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AIBU?

To not want to hear how busy people are, all the time?

92 replies

Lamour · 18/05/2013 16:12

I really am sick to the back teeth of people saying how busy they are. Lots of people are busy. Most just get on with it.

There is a mum I bump into at the school on a regular basis. Every conversation I have with her (usually initiated by her in the first place) goes along the same theme, of how terribly busy she is, and how her life is so hectic, and she has this on, and that on, and oh she's just so very very very busy. She volunteers this information. I have long since stopped asking her how she is as her reply is always "busy". We used to meet up but I got fed up with her asking me to meet her and then saying "I'm so busy for the next 6 weeks" and pencilling me in for a half an hour coffee in 6 weeks' time.

I also have an acquaintance on my Facebook friends list, who tells the Facebook world on a daily basis how busy she is, and lists the things that she has done each day. Then everybody marvels about how she fits it all in, and how she must surely be superwoman. Said woman does have several children, but IMO does a lot of unnecessary things and puts pressure on herself to make everything perfect. She will do something during an evening, such as ironing everything in her ironing basket, or wrapping up teachers' end of term presents, and then put a photo on Facebook of it, and again bleat on about how very busy she has been and what a busy evening, and how it's not easy to do things like ironing or present wrapping when you have several children.

It just feels competitive, and silly. As I said, lots of people are busy, but most just get on with it.

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BeCool · 19/05/2013 09:09

We used to joke that FINE stood for Fucked, Insecure, Needy and Emotional.

So what about BUSY?

Boring, Unfulfilled, Stressed and Y?

chickydoo · 19/05/2013 09:21

I go out to work 7 days a week. I have 4 children & a parent who is dying & another with dementia.
I have Sunday morning off work to do everything relating to house & kids. ( should me mowing the lawn as I type) I really am busy & it's not much fun.

MortifiedAdams · 19/05/2013 09:34

This drives me mad too. There is a long running joke about our boss at work who always says she "doesn't have time for this!" whenever a potential disaster arises or someone needs assistance.

Its come to a point where its her catchphrase and she is ridiculed for it. What she fails.to realise is that if she actually worked the 40 hours she was contrcated instead of.swanning in at 9.30 and leaving at 2.45 she might well have more time to do things (it is.not possible to do this job from.home).

ssd · 19/05/2013 09:39

I know someone who told me last september that her weekends are now busy up till christmas (as she has so many friends to see)

shes the sort who would go to the opening of an envelope so she could say shes got something on

when her and her dh actually have a night in with the kids it has to be turned into a movie night, or some other big deal, like sitting in with the kids is an event

find it all a bit showy and desperate

MulberryJane · 19/05/2013 09:48

I'm busy when I haven't planned and prioritised, I'm on maternity leave and have never been so 'busy' although I'd never admit that for fear of (deserved) ridicule, lol. When I'm disorganised I find it impossible to fit every one/thing in. However, I know this is my fault. But some people cram so much into their days that they are constantly busy because they are hiding from something they don't want to confront. For instance, if you're busy then you don't have time to think about things which might be sad or scary. Maybe she's worried about being dissatisfied with her life and therefore hides behind the facade of 'being busy'? Just a thought...

ipswichwitch · 19/05/2013 10:07

I get very at people who spend ages on fb claiming to be sooooooo busy, listing everything they've done/have to do that day complete with endless photos and status updates. Surely if you are genuinely that bloody busy you don't have time to arse about on fb.

I know some that love to moan on about being so busy, and they don't have time to even read the paper when half the stuff they do is completely unnecessary. The truly genuinely busy people don't have time to whine about it. They just get on with it.

ssd · 19/05/2013 10:13

this does ring true to me, something I'd always suspected

BalloonSlayer · 19/05/2013 10:17

the facebook thing is the eternal conundrum like diaries ipswichwitch - the only time I ever have time to keep a diary is when I have nothing interesting to put in it. During the times in my life that were worth writing about for posterity, I wouldn't have been able to find the spare minutes in the day to put it on paper.

Jenijena · 19/05/2013 10:21

No. A childless couple I know want to both work three days as they're just too busy... doing f all apart from moaning a out how the world needs to give them a break

magimedi · 19/05/2013 10:27

My late MIL always gave the same reply when people told her how busy they were:

"Never mind, busy hands are happy hands."

Really annoying.

HerrenaHarridan · 19/05/2013 11:11

I really am that busy too

Usually 4-6 weeks ahead in my diary before I can guarantee enough time to properly hang out with friends.

I don't generally go on about it much. But to be honest you'd have to be a sick puppy to envy me ferrying my daughter to endless hospital appts ( 2hr round trip, will take between 1-4 hours)

Spending my whole fucking Saturday taking dd to visit her dad (4hr round trip plus contact time)

I also have 2 groups I take her to regularly (she is an only child)

Then various friends (close by to visit/ return favours) and family (far away Skype appts, develop photos and send presents etc.

Oh yeah and dd, the dog and the house / garden.

And I'm learning to drive!

Sorry if I've offended you!

HerrenaHarridan · 19/05/2013 11:13

But I must confess a tendency to laziness whoever the opportunity arises, plus I mn when baby is sleeping on bus

HerrenaHarridan · 19/05/2013 11:15

When I was with my ex I used to thin I should start smoking again just for an excuse to leave him in the house with the baby held a hundred times a day while I stand outside and take deep breaths.

I tried just standing out there with a cup if tea but u just used to stare and all the things still needing done and feel tired

IbeginHere · 19/05/2013 11:31

when her and her dh actually have a night in with the kids it has to be turned into a movie night, or some other big deal, like sitting in with the kids is an event

My fb friend is the same. Even the down time is planned to the nth degree. She writes at 9am on fb, 'pj day today'. I can imagine her getting up in the morning and saying 'right girls, today is a pj day so we will not be getting dressed'. In this house a pj day happens because we suddenly look round and realise we have been too lazy to get dressed, not something that is ever planned.

I do wonder if there is ever any spontaneity in their lives.

LaQueen · 19/05/2013 12:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

chocoluvva · 19/05/2013 17:12

When people complain about being busy - through their own choice - I have no sympathy. Give something up or put up with it.

I'm bitter though as I have a chronic health condition which limits the amount I can do.

Decoy · 19/05/2013 17:55

When "busy" people list their activities they sound the same as many other people who don't keep going on about being busy.

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