Are You Busy?

Ben Wheeler • September 17, 2017

Busy. I cringe when I hear that word. Everyone seems to be ‘busy’ these days and they seem to glorify it. For some reason, society has reached the stage where how busy you are seems to reflect success. So if you’re not busy? Well, what are you doing then? Guess what? I think it’s time we shift that notion of ‘thinking’ once and for all!

It’s no secret that today we are all, to some degree, getting busier (because everyone makes a point of letting you know) and there has definitely been studies on the strong correlation with the decline of our health. There is no doubt that the two are closely linked. So how do we make the change from being busy? Or how do you avoid saying it?

Words have their literal meanings, and then there are words which hold negative connotations that you just ‘feel’ as soon as you hear it. I believe that ‘busy’ is one of those words. It almost makes you feel instantly stressed as soon as you hear those two syllables. So I guess that the first step to avoiding that instant ‘stress’ you put out into the world, is to stop saying that you’re busy or you don’t have time. Ever heard of mantras or manifesting? If you keep saying that you’re busy and you don’t have time, guess what will happen? You’ll stay busy and you won’t have the time!

Think you have to ‘hustle’ to get it done? Not necessarily. I believe that this word is often overused and similarly to being ‘busy’, it’s also glorified. Of course, hard work does pay off, don’t get me wrong, and I’m certainly not discouraging that in any way. However, being balanced ensures that you’re in the right frame of mind to begin the ‘hustle’. So do what you need to do to achieve that balance. Prioritise. You can fit things in if they are important enough to you.

So when someone asks you how your day was, and you instantly go to tell them how busy you are, perhaps it’s time to rethink that. What can you say instead? Try it today, it’s not easy!

Find the job you love I Find the right talent
Get in touch with people2people

Australia   I   United Kingdom

In business since 2002 in Australia, NZ, and the United Kingdom, people2people is an award-winning recruitment agency with people at our heart. With over 12 offices, we specialise in accounting and finance, business support, education, executive, government, HR, legal, marketing and digital, property, sales, supply chain, and technology sectors. As the proud recipients of the 2024 Outstanding Large Agency and Excellence in Candidate Care Awards, we are dedicated to helping businesses achieve success through a people-first approach.



Share insights

Recent articles

By Liz Punshon September 11, 2025
Brooke Lord and Guy Davy join Liz Punshon to explore how Australia’s job market is recalibrating in 2025. They discuss internal mobility, AI integration, and the critical importance of adaptability in a market moving from volume to value.
By Kalinda Campbell September 9, 2025
Kalinda Campbell leads a deep dive into the legal landscape with Damian Gordon and Emma Elliott. They unpack how law firms are using flexibility, leadership development, and tech adoption to retain talent and future-proof their practices across Australia and New Zealand.
By Bianca Luck September 4, 2025
Leanne Allen and Chris Yam join Bianca Luck to explore the future of finance in 2025. They examine how teams are balancing stability with innovation, why upskilling beats offshoring, and how finance professionals are being asked to become both analysts and storytellers.
By Aiden Boast September 2, 2025
Nicole Clarke and Karl Sullivan join Aiden Boast to explore the future of marketing in 2025. From AI and predictive analytics to immersive tech and human storytelling, they unpack what it takes to build a modern, high-performing marketing team across Australia and New Zealand.
By Leanne Lazarus August 28, 2025
Leanne Lazarus is joined by Adeline Rooney and Samantha McCall to explore how HR teams across Australia and New Zealand are embracing personalisation, AI, and employee-centred strategies. From microlearning to remote workforce tools, they unpack what’s redefining success in 2025.

Latest Media Features


Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialisat recruitment consultants across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Contact us