Hourglass Syndrome Stress: Not What You Think

When a press release about "Hourglass Syndrome" popped up in my inbox last week, I thought for sure it would be something about curvy women feeling insecure because of society's unrealistic expectations for female bodies. Well, I was wrong.


Hourglass Syndrome, as it turns out, is a condition dreamed up not by doctors, but by the creative minds at Intel, the company that makes computer processors. This video is really just a big joke about how much time we spend waiting for the hourglass (or, in my case, this little wristwatch icon) to disappear on our screens and for videos/images/web pages to load on our computers, and how stressful it can become.

Do you want to tear your hair out while you wait for photos to upload? Does your computer freeze up right before every big deadline? The solution, this video claims, is to buy a super-fast Intel processor that will speed up your computer and therefore reduce stress. I thought the whole pitch was pretty clever, but didn't really think much of it -- at least at first.

But the truth is, I'm writing this blog right now as I wait for another program on my computer to load, trying to distract myself without losing my sanity. They're right -- waiting for your computer is really annoying! And I can totally relate, as I'm sure we all can, to the statistics that the Intel team was happy to provide:

A recent study conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Intel shows that 66 percent of computer users said they are at least somewhat stressed when waiting for their computer. In fact, the average computer user spends about 13 minutes per day waiting for their technology to catch up to them, which equates to up to 3 days a year just waiting. And waiting.

We live in such a fast-paced world, that we've become used to getting things the very instant we want them: Whereas years ago we had to use an actual map or look people up in the phone book, these days we get annoyed if our electronic devices take more than a few seconds to provide us with step-by-step directions and every available form of contact information.

Obviously, this whole campaign is a tongue-in-cheek ad for Intel processors -- but honestly, we know that a faster processor is only a temporary solution. How soon will it be before even this is too slow for our instant-gratification lifestyle?

Instead, the next time that dreaded hourglass pops up, take a deep breath, go for a stroll around your office, grab a drink of water, do some at-your-desk stretches, or spend a few minutes browsing Facebook or a website that makes you laugh -- and just smile and be thankful for a quick moment of relaxation. (And don't feel guilty: Research shows you'll be more productive with these mini mental breaks, anyway.)

How do you keep your cool when the world -- whether it's technology, traffic, or the line at the supermarket -- just isn't moving fast enough for you?