The rise of The Busies

FORGET big salaries, expense accounts and flashy cars. The best measure of success for young people is how busy your life is, a survey has found.

It identifies a new trend among Britain's professionals aged between 20 and 30 called "Busy Syndrome", where a challenging and hectic lifestyle is seen as a reflection of professional and social status.

Jan Walsh, of Consumer Analysis Group, who conducted the research on behalf of Orange, said: "The survey reveals a new breed of young professionals who barely stop for breath.

"They know their lives are hectic yet relish the challenge of having more activities to fit into their daily lives. They enjoy being busy and wouldn't have it any other way."

The researchers found that, in an average week, busy young professionals socialised on lunch breaks at least three times, went out with friends after work three days out of five, exercised three times, went shopping twice and caught the latest blockbuster at the cinema at least once.

They worked an average nine-hour day although this increased to 141/2 hours if a deadline was looming.

Despite this exhausting schedule, 12 per cent said they never wanted their lives to become less hectic and nearly a third did not want to slow down until they hit their fifties.

The survey of 1,000 young people across the UK revealed that 32 per cent of busy professionals already knew what they were doing for Christmas, while 82 per cent had social events planned for at least five weeks ahead.

It found that 87 per cent of young people got irritated when something slowed them down, with 37 per cent hating queuing in shops, 36 per cent loathing getting stuck behind slow drivers and one in three getting irritated by slow internet access.

Stress consultant Liz Tucker urged such people to take breaks, look after their bodies and be realistic.

"The body needs to experience pleasure and satisfaction to stay healthy and happy," she said.

"Incorporate positive stimulation into your life by planning in fun.

"If you have no time for such self-indulgence, then remind yourself exactly why you are working so hard."

I'm on call 24/7 and I've no wish to slow down

PUBLICIST Frankie Burstin says she has no plans to slow down because her "nonstop" lifestyle is too much fun, writes Mark Wilson.

The 30-year-old works as boxer Prince Naseem Hamed's publicist - a job she describes as "demanding but hugely rewarding".

"Naz is such a big star that you have to deal with inquiries from all over the world at all times of the day or night.

I'm pretty much on call 24/7 but when you're busy you don't seem to notice the hours."

She says that, thanks to modern technology, she is able to enjoy an active social life as well.

"How people managed without mobile phones in the past is beyond me. The mobile means I can be contacted wherever I am and I don't need to wait in the office. It sounds awful, but I took an important conference call the other night while I was on a date in a restaurant.

"Texting is invaluable because Naz

can be difficult to get hold of sometimes.

"In the run-up to a big fight, my job gets busier and busier, so I'm fortunate that I can work from home via a laptop computer and email."

Single Frankie, who lives in Maida Vale, goes to the gym every other day and estimates that she goes out socialising six times a week.

"I love going out, whether it's the theatre, restaurant or a new bar. I love mixing with friends and meeting nice people. I certainly wouldn't judge someone by the size of their wallet or their car."

She says that her social diary is full for the next three months and admits feeling frustrated if she oversleeps during a rare day off.

"At the end of the day, I do have a busy lifestyle but I enjoy it so much I don't really give it too much thought.

When it stops being fun, that's when I'll change the way I live my life," she adds.

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