Heston Blumenthal is pretty successful - chef, restaurateur, author, television personality - and he is hyper busy with a more than heavyweight schedule that is enough to make mere mortals reach for the smelling salts. However he has quoted that "Just because I have done 120 hours a week doesn't mean that's the best way to do it."
And herein lies the nugget - is it really necessary to prostrate ourselves with industry and rushing around and 'doing'? Certainly it seems to be a bit trendy. There are articles popping up all over the place mentioning witty acronyms like FOMO (fear of missing out) and SHARENTS (parents who have to share the wondrous mega achievements of their kids) and concepts such as 'Out-interesting' others (what it says on the tin).
This all rather smacks of reducing our lives to a list of goals and overachieving rather than finding a balance and sticking to our true values and motivations. If you feel the pressure to 'out-do', 'over-excel', 'out perform' or you realise you are stringing yourself up on being in some way better or bigger it might not be that you are just trying to show off, but rather that you have got caught up in this increasingly ridiculous myth of 'doing'. Maybe you should be looking at the real WHY of what you have set yourself to do. It isn't just about being seen to be doing so much all the time, there isn't anything particularly impressive about overarching busyness. Reflect instead on the real meaning and purpose of why you are pursuing those goals.
And what better time to do this than in the festive season? Think 'Silent Night'... all is peace, all is calm....
