Tag: Busy

Almost everyone claims to be busy. Many will even describe their endless to-do list—what they’ve done, what they’re doing, and what’s next—justifying their busyness.

Lots of articles explore different types of busyness. One that stands out for me, Busyness 101: Why Are We SO BUSY in Modern Life?, lists the following types:

-Busyness as a badge of honor and trendy status symbol

-Busyness as job security

-Busyness as Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

-Busyness as a byproduct of the digital age

-Busyness as a time filler

-Busyness as a necessity

-Busyness as escapism

The last one stands out to me: busyness as escapism.

When we’re constantly busy, we get to avoid the hard things in life. No time to reflect on priorities. No time to find smarter ways to work. No time to focus on meaningful goals…ours or our organization’s.

Busyness lets us sacrifice our other responsibilities. We convince ourselves that our sacrifices are necessary, without questioning what they truly cost us or those around us. And we tell ourselves that once we’re “less busy,” we’ll focus on the important things we’ve been neglecting. The problem? We rarely become “less busy” (at least, from our perspective).

But the busiest effective people operate differently. These individuals aren’t just busy for the sake of it.  They work with intention, with purpose.  They prioritize. They seek smarter ways to work. They focus on meaningful goals rather than just checking off task lists. 

These are the people who not only get things done but get the right things done. And they do it faster than everyone else. Why? Because they’re too busy to be distracted by nonsense and trivialities. They tackle the big things first, and often, the smaller things take care of themselves.

When I managed large organizations, I valued these employees the most. They weren’t just productive, but they were leaders.  They inspired everyone around them to be more effective. Whenever a new project or opportunity arose, I sought them out. I knew they’d prioritize the new project well and deliver great results.

The difference between being busy and being effectively busy comes down to mindset. The most productive people don’t just fill their days.  They own them.

Next time you catch yourself saying, “I’m so busy,” pause and think. Are your tasks productive and effective, or just occupying your time? 

You may find that you’re not as busy as you thought.

Photo by Anna Samoylova on Unsplash…my eye is on the girl in pink who’s walking away from the rope (I bet you didn’t notice her at first)