Crazy Busy - Keeping Sane in a Stressful World

Abolish stress. Rediscover joy. Replenish your energy.
 
In Crazy Busy acclaimed psychologist Thijs Launspach examines why we often work ourselves to the bone and what we can do to prevent this. He explains how to cope with stress and create more peace and calm in your life. He draws on the latest scientific knowledge, the methods used by experts and the stories told by those who have learned the hard way what stress can do to both body and mind. All to provide you with the answer to the question: how can you free yourself from a life of stress?
 
A full diary and no time to think; the feeling that you are always playing catch-up and never quite hitting the mark: our lives today are almost invariably crazy busy. Being busy is one of the hallmarks of the modern era. But the pressure is taking its toll on us.
 
The number of burnouts has risen dramatically over the past ten years. In fact, it has now reached epidemic proportions: approximately one in seven of all workers suffers badly from stress or has been forced to take a break from work because of stress-related complaints. And even if you don't reach the actual burnout stage, stress can still make your life a lot less enjoyable.
 
Why are our lives so hectic? Have we all become workaholics? Why are we so susceptible to FOMO (the Fear Of Missing Out)? And most importantly, what can you do to cope with the stress in your life and prevent a burnout?
* Do you find yourself rushing to get things finished more than once a week?
* Do others often offer you well-intentioned advice on 'how to slow things down a little'.
* Do you ever suspect that the stress you feel prevents you from being as happy as you would like to be?
* Are you more addicted to your smartphone than you would care to admit? Is it the first thing you reach for when you wake up in the morning?
* Do you often find yourself longing to stop and take a break from it all?
 
If your answer to one or more of these questions is 'Yes', then this is the book for you.

List of contents

Introduction ix
 
10 Ways to Lower Your Stress Levels -- A Quick Guide xv
 
1 WE'RE ALL WORKAHOLICS NOW 1
 
#LoveMyJob 6
 
Continuous change 10
 
Committed to the cause 12
 
Always on 16
 
The terrible tale of e-mail 20
 
The need to switch off 25
 
2 ALWAYS IN A HURRY 27
 
FOMO 31
 
Overclocking 34
 
Choice overload 38
 
The dictator in your pocket 43
 
Organising stuff 48
 
Tackling the symptoms 51
 
3 BEING BUSY IS A CHOICE 53
 
Have to versus want to 57
 
Being busy versus being under pressure 61
 
Procrastination 64
 
Perfectionism 69
 
Not my patch, sorry! 75
 
Setting boundaries 81
 
Choosing a more relaxed life 86
 
4 YOUR BOSS IS A BEAR 89
 
Hormones and the nervous system 92
 
Fight or flight 93
 
Cave dweller with an office job 95
 
Stressors 98
 
Baseline stress level 100
 
Breathe 103
 
5 BURNOUT 107
 
What is a burnout? 111
 
How do you recognise a burnout? 116
 
Past the shame 119
 
Recovering from burnout 121
 
Hello body, are you okay? 124
 
After a burnout 126
 
Intermezzo: relax! 129
 
6 WARNING! 131
 
Essential maintenance 135
 
Recognising your warning signs 139
 
Taking action 141
 
Contingency plan 145
 
7 PEACE OF MIND 149
 
Make time for yourself 153
 
An empty mind 155
 
Goals 159
 
Priorities 161
 
Planning for professionals 166
 
Pulling rank on e-mail 172
 
The power of habit 174
 
On becoming a robot 179
 
8 FOCUSED ON THE JOB 181
 
Mindfulness 186
 
Deep work 193
 
The pomodoro method 198
 
From source of stress to source of solace 200
 
Your attention is yours alone 203
 
2030 BURNOUT-FREE -- A MANIFESTO 205
 
When you are worried about someone 207
 
At work 209
 
Drastic measures 214
 
Two scenarios 219
 
THE DARK ARTS OF STRESS RELIEF 223
 
References 225
 
Notes 231
 
Index 233

About the author

Thijs Launspach (1988) is a psychologist and author. He teaches at The School of Life Amsterdam, is a trainer and keynote speaker on stress and burnout and writes a weekly column for a national newspaper in the Netherlands.
www.thijslaunspach.nl
@thijslaunspach

Summary

Abolish stress. Rediscover joy. Replenish your energy.

In Crazy Busy acclaimed psychologist Thijs Launspach examines why we often work ourselves to the bone and what we can do to prevent this. He explains how to cope with stress and create more peace and calm in your life. He draws on the latest scientific knowledge, the methods used by experts and the stories told by those who have learned the hard way what stress can do to both body and mind. All to provide you with the answer to the question: how can you free yourself from a life of stress?

A full diary and no time to think; the feeling that you are always playing catch-up and never quite hitting the mark: our lives today are almost invariably crazy busy. Being busy is one of the hallmarks of the modern era. But the pressure is taking its toll on us.

The number of burnouts has risen dramatically over the past ten years. In fact, it has now reached epidemic proportions: approximately one in seven of all workers suffers badly from stress or has been forced to take a break from work because of stress-related complaints. And even if you don't reach the actual burnout stage, stress can still make your life a lot less enjoyable.

Why are our lives so hectic? Have we all become workaholics? Why are we so susceptible to FOMO (the Fear Of Missing Out)? And most importantly, what can you do to cope with the stress in your life and prevent a burnout?
* Do you find yourself rushing to get things finished more than once a week?
* Do others often offer you well-intentioned advice on 'how to slow things down a little'.
* Do you ever suspect that the stress you feel prevents you from being as happy as you would like to be?
* Are you more addicted to your smartphone than you would care to admit? Is it the first thing you reach for when you wake up in the morning?
* Do you often find yourself longing to stop and take a break from it all?

If your answer to one or more of these questions is 'Yes', then this is the book for you.

Product details

• Authors: T Launspach, Thijs Launspach, Thijs (The School of Life Amsterdam) Launspach
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.08.2022
• EAN: 9780857089458
• ISBN: 978-0-85708-945-8
• No. of pages: 272
• Subjects: Guides > Self-help, everyday life > Lifestyle, personal development; Non-fiction book; Ratgeber, Stress, Self-help, Ratgeber Wirtschaft, Business & management, Motivational, Wirtschaft u. Management, Business Self-Help, Wirtschaft /Ratgeber, Ratgeber Motivation, Spezialthemen Ratgeber, Self-Help Special Topics