{"id":133570,"date":"2024-10-21T12:46:33","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T16:46:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=133570"},"modified":"2024-10-22T12:57:27","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T16:57:27","slug":"always-busy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/","title":{"rendered":"Feel Like You’re Always Busy? Here’s How to Escape the Chaos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Why does it feel like we’re always busy? How can you slow down in a fast-paced world? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim’s book, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down<\/em>, he explains why people today feel overwhelmed by busyness. If you want to feel less busy, you need to change your perspective<\/a> and stop blaming society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s Sunim’s advice for slowing down in a fast-paced society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Do We Feel So Busy All the Time?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today, the sensation of being always busy has become a common complaint. Haemin suggests that this feeling of busyness and restlessness are not objective truths, but a reflection on our state of mind: He argues that the world itself is not inherently busy but that the chaos of our minds makes it feel<\/em> busy. The more cluttered our minds are, the more chaotic our world seems. Therefore, according to Haemin, the key to experiencing calmness and tranquility lies in calming your mind rather than trying to control the world around you<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: In a culture that often equates busyness with success and self-worth, calming one’s mind can be particularly challenging. While Haemin focuses on controlling mental chaos, Brigid Schulte takes a different approach in her book Overwhelmed<\/em><\/a>. Schulte emphasizes managing time effectively<\/a> and setting clear boundaries between work and personal life to minimize feelings of busyness. Furthermore, she advocates for embracing leisure without guilt or fear of being unproductive<\/a>, challenging the notion that busyness equates to worthiness.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is the Value of Slowing Down?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Haemin argues that if you want to feel less busy, you need to intentionally slow down, which means living in the present moment<\/a>. In doing so, he explains, you\u2019re better able to observe, understand, and appreciate what you might otherwise overlook in the rush of daily commitments and challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, consider a routine activity like commuting. Typically, when you commute, you\u2019re focused on reaching the destination quickly (future thinking), leading to potential frustration or stress when you hit traffic or have to stop for gas. This mindset can result in overlooking details of the experience that could offer value or enjoyment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By applying Haemin’s advice to slow down, the experience of the same commute changes. Taking the time to observe your surroundings, like noticing the way light filters through trees or observing the people around you, allows for a richer experience of the same journey. Slowing down not only changes what we notice but also affects our internal state, often leading to a more relaxed and positive mindset<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slowing Down Around the World<\/strong>

The deliberate practice<\/a> of slowing down is seen in cultural philosophies around the world, underscoring a universal longing for deeper connections and contentment in life. Each of these philosophies, though rooted in a distinct culture, converges on the principle that true fulfillment arises not from relentless busyness but from appreciating the present moment and the simple joys it offers.

For example, Italy\u2019s “La Dolce Far Niente”<\/a> (\u201cthe sweetness of doing nothing\u201d) teaches us the art of finding pleasure in idleness, a reminder that sometimes doing nothing is the most productive thing we can do for our souls. It challenges the notion that our worth is tied to how much we achieve, advocating instead for the richness found in life’s tranquil moments.

Similarly, Denmark\u2019s “Hygge”<\/a> introduces us to the comfort of coziness and the happiness that comes from creating a warm, inviting environment where relationships flourish. It emphasizes that well-being is built on the foundations of simplicity and togetherness, rather than material possessions.

Finally, Costa Rica’s “Pura Vida”<\/a> (\u201cpure life\u201d) embodies a holistic approach to life, celebrating its beauty, simplicity, and the pure joy of living. It encourages people to slow down and appreciate what they have, fostering an attitude of gratitude and contentment.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Why does it feel like we’re always busy? How can you slow down in a fast-paced world? In Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim’s book, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, he explains why people today feel overwhelmed by busyness. If you want to feel less busy, you need to change your perspective and stop blaming society. Here’s Sunim’s advice for slowing down in a fast-paced society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":133587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,9,24],"tags":[1635],"class_list":["post-133570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","category-psychology","category-society","tag-the-things-you-can-see-only-when-you-slow-down","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nFeel Like You're Always Busy? Here's How to Escape the Chaos - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you feel like you're always busy? Rather than blaming society, you need to look inward. Here's Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim's advice.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Feel Like You're Always Busy? Here's How to Escape the Chaos\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Do you feel like you're always busy? Rather than blaming society, you need to look inward. Here's Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim's advice.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Shortform Books\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-10-21T16:46:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-10-22T16:57:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/wordpress.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-in-traffic.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1056\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"592\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Hannah Aster\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Hannah Aster\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Hannah Aster\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f39f52830e4f7039a16e45d12354542f\"},\"headline\":\"Feel Like You’re Always Busy? Here’s How to Escape the Chaos\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-21T16:46:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-22T16:57:27+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/\"},\"wordCount\":656,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-in-traffic.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Lifestyle\",\"Psychology\",\"Society\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/\",\"name\":\"Feel Like You're Always Busy? Here's How to Escape the Chaos - Shortform Books\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-in-traffic.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-21T16:46:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-22T16:57:27+00:00\",\"description\":\"Do you feel like you're always busy? Rather than blaming society, you need to look inward. Here's Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim's advice.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-in-traffic.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-in-traffic.webp\",\"width\":1056,\"height\":592,\"caption\":\"A stressed man who is always busy sits in traffic in his car and looks frustrated\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Feel Like You’re Always Busy? Here’s How to Escape the Chaos\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Shortform Books\",\"description\":\"The World's Best Book Summaries\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Shortform Books\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png\",\"width\":500,\"height\":74,\"caption\":\"Shortform Books\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f39f52830e4f7039a16e45d12354542f\",\"name\":\"Hannah Aster\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0302cb2690b70a21639bc6873e587f42d39d02385b7e59d8efd0d3e000ae7681?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0302cb2690b70a21639bc6873e587f42d39d02385b7e59d8efd0d3e000ae7681?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Hannah Aster\"},\"description\":\"Hannah is a seasoned writer and editor who started her journey with Shortform nearly five years ago. She grew up reading mostly fiction books but transitioned to non-fiction writing when she started her travel website in 2018. When she's not writing or traveling, you can find Hannah working on home reno projects, crafting, or taking care of plants.\",\"knowsAbout\":[\"Graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English and minors in professional and creative writing\"],\"jobTitle\":\"SEO Team Lead\",\"worksFor\":\"Shortform\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/author\/hannah\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Feel Like You're Always Busy? Here's How to Escape the Chaos - Shortform Books","description":"Do you feel like you're always busy? Rather than blaming society, you need to look inward. Here's Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim's advice.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Feel Like You're Always Busy? Here's How to Escape the Chaos","og_description":"Do you feel like you're always busy? Rather than blaming society, you need to look inward. Here's Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim's advice.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/","og_site_name":"Shortform Books","article_published_time":"2024-10-21T16:46:33+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-10-22T16:57:27+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1056,"height":592,"url":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/wordpress.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-in-traffic.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"Hannah Aster","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Hannah Aster","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/"},"author":{"name":"Hannah Aster","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f39f52830e4f7039a16e45d12354542f"},"headline":"Feel Like You’re Always Busy? Here’s How to Escape the Chaos","datePublished":"2024-10-21T16:46:33+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-22T16:57:27+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/"},"wordCount":656,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-in-traffic.webp","keywords":["The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down"],"articleSection":["Lifestyle","Psychology","Society"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/","name":"Feel Like You're Always Busy? Here's How to Escape the Chaos - Shortform Books","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-in-traffic.webp","datePublished":"2024-10-21T16:46:33+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-22T16:57:27+00:00","description":"Do you feel like you're always busy? Rather than blaming society, you need to look inward. Here's Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim's advice.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-in-traffic.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-in-traffic.webp","width":1056,"height":592,"caption":"A stressed man who is always busy sits in traffic in his car and looks frustrated"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/always-busy\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Feel Like You’re Always Busy? Here’s How to Escape the Chaos"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/","name":"Shortform Books","description":"The World's Best Book Summaries","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Shortform Books","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png","width":500,"height":74,"caption":"Shortform Books"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f39f52830e4f7039a16e45d12354542f","name":"Hannah Aster","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0302cb2690b70a21639bc6873e587f42d39d02385b7e59d8efd0d3e000ae7681?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0302cb2690b70a21639bc6873e587f42d39d02385b7e59d8efd0d3e000ae7681?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Hannah Aster"},"description":"Hannah is a seasoned writer and editor who started her journey with Shortform nearly five years ago. She grew up reading mostly fiction books but transitioned to non-fiction writing when she started her travel website in 2018. When she's not writing or traveling, you can find Hannah working on home reno projects, crafting, or taking care of plants.","knowsAbout":["Graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English and minors in professional and creative writing"],"jobTitle":"SEO Team Lead","worksFor":"Shortform","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/author\/hannah\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/man-in-traffic.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133570","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=133570"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133570\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":133684,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133570\/revisions\/133684"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/133587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=133570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=133570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=133570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}