Every time you check your email or another message service, you’re basically saying, ‘Does any random person need my time right now?’ And if you respond right away, you’re sending another signal both to them and to yourself: ‘I’ll stop what I’m doing to put other people’s priorities ahead of mine no matter who they are or what they want.’ Spelled out, this sounds insane. But instant-response insanity is our culture’s default behavior. It’s the cornerstone of the Busy Bandwagon.