Banish The Word Busy

Overwhelmed? It turns out that feeling less frantic could be as simple as changing the language you use.

- Jo Millacy

Do you feel lost if you don’t have a to-do list as long as your arm? Always moaning that you’re too busy with your time split left, right and centre? According to a study in the Journal of Psychological Science, we’re all actually much happier when we’re busy – the research suggests that people generally like being busy, and that being idle can even cause unhappiness.

Plus, a University of Texas study reveals that it’s not how busy we are that causes stress, but the language that we use to describe our hectic lives. The study looked at the psychological aspects of language and showed that vocabulary can dramatically affect our state of mind. By taking just five minutes to think about the words you’re using – and how they make you, and those around you, feel – you’ll be halfway towards feeling calmer and more in control.

1. Avoid negativity