How many times this week have you said you’re busy?  It might happen more than you realize.  In this fast-paced, instantly connected world, people often consider being busy to be a badge of honor.  The reality is, though, that being busy may be detrimental to your mental and physical health.  If you think you’ve been busy all summer, FitClub has a reality check for you and can help you break the cycle of feeling too busy.

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Asking the small questions can have big results. What kind of busy are you? Are you busy with activities that you or your family find pleasurable?  Is your busy schedule within your control?  If your schedule is within your control and you're busy with activities that you enjoy, simply reframing your perspective might reduce your stress.  For example, if your weekends are loaded with barbecues, birthday parties, family gatherings, in addition to the housework, workout, and leisure time you need, then maybe a shift in perspective can help you reduce the stress you feel when you think about your schedule and how you’ll pack it all in.  If the busy schedule is outside your control and not something you find pleasurable, i.e. working overtime, a dreaded social obligation, or increasing household demands, you may be suffering from stress that can be detrimental to your health.

How being busy impacts your health.  A constant feeling of being too busy, particularly when your schedule is largely outside your control, can produce chronic stress.  The American Psychological Association conducted an analysis of “Stress in America” and published its results in 2010.  The APA found that busy people often reported that they didn’t have time to prepare healthy meals and workout, contributing to a decrease in physical activity. Stress also often leads people to overeat, contributes to a lack of sleep, and decreases energy levels.  The combination of stress-related behaviors contributes to unwanted weight gain.  Perhaps even more terrifying is that stress appears to be contagious. The children surveyed for purposes of this study reported being stressed because their parents were experiencing stress.

Ready to be less busy?  Reading the APA’s report may be stressful enough, but the good news is that there are ways to start reducing your busy schedule and alleviating your stress right now.  According to Mayo Clinic, some stress is completely natural and your body’s way of alerting you when it perceives a threat.  Implementing even basic stress management tools can help you relax.  According to Mayo Clinic, it’s that healthy lifestyle that you might often put on hold during busy times that actually reduces your stress.  Making time for a workout at FitClub, enjoying a healthy meal, meditating and getting proper sleep can reset your stress level almost immediately.  Cutting back on screen time at home also frees up more time to conquer your to do list and can reduce your stress.