The podcast explores the concept of busyness as a status symbol and its dual nature, challenges the belief that busyness equates to accomplishment, discusses the negative effects of multitasking, explores the gendered associations with time and work, examines the rise of hyper-employment, and delves into the reasons behind our obsession with busyness and its impact on relationships and priorities.
37:52
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Creighton Barrel Indicates Status
Becca shares a story about a friend who skipped a birthday to go to Creighton Barrel.
The example highlights how people use minor tasks to signal busyness and status.
insights INSIGHT
Time As A Social Luxury
Time scarcity can act as a social luxury that boosts perceived status.
Neeru Paharia explains that having little time signals scarcity and value to others.
insights INSIGHT
Culture Changes Busyness' Meaning
Cultural context flips the meaning of busyness across countries.
In the US busy people gain status, while in Italy leisure signals higher status.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Many of us complain about being too busy—and about not having enough time to do the things we really want to do. But has busyness become an excuse for our inability to focus on what matters?
According to Neeru Paharia, a marketing professor at Arizona State University, time is a sort of luxury good—the more of it you have, the more valuable you are. But her research also revealed that, for many Americans, having less time and being busy can be a status symbol for others to notice. And when it comes to the signals we create for ourselves, sociologist Melissa Mazmanian reveals a few myths that may be keeping us from living the lives we want with the meaningful connections we crave.
Music by Dylan Sitts (“On the Fritz”) and Rob Smierciak (“Slow Money,” “Guitar Time,” “Ambient Time”).
This episode was co-hosted by Becca Rashid and Ian Bogost. Becca Rashid also produces the show. Editing by Jocelyn Frank and Claudine Ebeid. Fact-check by Ena Alvarado. Engineering by Rob Smierciak. The managing editor of How to Keep Time is Andrea Valdez. Write to us at howtopodcast@theatlantic.com.
Want to share unlimited access to The Atlantic with your loved ones? Give a gift today at theatlantic.com/podgift. For a limited time, select new subscriptions will come with the bold Atlantic tote bag as a free holiday bonus.
How to Age Up