Why we are happier when we are busy

The perils of overwork are apparent, but filling every minute can be seductively satisfying.
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Perhaps the most common – and envied response to the question ‘How are you?’ is now ‘Busy’.

We are working longer hours for less money, doing a ‘double shift’ of workplace and family responsibilities, juggling portfolio careers and dealing with the demands of technology that enables us to work anywhere anytime. In fact being busy has become such a mark of achievement that an entire movement has sprung up decrying the frenetic pace of the modern workplace. 

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Madeleine Dore
About the Author
Madeleine Dore is a freelance writer and founder of Extraordinary Routines, an interview project exploring the intersection between creativity and imperfection. She is the previous Deputy Editor at ArtsHub. Follow her on Twitter at @RoutineCurator