Are you busy being busy, or are you busy being productive?
How often do you hear others or yourself say, “Not now, I’m too busy!”
We live in a world where “busyness” has become a status symbol and is worn as a badge of honour.
Today, our level of busyness equates to our level of importance, competence, and even success. This is why so many people are caught up in the rat race and taking on more tasks than they can manage.
Time is our most valuable asset, yet we struggle to manage it and constantly feel deprived.
Multitasking has become the norm without realising its repercussions, as it appears to be more productive than working on just one task. However, according to research, multitasking decreases productivity by as much as 40%!
As Publilius Syrus said,
“To do two things at once is to do neither.”
The epidemic of busyness is leading to burnout. Over the last few years, the burnout rate has increased significantly and is impacting our quality of life.
According to the World Health Organisation 2021 report, overworking can increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, and even death.
The need to be busy is costing us our peace, happiness, and productivity. It’s time we redefine how we perceive success and stop normalising the culture of busyness.
Busy does not mean productive; research has found that reducing working hours to manageable levels can lead to enhanced productivity.
Instead of filling our days with things to do, we need to focus on what’s important and is worthy of our time and effort.
“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.”
Peter F. Drucker
But why do we feel the need to be busy?
Is it because we need to prove ourselves worthy, or is it because our mind is constantly racing, and we need to work non-stop because we fear something will happen or go wrong if we don’t?
According to the American podcast host, author, and motivational speaker, Mel Robbins, there are two forms of busyness people get addicted to.
(1) You believe all your worth is tied to what you’re doing, what you’re accomplishing, and what you’re proving to others.
(2) Your nervous system is on edge, and you don’t even realise it.
Remember, you don’t need to prove yourself to anyone. You are enough. Your level of busyness does not dictate your success, self-worth, or importance.
Free yourself from the busyness trap using these four steps:
Ask yourself, what are you busy with?
Make a list of all the tasks constantly occupying your mind or filling up your day.
Of those, identify which tasks are consuming most of your time and energy.
Are they important? Are they non-negotiable?
If not, stop working on them.
Like Will Rogers said,
“If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”
Honour the space and time between tasks. Don’t fill it up; take that time to rest and rejuvenate.
Practise mindfulness. Bring your attention and focus back on the present moment
Remember, we are human ‘beings’, not ‘doings’. When we focus on the being, the doing will take care of itself.