Updated by Craig Daniels on Nov 29, 2023

10 Looks At Being Too Busy

Listly by Craig Daniels

I'm late, I'm late for

A very important date.

No time to say hello, good-bye,

I'm late, I'm late, I'm late

I'm late and when I wave,

I lose the time I save.

My fuzzy ears and whiskers

Took me too much time to shave.

I run and then I hop, hop, hop,

I wish that I could fly.

There's danger if I dare to

Stop and here's a reason why:

I'm over-due, I'm in a rabbit stew.

Can't even say good-bye,

Hello, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.

From Alice In Wonderland

Life has taken on the frantic pace the White Rabbit sang about in this memorable scene. I read the book long before I saw any of the many versions that have become movies. But today, I would in all probability watch the movie before even considering reading the book. You'd be right to ask me why this is, it's because I'm Too Busy, of course.

Below is a collection of posts I've found to be both enjoyable and worth reading. At the top of the list I put a short video (just over 3 minutes) instead of an article because I know you're too busy... :)

I feel too busy! How can we get out of this busyness trap

You're probably thinking you're too busy to watch a short video about being too busy. For those of us who work with information and computers, there's no longer a ceiling on how much we can theoretically get done and we constantly feel overwhelmed.

The Disease of Being Busy

I saw a dear friend a few days ago. I stopped by to ask her how she was doing, how her family was. She looked up, voice lowered, and just whimpered: "I'm so busy... I am so busy... have so much going on." Almost immediately after, I ran into another friend and asked him how he was.

The 'Busy' Trap

Anxiety: We worry. A gallery of contributors count the ways. If you live in America in the 21st century you've probably had to listen to a lot of people tell you how busy they are. It's become the default response when you ask anyone how they're doing: "Busy!" " So busy."

You're Not As Busy As You Say You Are

Are you too busy? You should be, and you should let people know in a proud but exasperated tone. Like this, from an old colleague I recently asked for advice: "I would like to help but I can not. I am desperately trying to finish a screenplay and a talk...

Busy isn't respectable anymore.

The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat. | Lily Tomlin Being busy used to make me feel important. It made me feel like the world needed me, like somehow I was more valuable or valid when busy.

Why being too busy makes us feel so good

One man says he works 72 hours a week because everyone else at his office does; he's thinking about cutting back on sleep so he can be more productive.

Are You Too Busy? 5 Signs of Chronic Stress

Beware the barrenness of a busy life. ~Socrates A few years ago, the focal point of my life was my work. It took up and made up a huge portion of my life. In retrospect, I would even say that work became a sort of obsession.

We're All Too Busy...Missing Amazing Opportunities

It's a fact of life in the 21st century that we're all very busy. If you do a gut check on yourself, you'd likely admit that you are busier this year than you were last year. Every month seems to go by faster than last month, making us realize that the pace of life is accelerating, definitely not ...

How to Escape Being Too Busy to Get Anything Done

These days, you're too busy to meet a friend for lunch, go to the gym, launch that side project or take that class that has always looked interesting. You're too busy to eat a meal without reading your email, and you're probably too busy to read this article as well, unless you've got about four other things going at the same time.

7 Signs That You're Way Too Busy

"Busy" used to be a fair description of the typical schedule. More and more, though, "busy" simply doesn't cut it. "Busy" has been replaced with "too busy", "far too busy", or "absolutely buried." It's true that being productive often means being busy...but it's only true up to a point.

The Myth of "Too Busy"

I would love to strike the word "busy" from every writer's vocabulary. Somehow, talking about how busy someone is has become a twisted sort of compliment, and a point of pride. When I get on the phone with people, they usually thank me for my time, saying they know how busy I must be.

10 Looks At Being Too Busy

I'm late, I'm late for

A very important date.

No time to say hello, good-bye,

I'm late, I'm late, I'm late

I'm late and when I wave,

I lose the time I save.

My fuzzy ears and whiskers

Took me too much time to shave.

I run and then I hop, hop, hop,

I wish that I could fly.

There's danger if I dare to

Stop and here's a reason why:

I'm over-due, I'm in a rabbit stew.

Can't even say good-bye,

Hello, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.

From Alice In Wonderland

Below is a collection of posts I've found to be both enjoyable and worth reading. At the top of the list I put a short video (just over 3 minutes) instead of an article because I know you're too busy... :)

You're probably thinking you're too busy to watch a short video about being too busy. For those of us who work with information and computers, there's no longer a ceiling on how much we can theoretically get done and we constantly feel overwhelmed.

I saw a dear friend a few days ago. I stopped by to ask her how she was doing, how her family was. She looked up, voice lowered, and just whimpered: "I'm so busy... I am so busy... have so much going on." Almost immediately after, I ran into another friend and asked him how he was.

Anxiety: We worry. A gallery of contributors count the ways. If you live in America in the 21st century you've probably had to listen to a lot of people tell you how busy they are. It's become the default response when you ask anyone how they're doing: "Busy!" " So busy."

Are you too busy? You should be, and you should let people know in a proud but exasperated tone. Like this, from an old colleague I recently asked for advice: "I would like to help but I can not. I am desperately trying to finish a screenplay and a talk...

The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat. | Lily Tomlin Being busy used to make me feel important. It made me feel like the world needed me, like somehow I was more valuable or valid when busy.

One man says he works 72 hours a week because everyone else at his office does; he's thinking about cutting back on sleep so he can be more productive.

Beware the barrenness of a busy life. ~Socrates A few years ago, the focal point of my life was my work. It took up and made up a huge portion of my life. In retrospect, I would even say that work became a sort of obsession.

"Busy" used to be a fair description of the typical schedule. More and more, though, "busy" simply doesn't cut it. "Busy" has been replaced with "too busy", "far too busy", or "absolutely buried." It's true that being productive often means being busy...but it's only true up to a point.

I would love to strike the word "busy" from every writer's vocabulary. Somehow, talking about how busy someone is has become a twisted sort of compliment, and a point of pride. When I get on the phone with people, they usually thank me for my time, saying they know how busy I must be.

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