Why Being Busy Is Good For Your Health

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the pressure of life, but a healthy level of hectic can be great for your wellbeing

- Ali Horsfall

We’re often told to slow down, relax more, and do less to take care of our health. But while long-term, chronic stress can play havoc with our wellbeing, a hectic lifestyle could actually be key to a healthier and longer life. Because research is suggesting that a certain amount of pressure is beneficial.

‘It gets you out of bed in the morning and primes you to meet life’s challenges,’ says GP, Dr. Sarah Brewer. Here are the mind and body benefits of having plenty to do.

Fire up your neurons

The adage ‘if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it’ rings true. Have you noticed you’re so much more on it when your to-do list is groaning?

‘When we’re in a fast-paced “doing mode”, we drive our focus into performing and achieving,’ says life coach Elisabetta Franzoso (elisabettafranzoso.com). And our brains, in turn, respond positively. A study by the University of Texas discovered a link between hectic lifestyles and a superior processing speed of the brain, better reasoning, and improved memory; proving that a state of busyness keeps us smart, and could even delay cognitive decline and dementia as we age.

Although racing around with little rest can increase the chances of illness, researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine found that short-term stress from bursts of being busy can stimulate immune activity. ‘Mother Nature gave us the fight-or-flight stress response to help us, not to kill us,’ says Professor Dhabhar, who led the study.

Boost your night’s sleep