The rise of The Busies

Forget big salaries, expense accounts and flashy cars. The best measure of success for young people is how busy your life is, a survey has found.

It identifies a new trend among Britain's professionals aged between 20 and 30 called "Busy Syndrome", where a challenging and hectic lifestyle is seen as a reflection of professional and social status.

Jan Walsh, of Consumer Analysis Group, who conducted the research on behalf of Orange, said: "The survey reveals a new breed of young professionals who barely stop for breath.

"They know their lives are hectic yet relish the challenge of having more activities to fit into their daily lives. They enjoy being busy and wouldn't have it any other way."

The researchers found that, in an average week, busy young professionals socialised on lunch breaks at least three times, went out with friends after work three days out of five, exercised three times, went shopping twice and caught the latest blockbuster at the cinema at least once.

They worked an average nine-hour day although this increased to 141/2 hours if a deadline was looming.

Despite this exhausting schedule, 12 per cent said they never wanted their lives to become less hectic and nearly a third did not want to slow down until they hit their fifties.

The survey of 1,000 young people across the UK revealed that 32 per cent of busy professionals already knew what they were doing for Christmas, while 82 per cent had social events planned for at least five weeks ahead.

It found that 87 per cent of young people got irritated when something slowed them down, with 37 per cent hating queuing in shops, 36 per cent loathing getting stuck behind slow drivers and one in three getting irritated by slow internet access.

Stress consultant Liz Tucker urged such people to take breaks, look after their bodies and be realistic.

"The body needs to experience pleasure and satisfaction to stay healthy and happy," she said.

"Incorporate positive stimulation into your life by planning in fun.

"If you have no time for such self-indulgence, then remind yourself exactly why you are working so hard."

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