Alternative title(s): An ode to a less busy life, An anti-hustle lifestyle, When did everyone get so busy?, and Am I the only one tired of being sick and tired?!
Where has the year gone? It’s almost March which means that Spring and Summer aren’t too far off. And to think, that’s the way time goes. I’ve been thinking of time a lot lately and my relation to it as an individual and our relation to it as a society.
We live in a go-go-go, dog eat dog world where “the early bird gets the worm” and “sleep is for the weak” are common mantras and descriptors of the society we live in today. From an early age we are taught to embrace busy culture and hustle until we’re dead. I don’t know about you but this doesn’t sit well with me.
It’s not that I don’t like to work hard (I’m convinced that I’m at my best when my plate is slightly overloaded) but that I don’t think this is the best way to live a life. Being busy shouldn’t be a badge of honour and the default to the question “how are you?” shouldn’t be “I’m busy” with a sigh. Sure, there are times when being busy is unavoidable. Maybe you started a new job and are trying to settle into a new city at the same time. Maybe you are a new parent and any semblance of normalcy has temporarily been thrown out the window. But for others – including myself – we don’t need to be that busy. We can take a breather and slash some things off of our to-do lists, forever.
I’ll be the first to own up to the fact that this is easier said than done. But recognizing that this is not the way of life you want to adhere to is a good first step. I’ve taken some other steps to ensure that my non-work time is protected and I am actively working on filling this time with things that bring me joy such as taking a solo photowalk, catching up with friends, and reading or writing. These are the activities that I know will bring a smile to my face years down the road when I reflect on how I spent this time. Staying up past 2am to pump out one last email, not so much.
Curated Snaps 