Hurry Sickness: a behavior pattern characterized by continual rushing and anxiousness; an overwhelming and continual sense of urgency.
I know so many entrepreneurs and social activists who suffer from ‘hurry sickness’. They can’t wait. Their ideas need to be implemented now. There is no time to waste.
Hurry sickness can get the job done. It can create an energy of excitement and anticipation. It can motivate and bring people together for a shared purpose.
The late Anita Roddick had hurry sickness, she wanted things done and she wanted them done now. Many of her conversations started with “What are we doping about…” She knew the value of being first to market, she knew social and environmental campaigns could have a critical used by date – death or destruction.
Most articles written about ‘hurry sickness’ tend to focus on the negative implications of constantly being in a rush. That we are addicted to multi-tasking and this ‘time saving is killing us faster’.
Arianna Huffington, the founder of internet news site The Huffington Post, keeled over, gashed her head, fractured her cheekbone after a stint of 18-hour days. She was hospitalised with exhaustion, and wrote a book about taking things easier.
She had thought that if she kept pushing the speed-up button and raising the elevation higher, she could achieve greater success. She was wrong.
I can agree that when in the wrong hands hurry sickness can create anxiety and pressure. It can lead to poor decisions.
But I also believe we can overthink things. Spending more time on something doesn’t guarantee success either. A calm measured decision can come too late.
As an entrepreneur, a small business owner or activist – sometimes long days are called for, deadlines need to be met – or you want to squeeze something in before holidays. And let’s not forget the people like me who enjoy the adrenalin of the last minute!
So I don’t believe hurry sickness is necessarily a bad thing – but I suggest you use your hurry sickness wisely! Do you enjoy being hurry sick?