Stop the glorification of busy!

Stop the glorification of busy. Just say NO!

We take a little pride in being busy, really busy, too busy.
Maybe this validates us, gives us a sense of purpose, lets us feel there is value to our life.

There’s a lot to lose by being too busy.
 

What do we lose by having too much busy-ness is our life?

• precious time with family & friends
• a chance to simply think
• a break from the noise of life
• time to do something we really want to do, like take a class…or not
• rest for our mind, body, soul
• peace

Everyone knows the busy that looks like one of us running around like a chicken with our head cut off.

 

So, what else does busy look like?

• errands
• meetings
• phone calls
• email
• tending to family members
• a friend’s crisis

That’s one kind of busy. Easy enough to stop. Well, maybe not easy.
 

There’s another kind of busy that has creeped up on us so quietly that we may not even be aware of its presence.

• computer lights & noise & attention-grabbing
• email dinging noises
• cell phones that do everything but fry an egg
• dare I say it? Facebook notifications
• television
• radio

Surprised? Try this. Take a day and notice how many times one of these intrudes into your mind, hearing, vision. Keep count. You’ll be amazed!

These aren’t bad things. They’re actually quite handy to have around. I wouldn’t be writing this blog without one of them. I’m not advocating going back to the stone age or joining the Amish for the remainder of our lives.

But each time you see, hear or have an encounter with one of these technological wonders, a little piece of you is tied up in a kind of busy-ness.

Add these to things that take over our lives from relationships and you’ve got a heckuva lot of busy!

How can we be less busy?

• First, we stop the glorification of busy!
• Stop treating  ”I’m so busy” like it’s a badge of honor.
• Allow others to say NO to your requests even if they don’t seem very busy.
• Start practicing the Art of just Being.

Follow along for more Disciplines to Stop the Busy from Livin on the Skinny.

Where are you on the Busy scale???

10 = so busy I've no time to eat
1 = so 'not busy' folks are knocking on the door to check on me