I’m Late, I’m Late, For a Very Important Date

“Hurry sickness” isn’t exactly a diagnosis, but it is a decades-old term that describes a good chunk of people. If you constantly feel rushed, even when there’s no need for urgency, you might be on a dangerous path for poor health and poorer brain power—stick with us as we break down some common symptoms and a few ways you can finally slow down.

1. You Always Feel Rushed

Even with nothing pressing on your schedule, those with hurry sickness still feel the heat. You might scramble to finish your to-do list, work yourself into a headache, or sequester yourself from others until the job is done. It might sound efficient on the surface, but it’s actually a quick ticket to chronic stress.

2. You Calculate Time Between Tasks

Do you obsess about the time between tasks? Though we all wish for more hours in the day, hurry sickness only cranks it up a notch. You might get flustered about perceived time crunches or pressure yourself to finish tasks sooner than possible.

3. You Hate Any Delays

Everyday time delays weigh far heavier on those with hurry sickness. Mundane hiccups, like a late bus or tardy friends, only make you feel worse. You might lash out, worry to the point of headaches, or experience heightened anxiety.

4. You’re Easily Irritated

With so much weight on your shoulders, any stalls can make the whole load unbearable. Those with hurry sickness hate getting delayed and will often lose their patience when made to deal with one.

5. You Feel Behind Schedule

6. You Have Trouble Concentrating

Hurry sickness doesn’t encourage time management, it destroys it. With all those worries and time calculations, you might have a harder time concentrating during the day. Getting lost in thought can even exacerbate your fears, especially if they impede task completion.

7. You’re Never Really Present

It’s hard to live in the moment if you’re always worried about the future. There’s no time to stop and smell the roses—there’s no time to do anything, which is exactly what hurry sickness tells us.

8. You Get More Headaches

We’ve all suffered the odd headache, but hurry sickness is different. Between the chronic stress, constant pressure, and meticulous schedule maintenance, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Our brains run a marathon every day to keep up with the pressure we put on ourselves, and that doesn’t do the mind any good.

9. You Interrupt Others

Hurry sickness doesn’t always affect one person. Sometimes, it affects everyone around them. From people who talk too slowly to those who include every detail in their stories, you might interrupt more than you realize. Whether you mean to or not, it’s a common indicator of impatience.

10. Your Relationships Suffer

We’ve talked about never being present. We’ve now talked about interrupting others. But there’s plenty more sufferers struggle with, and with so much negativity, relationships will pay the price. Family may worry about you, friends may distance themselves, and even coworkers can notice there’s something wrong.

The good news is that you don’t have to suffer in silence. Recognizing the symptoms is only half the battle—it’s time we explored how to bring some much-needed calm.

1. Disconnect From Your Phone

Our phones are a wasteland of distraction and work management, so aim to unplug after hours. It’s easy to get sucked into social media or answer one more email, but those behaviors only contribute to the brain rot. They also exacerbate symptoms like anxiety, headaches, and poor sleep.

2. Focus More on People

Put your phone away at the table. Don’t bite off more projects than you can chew. Stop checking emails when you’re out with friends. Staying present with loved ones gives you more time to enjoy life, not just exist in it.

3. Build a Quiet Nest

We all deserve a cozy spot where we can turn off our brains. Maybe it’s a quiet reading nook at the library. Perhaps it’s under the covers in your bedroom. Whatever peace looks like for you, embracing it will calm those never-ending thoughts.

4. Go For a Good Walk

With so much to see and do on a walk, it’s the perfect way to slow down. You don’t need to turn it into a workout or blast music along the way; a simple stroll encourages you to breathe in some fresh air and take in all that’s around you.

5. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness won’t come easy, but practice makes perfect. Start with baby steps to keep yourself in the moment: guided meditation, journaling, and slowing down when you eat all help to ground you. The longer you do it, the more techniques you’ll find along the way, too!

6. Look Into Meditation

Speaking of meditation, there’s nothing better to help soothe overworked brains. This, too, will take some practice before you’re fully in the groove, but simple breathing exercises or guided daydreams can help slow the world a little.

7. Pay Attention to Your Body

It doesn’t take long for our bodies to catch up with our anxiety. Chronic stress manifests in all kinds of ways, from not eating or sleeping to heartburn and even changes in your menstrual cycle—so pay attention to your body.

8. Learn to Set Boundaries

Work-life imbalances contribute to hurry sickness, which is why it’s so important to set boundaries. Don’t take on additional work if you can’t handle it. Stop answering emails after hours. There’s no prize for doing the most work, and it’s more important to prioritize yourself over your job.

9. Prioritize Self-Care

It’s easier said than done, but self-care is crucial for your well-being. You’ll never slow down if you ignore your body’s signals, but taking the time to treat yourself incentivizes you to maintain those priorities. You’ll feel better, you’ll be healthier, and you’ll slow down your brain.

10. Make Time to Relax

In the throes of busy schedules, it’s easy to forego relaxation. However, taking the time to truly relax is what our brains and bodies need to stay healthy. Relaxation takes many forms, which means you have an endless number of ways to make yourself feel good! Your calendar may be full, but there’s always room for yourself—you deserve it.