How urgent is it actually ?

I was talking to a friend the other day when he received a call - he and I were having a casual chat and it was 7 pm . His response astounded me . He said " Can I call you back later - I am in an urgent meeting "

In today's workplace, it seems every single task has been knighted with the title of "URGENT."

Need an email response? URGENT!

Document to fill out? URGENT!

Quick catch-up meeting? Absolutely, you guessed it: URGENT!

The sense of urgency is so thick, that I’m half expecting the water cooler to start issuing “urgent hydration” notifications.

Every whatsapp notification also calls for an urgent response lest you be considered " slow to respond" or " not sufficiently motivated"

But seriously, what in heaven's name is this mad rush all about, and where are we heading ?

When did we decide that every trivial task must carry the same importance as the launch of a spaceship? Somewhere along the way, “urgent” lost its urgency and became the new “normal.” Suddenly, we’re all running around like headless chickens, fueled by caffeine or whatever else gets us moving ,and the fear of missing out on the latest “urgent” memo.

What happened to tasks that could simply be “important” or “when you have a moment”- terms which seem outdated in this space age!

The absurdity doesn’t end there. If something isn’t labeled “urgent,” it’s instantly sidelined, ignored, or thrown in a dusty corner of the virtual to-do list.

So in reality we are all to blame for being tardy!

And if you think through this 'urgency syndrome' - when everything’s top priority, nothing really is.

We’re no longer making deliberate, well-considered decisions at an appropriate pace; instead, we find ourselves in a constant rush, frantically putting out one fire after another, driven purely by a relentless sense of urgency and the rush of adrenaline

So, what’s left? Is there a single email, meeting, or file out there that dares to be “non-urgent”?

Perhaps that’s the holy grail of modern office life—a task we can take a deep breath before tackling. But until then, we’ll keep rushing, spinning, and labeling every last detail with urgency, hurtling along in the frantic pace we call progress.

Or perhaps it's the strange thrill of constantly teetering on the edge, not of excitement or adventure, but of an overwhelming inbox and a never-ending stream of tasks demanding our immediate attention.

Back then, the world moved at a slower, more thoughtful pace, yet things were accomplished with remarkable efficiency and care. Time wasn’t wasted; it was used wisely, with focus and intent. Now, we find ourselves in a constant, frenzied rush, racing from one task to another, juggling endless “urgent” demands. We’re busier than ever, but is more actually getting done? The relentless pace leaves little room for quality, creativity, or even a pause to think. It’s a cycle that feels both absurd and exhausting, where the speed at which we work seems to matter more than the work itself.