Here’s An Unpopular Opinion: Americans Are Depressed Because They’re Way Too Busy

Human beings in the modern world are too busy.

This is indeed an unpopular opinion, especially in a country like America, where we value productivity and hard work. Rightfully so, as America was forged by salt-of-the-earth citizens who put their nose to the grindstone, day in and day out. Wars were won, cities were built from the ground up, and wealth was created because of productive people who toiled and never counted the costs. 

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But the modern world is different from the past. A low-humming anxiety is stirring in the air, one you can never escape. Life feels too fast. It feels like you are dragged along without pauses for reflection or respites from the grind of daily life.

A lot of this has to do with social media and the internet, which makes you feel obliged to pay attention to everything – every trend and every news cycle that probably doesn’t even affect your life in a meaningful way. Emails, notifications, posts, tweets, more posts. Ping. Ping. Ping. It’s a never-ending deluge of people and posts demanding your attention. 

Sometimes, though, humans need to have peace and calm. We need to tune out the world for a bit and sit in stillness. It’s the feeling you get when you pray inside a church: in the best way possible, you are cut off from the trappings of the modern world. You are at peace. Your anxiety and depression wash away in the silence of a beautiful place of worship. 

We need more of that in America. Less busyness for the sake of being busy, and more thoughtful work. More time for silent reflection. 

What better time for that than the Christmas season?

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