On Being Busy

Have you noticed these days that the standard response to “How ya doing” is “busy”? With a big sigh for sound effects.

What is all this "busy" stuff? What does this mean? Has being “busy” seduced us?

Does being soooo busy mean that our lives are just soooo (important and packed to capacity) busy that we don’t have time for things like fun, movies, sport, exercise, eating well?

All these questions:

• Are we using “busy” just because we feel (embarrassed) too shy to say that we had a great day lounging by the pool reading Chick Lit?
• Is being “busy” just an excuse to ignore things that are really important?
• Is being “busy” a perfect excuse for allowing things to fall apart.
• ......like dealing with important relationship issues, fixing things at home that need attention, making the phone call, writing the report?
• Is being “busy” just procrastination for not dealing with tax returns, looking at your finances, starting new important projects?
• Is being “busy” just a way of saying you're out of control?
• Is being “busy” just a way of not doing stuff that makes you feel uneasy because they are unfamiliar/new things and you think you may (fail - God forbid) not do them very well?
• Is being “busy” just a way to avoid connecting with your nearest and dearest, colleagues, people? (They may ask what you’re so busy with.)
• Are you being “busy” to trick yourself into thinking you are working on all the important stuff?
• Is being “busy” just a way to fill up the day with things you don’t really need to do (and ignore the important stuff)
  
  And
  
  Is being “busy” the only value we feel we should attach to our lives/work because we think that this gives what we do value? Think again....please.

Being “busy” doesn’t actually mean a heck of a lot….

There is a great deal of difference between being busy and having a lot to do ie. A full planned day. The prez of the US has time to go to funerals, spend time with his kids, take holidays, go to church, see his friends for meals …. Must I carry on? His day, all 24 hours of it, is just the same as yours and mine (well sort of).

So what must you do?

***Be creative and productive – you cant be this if you are running around being busy and frantic.
***You need to do the the important stuff, be focused, committed and disciplined.
***Don’t be a people pleaser all the time – their feelings wont be hurt if you say no - and they will still speak to you.
***Take care of the important things every day.
***Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
***Don’t be afraid to deal with important things
***Don’t make to-do lists if you know you wont do all the stuff on them – who you trying to kid?
***Take control of your life – you only have a 8 – 10 hour work day - so make sure you do the important stuff – don’t fill you time with things that aren’t important.
***Plan – don’t leave things to chance
***Prioritise – make the right choices – you cant do everything but you can do the important stuff. This is called being (grown-up) realistic

Honesty

People will find you a lot more interesting if you tell them what you are doing/working on…… just saying “busy” doesn’t quite open the doors to engaging and meaningful conversation. In fact it almost says “Sorry-too busy to talk… not sharing… don’t ask me what I doing… work is too important to talk about…haven’t got time… etc”

Give what you do value and give your time value – just stop saying “busy”.

Stop Stop Stop

• Saying you are busy - it's annoying.
• Being addicted to busy.