Is 'Hurry Sickness' Holding You Back? Recognizing the Signs and Finding Balance
This time of year many of my CPA friends are gearing up for the intense "busy season." The race is on to complete as many tax returns as possible before the deadlines, often leading to 60, 70, or even 80-hour workweeks.
You don't have to be a tax accountant to empathize with the stress and pressure they face. Perhaps you've felt that same unease when your own pace of life has pushed you beyond your limits.
In John Mark Comer’s book “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” he describes behavior of continual rushing and anxiousness as “Hurry Sickness”.
Here are a few common signs of hurry sickness:
1. Irritability: You get mad, frustrated, or annoyed too easily. Little things irk you, and people have to tiptoe around your ongoing low-grade negativity.
2. Hypersensitivity: Minor comments, or small issues can set you off emotionally, leading to disproportionate reactions.
3. Restlessness: When you try to slow down and rest, you find it difficult to relax. You might struggle to enjoy downtime or feel the need to multitask constantly.
4. Workaholism: You engage in nonstop activity and find it hard to stop working. This could manifest as careerism or obsessive house-cleaning and errand-running.
5. Emotional Numbness: You have a reduced capacity to feel empathy or connect emotionally with others, often because you're too busy.
6. Out of Order Priorities: You feel disconnected from your true identity and values, often prioritizing urgent tasks over important ones.
7. Lack of Care for Your Body: You neglect basic self-care practices like exercise, sleep, and healthy eating due to your busy schedule.
8. Escapist Behaviors: You turn to distractions like overeating, binge-watching TV, or social media to cope with stress.
9. Slippage of Spiritual Disciplines: You find it hard to maintain spiritual practices like prayer, meditation, or attending religious services.
10. Isolation: You feel disconnected from others and struggle to maintain meaningful relationships due to your hurried lifestyle
Recognizing these signs can be the first step towards addressing hurry sickness and making changes to slow down and improve your overall well-being.
Do any of these signs resonate with you? There are definitely “a few” that I’m still working on.
