Busy Lives or are we Busy Fools?

I am, as my inner critic often notes with a grimace, without many of the defining features of proper grown-up adult life.

I have yet to re-produce, own a house, or understand the finer details of pension funds.

So far, so snowflake.

But despite my relatively commitment-free existence, my diary remains constantly weighed under by a long list of upcoming appointments — scheduled months in advance to ensure my free time is used productively, in a bid to spend time outside of the office with friends, family and on useful hobbies and pursuits.

So much so, that it’s hard to spot a gap. An opportunity if you will, for some spontaneous enjoyment of life.

And ironically given the long-lead-time ahead of meeting up, plans inevitably change, leaving diaries suddenly footloose and fancy-free and ensuring that it’s often months — or sometimes longer — between meetups, with regular WhatsApps following to arrange the next date or the date after that.

A seemingly relatively new phenomenon, what’s behind our increasingly over busy lives?

And how can we free ourselves from the tyranny of a booked-out calendar and still stay in touch with friends and family amidst the madness?