? Not all busyness is bad, and we must teach each other to discern positive busyness (being busy and productive due to sheer excitement toward the task at hand), from the detrimental kind (selecting activities for the wrong reasons, such as the desire to enrich your résumé.) I say if you are content being busy – be busy. But if you sit through certain activities clenching the hind muscles of your jaw in anticipation of it ending, don’t be afraid to quit the things that are unessential to your happiness.
Remember to work smart, not hard. And, next time you find yourself stressed or anxious – sit down, pour yourself some Pinot, and listen to this. (Even if you hate country, give it a try…it will be worth your time.)
Sources:
Kreider, Tim . “The Busy Trap.” The New York Times. N.p., 30 June 2012. Web. 30 Sept. 2013.
Schuman, Emily. “Links I Love.”Cupcakes & Cashmere. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2013. <