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Books about burnout are ten-a-penny, but let’s not forget that the act of being busy is important for us emotionally and intellectually

Theresa May: could the British prime minister actually be enjoying the stress of the Brexit negotiations? Pic: Getty

Being busy gets a terrible rap these days. Culturally speaking, we live in a climate not just of busyness, but of constantly complaining to others about our extreme busyness, and wearing our work ethics like an exceptionally weird badge of pride.

We’re stressed, we tell each other endlessly, implying that this is a Very Bad Thing, and It Must Stop. We glamorise meditation apps in tandem – to calm ourselves down – alongside ...