Urgency culture makes it difficult to distinguish between what is and is not important in a world that is becoming more fast-paced and hyperconnected and rewards immediacy.

Dealing with many last-minute requests, unreasonable workloads or deadlines, and the need to be reachable even after hours are all examples of this at work. Overextending in relationships, constantly checking social media for updates out of a fear of missing out, and answering calls and texts right away—even when it's inconvenient—are examples of urgency culture in the personal sphere. We can better understand why so many people report having anxiety and worry issues if we consider the idea that we live in a culture of urgency.

If we are constantly on the go, our bodies overproduce the naturally occurring stress hormone cortisol, and our minds overthink things. This recipe results in ongoing worry, overwhelm, stress, and anxiety. Urgency culture can include anything from overscheduling our lives and being unable to say "no" to having unhealthy relationships with our jobs and pushing ourselves even when we're tired. Here are a few examples of how our culture emphasizes urgency and how these made-up rules exacerbate anxiety.

How chronic stress is caused by an urgent culture?

People's mental health suffers in today's fast-paced workplace due to the pressure to be "on" all the time and react quickly to every request. Employees are forced to work harder in an urgent culture, which typically pushes their limits and puts their bodies in stress mode. However, why does this occur? A bestselling author of What Are We Doing? a speaker, and a therapist Joelle Moray's book, Radical Self-care for the Hustle Culture, offered a solution. "Promotes the idea that value and self-worth are directly linked to professional achievements and productivity," she says of the urgency culture. Chronic stress may result from this way of thinking. Numerous mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, and burnout, are linked to prolonged stress.

People are forced to multitask in an office setting where each task is given priority. Multitasking over time causes stress and switches our bodies into "fight or flight" mode. This reaction increases levels of stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine, impairs focus, and limits the ability to solve problems creatively. Stress exposure is unavoidable in workplaces where a culture of false urgency is ingrained. Last but not least, prolonged exposure to urgency causes the body to remain constantly on guard. Prolonged activation of the stress response system and prolonged exposure to cortisol and other stress hormones can cause disruptions in nearly every bodily function, with significant consequences for our mental and physical well-being.

The toxic perception of immortal productivity and stigmatization of rest

The idea of "productivity" is surrounded by numerous myths. Who can give a true definition of productivity? Does this imply that we are ineffective unless our efforts yield a measurable outcome? Or that we are not productive if we are not busy? The response can be interpreted in different ways. We can reinterpret what productivity means to us individually by using this lens. Many of the cultural "rules" surrounding productivity, such as the notion that we should be available to our jobs at all times or that a workweek of fewer than forty hours is ineffective, are ready for reexamination. Our nervous systems go into overdrive and we unintentionally push ourselves past our breaking point when we become obsessed with being productive. A radical departure from the narrative of urgency, accepting that it is acceptable to engage in activities that do not necessarily yield a tangible "result" can lead to a more realistic definition of productivity and a healthier balance in one's life.

Rest is frequently mistakenly perceived as idleness or laziness in a culture that values urgency. However, there is a wealth of scientific evidence supporting the notion that leisure, self-care, and rest are essential to our health. Without them, the consequences could be disastrous as we merely run our bodies, minds, and selves into the ground. Burnout is real, and it can have serious effects on our bodies and minds if we are not careful with how we operate daily. One important strategy to counteract some of the harmful and unrealistic messages of urgency culture is to de-stigmatize rest and self-care.

This is never more true than in a culture that celebrates busyness and perpetuates the idea that anything less than "exactly right" is unacceptable. We become stuck when we aim for perfection, much like an artist who obsesses over every line, shade, and brushstroke, never finishing a painting because he cannot let it be finished or "good enough." We can be "good," perform well, and maintain a healthy balance in our lives when we let go of our need for perfection.

Reversing the culture of urgency

To stay out of the urgency trap, take a few seconds to think things through before acting on them. It allows you to take a step back and determine whether this demand for your time is in line with your priorities. In both personal and professional relationships, establishing clear expectations can aid in problem-solving, planning, and prioritization without creating a sense of false urgency. Studies have indicated that a heightened sense of time urgency and the pressure to continuously achieve is closely associated with chronic stress and burnout. Psychologically speaking, this is explained by the phenomenon known as "ego depletion," which occurs when our cognitive capacities are depleted following extended periods of self-control and effort.

So, how can we protect our mental health and fight the urgency culture?

1) Recognise the urgency trap 

We must first take a step back and recognize the urgent labour cycle we are caught in. It can be very beneficial to cultivate mindfulness or present-moment awareness. We can start focusing our time, energy, and attention on the things that matter by slowing down, taking a moment to think, and changing the way we behave

2) Get people to join you

Changing a culture on your own is difficult. Talk about how urgency culture affects or ensnares you, and what you would like to change. Asking yourself and other people questions like "Is this the most important thing I could be doing today?"

3) Develop the ability to set priorities and maintain your boundaries

You can become more realistic about what you can accomplish in a day, a week, or a lifetime by realizing the limitations on your time, energy, and attention.

Conclusion

We frequently unintentionally prioritize our lives in ways that are not truly consistent with our values as a result of urgency culture. Consider a person who prioritizes her work over her family, despite her love for them. Although she genuinely prioritizes her family, cultural norms lead her to complacently prioritize her needs. This causes her to miss out on significant family moments, focus more on her work than she would like to, and feel stressed and anxious about balancing the many aspects of her life. We cannot deny that urgency is frequently viewed in our culture as both a virtue and a necessity. Regretfully, this perspective on life leaves little opportunity for present-moment happiness, a healthy balance, or downtime. We can live healthier, less stressful lives by questioning the fictitious rules of urgency culture.

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