It’s nearly the end of National Clock Month, and all through October we’ve been reading about saving time, using time well, being more productive, learning to say no…. What we haven’t yet talked about is being busy.
I like to be busy. Busy is good. Problems occur when I go past being busy and become overbooked, overwhelmed and frantic. That’s not good. That’s when I realise it’s time to say no and cut my activities – many of them useful and productive – back to a manageable busy level.
Busy is exciting. It’s active and stimulating. Our society is extremely busy these days, and it’s beginning to be looked on as a BAD THING. We’re told to downsize, declutter, destress, relax, smell the roses. What nobody tells you is that you should be smelling the roses while you’re busy pruning them.
Busy is who we are
For many of us in this world, busy is an essential part of who we are. Relaxing for us is simply a different form of activity – when we relax we go climb a mountain, run a marathon, volunteer for a third world mission or some other form of activity. People like this (obviously, I’m one of them) go crazy if they’re forced to be inactive.
I’m not talking about frenetic activity that has a person running here, there and everywhere, like a chicken with their head cut off. I’m talking about having purpose and meaning in what they do. If a busy person can see the benefit in sitting meditating for an hour then they’ll do it. If however, there’s no benefit for them, then they’ll be fidgeting within five minutes.
For busy-people, a holiday just sitting on the beach is torture. They’ll do that the first day, then that’s crossed off their activity list and they’re onto find something else to do. Something that has a purpose and reason behind it, an end point with a tangible result. Busy-people are the one’s who take their laptops away with them and schedule work time into their holiday.
“But that’s a workaholic” I can hear you all shouting. No, it’s not. A workaholic takes their laptop with them, goes to their holiday destination and stays inside and works all day every day while their family is outside. A busy-person takes their laptop so they can work while their more laid back and phlegmatic partner naps or sunbathes. Then puts it away to move on to the next holiday activity. There’s a big difference.
Busy is essential to good health
I’m not a doctor, nor any part of the medical profession. But I’m going to tell you, with total conviction, that being busy is good for your health. Being busy will keep you alive longer. Short of being hit by a truck, at least. How’s that?
Think of the stories you’ve heard about people who reach 65 or 70 and retire – and are dead within a couple of years. That’s why there are so many Retirement Coaches appearing now, because it’s recognised that the lack of purpose and activity can be deadly.
We all need to have something to do, something to look forward to and work towards. It’s inbuilt in human nature. We were not designed to be couch potato’s and sit watching tv or the computer all day. We were created to have ambition and drive. Our minds and bodies are designed to be active, moving and learning throughout our lives.
Resting is good too
Yes, we need to take breaks and relax at times. Being busy 100% of the time is extreme and unhealthy. Burnout results from never taking a break. However those rests are designed and scheduled to recharge us – body, mind and soul – to enable us to continue being busy after the break.
If you think you’re too busy to take a break, you’re too busy. If you don’t see the reason for taking a break, if you think you don’t need one – then try and see the reason behind it. Understand that you’ll be more productive and get more done after a short break. If you’re heading for burnout – take that break right away!
The right busy brings happiness
Think back to a time in your life when you were really happy. You were loving what you were doing. I’ll bet that at that time you were busy doing something.
Now think of a depressed person, or yourself if you’ve been depressed. Depressed people don’t get things done. They don’t have the motivation to do anything. One of the aspects of treating a depressed person is to get them active and busy.
Why? Because activity and purpose fills our lives with meaning.
Being busy the right way
Notice I said activity and purpose. We can be ‘busy’ checking facebook every five minutes, tweeting everything we do, fiddling around the house and say we’re busy. Or we can be busy being productive and constructive and really be truly properly busy.
Busy without being productive is not really busy. It’s just time-filling. It leaves you feeling worse than when you started. Busy, working on activities that you enjoy, that you understand and can see the final result, is the busy that feeds your soul so you feel complete and satisfied.
How do you feel about being busy?
Melinda Brennan is a Business Coach who helps Work at Home Mums find clarity and direction amongst the enjoyable chaos of working at home.
You can find her online at WAHM Biz Builder or come and say hello to her on Twitter.
6 Responses to “Busy is Good:
Managing Productivity Well”
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Melinda,
This was a really good post. I found myself nodding throughout about your thoughts on being busy. There have been times when I have done time-filling exercises with my head in the clouds so to speak. When I go through those times I feel down and not happy. However, I am attempting to manage my time better by setting myself concrete objectives and refusing to fall into the time-filling exercises. There is certainly a place for some time on Facebook and Twitter but there are other things that I should be concentrating on, and I intend to. I am also making my way through Alex’s eBook which I am finding most beneficial.
Cathy´s last blog ..Time Management Skills called to action
Thanks Melinda - I’m constantly struggling with the concept of being productive, particularly when it comes to prioritizing individual tasks at work. So much to do, not enough time. In my personal life, I used to love being busy but am now recognizing that I tend to over-commit - so am stepping back a bit and trying to fill my social time carefully so I can balance better. Thank you for the tips, as always!
Laura | The Journal of Cultural Conversation´s last blog ..Travel Reflections: Buenos Aires, Awkward Moments and Preparing for Machu Picchu
@Cathy
Glad you’re finding the ebook useful and that having Mel as a contributor to Someday Syndrome helps as well!
@Laura
You might find November’s Someday Contest of particular interest. Take a look at today’s post!
That sounds just like my husband!
I get that busy is good and useful… but I have a but.
Sometimes I think people with this attitude forget that spending quality time with someone is a useful thing, even if nothing else is achieved in that time.
For instance, just chilling out with a 6 year old on the couch after school - this can be more important than doing homework, starting dinner, getting changed… it looks unproductive, but it’s actually really important. And really frustrating for a busy-minded person : )
kazari´s last blog ..Gems of Joy
@Kazari
When I schedule myself I always make sure to schedule downtime. For example, this month I’m hyper-scheduling myself (with timers and the whole bit) but from 12:30 to 2:30 I’m with my bf and not with the computer. Then I stop work at 4:30 and relax. And when I relax it’s like staring at the ceiling relax.
Success isn’t just being busy - it’s also being balanced.
I love that — the right busy brings happiness! Being busy for the sake of being busy is, as you quite rightly say, just destined to build up so much stress that it will make you ill. Busy yourself with productive and powerful tasks on a daily basis and you will find life fulfillment.
Amanda Alexander PCC (ICF) Professional coaching for working mothers