[Cross-posted at the Sabbath blog.]
From the Pacific Standard. According to a new study:
Who among us are the most happy? Newly published research suggests it is those fortunate folks who have little or no excess time, and yet seldom feel rushed.
This busy but blissful group comprises 8 to 12 percent of Americans, making it “a small and unusual minority within the general population,” writes University of Maryland sociologist John P. Robinson.
According to his analysis, the happiness level of this group is 12 to 25 percent higher than that of those of most Americans. What’s more, while the general population’s happiness level is going down, theirs is increasing…
So the question is, how does one cultivate this busyness + lack of hurry? Is it a person’s temperament? Or is it a matter of circumstance?
And what might Sabbath—an intentional time to stop, look, and listen—have to do with it?
On the other hand, I saw a comment yesterday that suggested busyness is a contemporary opiate of the masses. Maybe it’s not about “busyness,” (which implies busy for the sake of busy), but purposeful activity.
perhaps what is the key to happiness might become closer once we come to know what is the lock
I read one of those productivity books a couple months back (“Getting Things Done”). The author came back again and again to the goal organizing to do lists and file folders and calendars for the sake of getting all that stress-inducing stuff out of your head and onto paper somewhere. For me, early returns are encouraging.
Rocky, it’s fair to say that I’m a disciple of GTD. Good luck to you.
combinations such as Evernote, The Secret Weapon and GTD.