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---
title: How to be less busy: Too Busy? 7 Ways To Increase Leisure Time
description: Feeling overwhelmed? Are you constantly running from thing to thing but never getting it all done? When researchers survey people, they say they’re too busy...
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author: Eric Barker
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# Too Busy? 7 Ways To Increase Leisure Time, According to Science

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by 

[Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/)


## Eric Barker


Apr 23, 2014 2:24 PM UTC

by 

[Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/)


## Eric Barker


Apr 23, 2014 2:24 PM UTC

**Feeling overwhelmed? Are you constantly running from thing to thing but never getting it all done?**

When researchers survey people, they say they’re too busy — about _everything_.

Too busy to make friends, date, sleep, have sex, to go on vacation… or to even have lunch.

Via [Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EX0XYU6/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EX0XYU6&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

---

> “”

---

**“The average high school kid today experiences the same level of anxiety** [**as the average psychiatric patient of the 1950s**](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EX0XYU6/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EX0XYU6&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20)**.”**

And being this busy isn’t healthy — in fact, neuroscientists have found it shrinks your brain.

Via [Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EX0XYU6/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EX0XYU6&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

---

> “”

---

How did we get here? How did this happen?

**I have an answer but it’s going to surprise you and might even make you angry…**

**It’s all an illusion. You have more free time than you ever did.**

Do I sound insane? Keep reading.

## **You’re Not Busy. You Just** **_Feel_** **Busy.**

John Robinson is the leading sociologist who studies time use. His colleagues call him “Father Time.”


Looking at time diary studies he shows that **globally we all have more leisure time than ever.**

Via [Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EX0XYU6/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EX0XYU6&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

---

> “”

---

So why do we feel like we’re overwhelmed even though we’re not? Partly, **it’s because our time is so fragmented.**

Switching between checking email, making dinner, watching TV and finishing that report is more mentally draining than doing one at a time.

Via [Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EX0XYU6/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EX0XYU6&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

---

> “”

---


Multitasking is killing us. And the best part?

[**Multitasking doesn’t even work**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/stay-focused/)**. It makes us less efficient even though we feel we’re getting more done.**

**In fact, it makes you dumber — effectively stupider than being drunk or stoned.**

Via [Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EX0XYU6/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EX0XYU6&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

---

> “”

---

Ed Hallowell, former professor at Harvard Medical School and bestselling author of [Driven to Distraction,](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005GFII62/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005GFII62&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20) says we have “culturally generated ADD.”


Via [CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! Strategies for Handling Your Fast- Paced Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEIB2C/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SEIB2C&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

---

> “”

---

Why do we do this to ourselves? **In recent years being busy has become a status symbol.**

**When you ask anyone what they’ve been up to, what’s always the first word?** **_Busy_** **.**

Via [Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EX0XYU6/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EX0XYU6&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

---

> “”

---

So what can we do about it? **Here are seven things experts recommend:**

## **1) Write It All Down**


What’s the first step toward killing that overwhelmed feeling?

**Do a brain dump and write everything down that’s on your mind.** [**Writing reduces worry**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/staying-positive/) **and organizes your thoughts.**

Via [Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EX0XYU6/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EX0XYU6&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

---

> “”

---

More on the power of a notebook [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/personal-writing/).

## **2) Prioritize or Die**

Repeat after me: [you cannot get it all done](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/03/work-life-balance/). And some things are more important than others.

So you need to prioritize or you will have a clean garage but get fired from your job.

**Decide what is important and do that first. Otherwise you may never get to** [**what really matters**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/making-the-most-out-of-life/)**.**

Via [CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! Strategies for Handling Your Fast- Paced Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEIB2C/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SEIB2C&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):


---

> “”

---

More on the power of work/life balance [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/03/work-life-balance/).

## **3) Make Things Automatic**

Things that are habitual don’t tax your [willpower](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/increase-willpower/). The more activities you make into [habits](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/12/new-years-resolutions/), the less overwhelmed they will make you feel.

**Build routines and habits so that you’re not deciding, you’re just doing.**

The secret to getting more done is to [make things automatic](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-get-more-done)**.** Decisons exhaust you:

**_The counterintuitive secret to getting things done is to make them more automatic, so they require less energy._**


More on how to build great habits [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/12/new-years-resolutions/).

## **4) Work Like an Athlete**

**We were not designed to go 24/7\. We were designed to sprint, rest, sprint — just like an athlete.**

You sleep in cycles and your mind naturally works in cycles. Alternate hard work with breaks to be at your best.

Via [Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EX0XYU6/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EX0XYU6&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

---

> “”

---

More on working like an athlete [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/time-management-skills/).

## **5) Switch To Singletasking**

Forget multitasking. That’s what causes the feelings of burnout and it’s not effective.


[**Discover what your peak hours are and protect them**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/productivity-ninja/)**.**

Focus on the most important thing of the day. No interruptions, email or calls.

Via [Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EX0XYU6/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EX0XYU6&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

---

> “”

---

More on how to use your best hours [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/productivity-ninja/).

## **6) Live in OHIO**

Not the state. It’s an acronym: [**Only Handle It Once**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/10/how-can-you-stop-e-mail-from-taking-over-your/)**.**

That email you’ve opened sixty times today, unsure of what to do with it? Stop it.

**Make a decision. Reply, trash it or set a time to properly deal with it.**

**Revisiting unimportant things over and over is a huge time and energy thief.**


Via [CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! Strategies for Handling Your Fast- Paced Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEIB2C/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SEIB2C&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):

---

> “”

---

More on how to be efficient with the onslaught of email [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/10/how-can-you-stop-e-mail-from-taking-over-your/).

## **7) Have Leisure Goals**

Ironic, right? Most of us think about “leisure” as doing nothing. But that’s a dangerous way to view it.

**Research shows** [**we’re happier when we accomplish things**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/12/happy/) **(playing tennis with a friend vs. flipping TV channels.)**

And given our habits, we’re prone to start checking email and firing up the usual 17 things we multitask on.

**So set a goal for leisure. When you have a fun thing to accomplish, you can singletask on relaxing.**

Via [Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EX0XYU6/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00EX0XYU6&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20):


---

> “”

---

More on how to make your free time more awesome [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/09/how-can-you-make-your-weekends-more-awesome/).

**Sum Up**

Just because the other people at the office are overscheduled and the other parents are doing 1000 things doesn’t mean you need to.

**We all only have 1440 minutes a day. Accept you can’t do it all, focus on what’s important and do that well.**

We’re all jealous of the people who are [calm and cool under pressure](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/how-to-be-cool/). Be that person.


Next time someone asks how you’re doing, don’t talk about how busy you are. Don’t get sucked into thinking busy means important.

**Busy doesn’t make you important. Doing the important things you need to do makes you important.** 

**Join 45K+ readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD).

Related posts:

[How To Achieve Work-Life Balance In 5 Steps](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/03/work-life-balance/)

[Time Management Skills Are Stupid. Here’s What Works.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/time-management-skills/)

[What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp/)

_This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/)_._

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