--- 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... canonical: https://time.com/73622/too-busy-7-ways-to-increase-leisure-time-according-to-science/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-04-23T14:24:44.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T08:53:59.771Z article:section: Ideas og:title: Too Busy? 7 Ways To Increase Leisure Time, According to Science og: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... og:url: https://time.com/73622/too-busy-7-ways-to-increase-leisure-time-according-to-science/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Too Busy? 7 Ways To Increase Leisure Time, According to Science twitter: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... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # Too Busy? 7 Ways To Increase Leisure Time, According to Science 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/)_._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/73622/too-busy-7-ways-to-increase-leisure-time-according-to-science/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/73622/too-busy-7-ways-to-increase-leisure-time-according-to-science/"},"headline":"Too Busy? 7 Ways To Increase Leisure Time, According to Science","datePublished":"2014-04-23T14:24:44.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:53:59.771Z","description":"Feeling overwhelmed? Are you constantly running from thing to thing but never getting it all done? 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