Time Pressures in Contemporary Society, livre ebook

One-line elevator pitch: Going beyond personal productivity advice, this book examines how society shapes our experience of time, offering insights for individuals and societies alike;

Explores how society, not just individual choices, drives chronic busyness and time pressures;

Draws on international comparisons to show how different cultures balance work, rest and social life;

Highlights the impact on wellbeing, gendered labour and remote work, offering insights for real-life solutions.

Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.

Feeling constantly rushed isn’t only your problem - it’s a social issue.

This book examines how societal norms, the disappearance of collective rhythms and constant connectivity create chronic time pressure. Combining international comparisons and sociological analyses, it explores how busyness affects physical and mental wellbeing, why mothers carry extra burdens and the challenges of remote work.

Whether you’re seeking insight into modern life, gendered labour or strategies for reclaiming calm, this book illuminates how society shapes the way we experience time.

1. Introduction: The Problem of Time Pressure

2. Collective or Individual Rhythm

3. The Norm of Busyness

4. Mothers Are Busy Because the Revolution Is Incomplete at Home

5. Online All the Time, Because We Can Be

6. Segmenting or Integrating

7. The Work from Home Dilemma

8. Not Everyone Is Busy, or Wants to Be

9. Time Pressure Scenarios: Four Potential Futures