"Research shows that in the U.S., busyness is often equated with status. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that people perceived individuals who worked long hours and had little leisure time as more important, ambitious, and admired. The "busyness-as-status" mindset has deep roots - especially for women. From an early age, many of us are conditioned to equate our value with how much we do for others."
"The "busyness-as-status" mindset has deep roots - especially for women. From an early age, many of us are conditioned to equate our value with how much we do for others. Were you praised for being the dependable student, the helpful daughter, the friend who remembers birthdays, the mom who manages every detail of the household? If yes, then over-extending yourself was reinforced."
Busyness has become normalized and is often treated as a badge of honor, with fuller calendars and less sleep signaling greater importance. Research finds that busyness is frequently equated with status, and long work hours with little leisure are perceived as signs of ambition and admiration. Social conditioning, especially for women, reinforces value through caretaking, reliability, and overextension, while professional pressures demand longer, harder work to prove competence. Chronic stress and insufficient recovery impair effectiveness, lowering productivity, creativity, and straining relationships while harming long-term health. When success aligns with personal values, achievement can feel energizing rather than draining.
Read at Psychology Today
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