Why We’re All So Busy—and How to Break the Cycle

Hello, FOMO Sapiens,

Have you noticed that everything feels really busy right now?

Everyone I talk to says that are flat-out busier than they have been for a while. While I don’t have empirical certainty, I do have a theory as to why that is the case: people are avoiding the turbulent headlines by burying themselves in work.

This period is giving me early pandemic vibes in a sense, except that instead of making bread we are all making spreadsheets, presentations, and ChatGPT prompts. It’s kind of depressing if I’m honest, and just writing about my little theory has inspired me to try to get off my laptop, get outside, and take a break from the news and work.

But before you do, here are the things you need to know right now (and this month I’m keeping it light because I really do want you to go outside):

1. Season 13 of FOMO Sapiens Continues With Big Ideas

2.PatGPT: How to Stop Stressing About Your Schedule

1. 📺 Season 13 of FOMO Sapiens Continues with Big Ideas

Season 13 has been super fun because I have had so many smart and interesting guests. We are ramping up for some great thinkers and entrepreneurs as we get toward the end of the season.

Recent episodes you might enjoy include:

• Thomas Turcich, the 11th person to walk around the world (seriously!), on what he learned in the process

• Futurist Frederik Pfert (say that three times fast) on why the future isn’t so scary (unless you look at your 401k!)

• Ann Freidman, the founder of the Planet Word Museum in Washington, DC, on what it takes to start a museum

• Topaz Adizes on how to have more meaningful conversations

• Nayeema Raza on her new podcast Smart Girl Dumb Questions and the business model of podcasting.

Next up, we have guests including an HBR editor on The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift and The Atlantic's Olga Khazan on Whether You Can Really Change Your Personality (or do you even want to…)

Head over to YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts now and check out what you’ve been missing.

Season 13

2. PatGPT: How to Stop Stressing About Your Schedule

Given my feelings about how busy we are right now, I am actively trying to destress that feeling that things are a bit too busy. If you are like me and your calendar feels like it’s running your life, not the other way around, you’re not alone.

According to author Chris Guillebeau, the antidote to “time anxiety” starts with something surprisingly simple: leave early. Giving yourself a buffer might sound basic, but it can reduce stress and eliminate that frantic, last-minute hustle. And here’s the kicker—most people won’t even end up waiting around, because we consistently underestimate how long things take.

Beyond that, psychologist Thomas Curran recommends ditching the myth that you’ll never finish your to-do list. Instead of obsessing over what didn’t get done, try ending each day by completing the sentence, “Today I made progress on…” It’s a small shift that can build confidence and help you focus on forward motion instead of perfection.

Other tips? Don’t let someone else’s “urgent” request hijack your schedule—pause and ask yourself if it’s truly urgent for you. And remember, not everything requires your A-game. Sometimes, your B-game is good enough—store-bought cookies will do, and Zoom can be a call during a walk.

Finally, redefine what counts as “valuable” time. Productivity doesn’t only happen on spreadsheets; it also happens on merry-go-rounds and in magical places like Unicorn Land with your kids. The moments you’ll treasure most probably aren’t on your to-do list—they’re the ones you make time for when you decide that presence matters more than pressure.

Thanks as always for reading, and please drop me a line with thoughts, questions, or ideas.

Patrick

P.S. Got ideas for FOMO Sapiens guests or themes? Slide into my DMs or reply to this email—I’d love to hear them!

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