Yes, I think people are generally busier today than they were in the past, but it depends on how we define “busy.” People today seem far more preoccupied with work, social commitments, and digital distractions compared to earlier times.
One reason is that work-life boundaries have become less clear. For instance, many people work remotely or bring their tasks home, making it significantly harder to disconnect from their responsibilities. In contrast, people in the past were slightly more likely to have structured work hours, leaving evenings and weekends for leisure.
Another factor is technology. While it has made life much more efficient in some ways, it has also created a far greater demand for constant communication and multitasking. Social media, for example, keeps people more engaged than ever, but often in ways that leave them feeling overwhelmed.
That said, not everyone today is noticeably busier. In some cultures or regions, people may still enjoy a slower pace of life, which could make modern busyness seem less universally true than we assume. However, overall, the fast pace of modern life makes today’s people considerably more occupied than past generations.