Always rushing around with a million things to do? How ‘hurry sickness’ is silently stealing your health

ARE you always rushing from one place or task to the next, when there’s nothing chasing you, other than your own standards?

Then you might have “hurry sickness” – a term describing someone who’s always on the go, potentially to the detriment of their health.

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“It keeps our minds and bodies in a constant state of overdrive,” explains Dr Mark Cox, A&E doctor and co-founder and CEO of Orli Health.

“Physiologically, the impact can be massive.”

You might not even notice you’re affected, or you may even enjoy being constantly busy.

But ask yourself this: “When was the last time I had a moment of stillness?”

With 81% of women in the UK saying they’ve felt so stressed at some point over the last year that they’ve been overwhelmed or unable to cope, it’s an important question.*

“When we’re always in a hurry, we’re constantly triggering the body’s stress response system,” says Dr Cox.

“Over time, this keeps cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone) running high.”

High cortisol can be associated with things like heart disease, an increased risk of infection, poor skin health, weight gain and sleep problems.

“Even the gut takes a hit,” he adds.

“Stress is a well-known trigger for digestive problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and can wreak havoc on how our bodies process and absorb nutrients.”

Why You’re Always Rushing

Hurry sickness can be associated with a Type-A personality – someone who’s more likely to be competitive, goal-orientated and organised, and who also has a sense of pressure and urgency.

Cardiologists Ray H Rosenman and Meyer Friedman first reported in the ’70s that Type-A people were more likely to suffer from heart conditions.

Women (especially mums), who can be more prone to people-pleasing and find it hard to say no, may be more at risk “due to the dual and often competing roles of motherhood and work,” explains Mandy Saligari, psychotherapist specialising in addiction, parenting and relationships.

“At work, they may strive to prove themselves, especially in male-dominated environments, and at home find themselves assuming overt responsibility while complaining they don’t get enough support from their partner.”

Women might be known for multitasking, but this is part of the problem, agrees Lorraine Collins, CBT counsellor and psychotherapist.

“Society often pressures women to maintain a constant state of being busy.

“This can become a strategy to avoid addressing deeper feelings of anxiety or worry,” says Lorraine.

“At its core, hurry sickness is often about avoidance – a way to keep you from facing what truly needs our attention and care.”

Slowing Down Isn’t Stopping

“When we step out of the constant rush, the benefits ripple through almost every system in the body,” says Dr Cox, who claims that combatting hurry sickness can not only help ward off physical illness and improve our sleep, but can also decrease the likelihood of developing mental-health issues, such as anxiety, depression and burnout.

“Creating space to slow down can restore emotional balance, sharpen focus, improve memory and simply make life feel more enjoyable again,” he says, adding that switching off hurry mode might help us heal from negative emotions and make it easier to adapt to what life throws at us.

Five Habits To Stop Now

Taking On Too Much

Those with hurry sickness are probably taking on more than they can cope with.

“Hurry sickness is having more to do than your time allows,” says Mandy.

If you’re someone who tries to “do it all”, consider what is driving that decision.

“For example, if your own mother modelled Superwoman behaviour then you are more likely to place that pressure on yourself,” she says.

At work, women carry out an average of 60% more unpaid work than men.**

Lorraine explains that doing this “often hides the pressing fact that we are overwhelmed”.

To design the kind of life you want to live, Mandy says: “Make sure the choice is yours and driven by your own goals.”

Not Prioritising

Changing how you live, delegating, sharing responsibilities, and letting go of perfectionism in favour of a “good enough” approach can all help ward off hurry sickness.

Mandy suggests writing down your schedule for each day and reviewing what you enjoy, what needs to be done and whether there is anything you can cut out.

“Notice what you benefit from and what leaves you feeling like you wasted your time,” says Mandy.

“Then delegate or cut that.”

You’re probably used to having a never-ending to-do list.

How about a “not-to-do list”?

Lorraine says it helps eliminate less urgent tasks so you can decide what needs your attention.

Always Saying Yes

When deciding whether to say “yes” to a responsibility, Mandy suggests asking yourself: Will this put me under unnecessary pressure, or is it possible and worth it?

Lorraine adds: “Saying ‘no’, firmly yet kindly, is crucial.

“It lets people know you’re at capacity and helps distribute responsibilities more evenly.”

Learn to stop fearing what others will think of your boundaries, or feeling guilty about them.

Didn’t provide a cake for your child’s school fair? Who cares!

Multitasking

While multitasking might help you feel in control of your runaway workload, it can crank up feelings of time scarcity.

“Single-tasking – focusing on completing one task at a time – can help create mental space and prevent overwhelming burnout,” says Lorraine.

Not Relaxing

Find you have a quiet afternoon ahead?

Relish it – don’t seek tasks to fill the gaps.

It can be tempting to pick up another task you have remembered, but at what cost?

A cost to your resting time.

“Breaking the cycle of hurry sickness doesn’t mean giving up ambition or success – it’s about learning to regulate the pace, so that urgency doesn’t quietly become a way of life,” says Dr Cox.

“Most importantly, give yourself permission to slow down without feeling guilty.

“Rest is not a luxury, it’s a biological necessity.”