Hectic routine (3,4)
I believe the answer is:
rat race
'hectic routine' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for rat race that I've seen before include "Competitive daily existence" , "Struggle to survive" , "struggle for position" , "constant effort to get ahead" , "hurly-burly of competitive work" .)