How the Busiest People Find Joy
How the Busiest People Find Joy
By Leslie A. Perlow, Sari Mentser, and Salvatore J. Affinito
Harvard Business Review, July/August 2025
Even in a nonstop world, joy isn’t out of reach—it’s hidden in how we choose to spend our time.
In the relentless swirl of deadlines, meetings, and obligations, joy can feel like a luxury—something reserved for weekends, vacations, or a distant “someday.” But what if joy didn’t require more time—just smarter use of the little time we already have?
This timely and research-backed article from Harvard Business Review offers a powerful reminder: some of the busiest people in the world manage to experience real joy—not because they have more free time, but because they use their limited leisure intentionally and strategically.
Drawing from a robust study of nearly 2,000 professionals across multiple industries, the authors uncover five essential practices that turn fleeting moments into meaningful ones:
1. Seek Connection, Not Isolation
People consistently reported greater joy when spending time with others—even for a short walk, a shared laugh, or a quick phone call. Relationships don’t just matter—they magnify our happiness.
2. Choose Activity Over Passivity
Passive downtime (like scrolling social media or binge-watching) tends to deliver short-term distraction but little long-term joy. In contrast, active leisure—such as exercise, creating something, or pursuing a hobby—leaves us more energized and fulfilled.
3. Do What Feels Intrinsically Rewarding
Joy doesn’t come from checking off “shoulds.” It comes from doing what lights us up. People found more satisfaction when pursuing activities that felt personally meaningful rather than externally expected.
4. Mix It Up
Routine has its place—but joy thrives in variety. Alternating between different types of leisure experiences keeps things fresh, stimulating, and more emotionally rewarding.
5. Guard Your Time Like It Matters—Because It Does
Many people struggle to protect even a few hours for themselves. But those who establish clear boundaries—no work emails after a certain hour, scheduled “no-meeting” time blocks, or weekend commitments to themselves—reap the biggest benefits.
The Big Takeaway?
You don’t need more hours in your day to be happier—you just need to reclaim and reframe the ones you already have. Whether you’re leading a company, juggling a household, or simply trying to stay afloat, joy is not a side effect of success. It’s a discipline. A choice. A craft.
And if the busiest among us can find it—so can you.
