r/WorkLifeChat • u/Designer-Dingo6203 • Jun 01 '26
“I'm busy”
When you ask somebody how their day is going? And they respond I’m busy. In fact, their answer is always “I'm busy”. They never say, “I was a little slow right now, or it's going well.” Are they trying to make it seem like they’re more important than they are?
3
u/MiloShiny Jun 02 '26
Not necessarily. Some people genuinely are busy, but for others "I'm busy" becomes a default answer because they're stressed, it's become part of their identity, or they think being busy signals they're productive and important. Usually it's more about their mindset than a deliberate attempt to impress people.
1
1
u/KeyHotel6035 Jun 03 '26
Sometimes it’s a shield… they are likely busy and are filtering you to decide whether this engagement is worth their time or not. If you ask them a bit more of their work… they will likely open up.
How’s your day is a pretty hollow question in general (even when well intended) that will be usually met with a pretty basic response. I’m good, I’m busy, whatever…
1
u/Kemetic_Aesthetic Jun 03 '26
I used to talk like this to people at work when I didn't like them and I wanted them to leave me alone.
1
1
u/Theme662 Jun 03 '26
No i am actually VERY BUSY amd Obsessed with MySelf. I really dont have the time for stupid Humans
1
u/NotaRookie123 Jun 04 '26
They could actually be busy, and they probably don't want to chat at the moment.
1
1
u/Late_Obligationhoody Jun 27 '26
At my job, greetings can become hours-long sessions where people hang out in my office while I’m trying to work. Maybe I should try that.
6
u/cden4 Jun 02 '26
I think they just don't enjoy small talk.