The Cult of Busyness
Parent-child relationships Career uncertainty and work issues
In this article
Today, I came across a new concept: the cult of busy. It was fascinating to explore, as it’s not something often associated with Ukrainians - especially the older generation - while it’s far more common among Americans than you might think.
Yet, in modern times, parents eagerly instill this cult in their children, proudly celebrating their achievements while overlooking the hidden dangers. And those dangers are real.
At first glance, the threat of this cult may seem invisible - even positive. But let’s break it down.
What is the cult of busy?
What is the cult of busy?
People with this mindset believe every minute of their day must be scheduled and accounted for. They even use the term lost opportunity cost - the “cost of a missed opportunity.”
What does this look like in real life?
What does this look like in real life?
A child attends school, goes to two extracurricular clubs, studies an additional foreign language, has a math tutor, prepares for Olympiads on weekends, and does homework. In high school, add ZNO (external independent testing) prep. If the child is an athlete, throw in daily training sessions.
And parents rub their hands in satisfaction, knowing their son or daughter will enter a specialized class next year.
The Result of the Cult of Busy
The result?
The person doesn’t know how to spend a day without a schedule. What do you do on a free day? But such time is essential - especially for children!
The truth is, you only need about 20% of the material taught to enter university (this isn’t just true here - it’s similar in every country). Children raised with this mindset grow up to be workaholics, dreading and pitying weekends and holidays because, for them, there’s only one mantra: must, must, must. Family becomes just another obligation, not a source of genuine closeness, and alcohol becomes a way to forget and fall asleep.
Lost opportunity cost can become a true curse, because where there’s a calculation of missed opportunities, there’s no room for daydreaming, creative exploration, or simple happiness.
Breaking Out of the Vicious Cycle
How do you break out of this vicious cycle and find yourself?
With the help of a psychologist, you can:
- Get to know yourself better;
- Learn to feel your body and listen to it;
- Discover your internal and external resources;
- Understand how to balance different areas of your life;
- Decide for yourself what you truly want from life;
- Touch base with your dreams and visualize them.
Give yourself time - and you’ll be able to not only work to your fullest but also rest!
Last modified 11-06-2026 at 00:23 Kyiv time
