Everyone is busy. 
Enough already.
Do you find yourself unknowingly getting thrown into the “busyness” contest? Whether it’s at work, with family or acquaintances, people start talking about how busy they are. Before you know it you, too, are spouting how little time you have. For some reason, it seems like the busiest person wins. What a twisted and damaging conversation.
I am unofficially making “busy” a bad word, in order to avoid the trap of, not only the aforementioned conversation, but mostly the mentality. It’s poisonous. The funny thing is that everyone has the same amount of time, so if you are “busy” it’s your own fault.
The flaw is in you.
The other day we got a comment from someone unsubscribing from our Insider, our daily/weekly ezine. Since we are always looking for ways to improve it, after someone unsubscribes there is a comment box, which is not a required field. It says, “We care what you think. Please give us your feedback on the Kim & Jason Insider so we can make it better for everyone. Thanks!” This particular unsubscriber chose to take the time to comment, sharing, “I didn’t really want to spend time explaining why I am asking you to take me off the list. Time is what I don’t have. It’s a great site, just not interested anymore.”
Ironically she spent even more time telling me that she doesn’t have any time. How funny! The line that struck me is, “Time is what I don’t have.” People love to be martyrs about their time.
Admit that you do have enough time. So much so, that you don’t have to be so busy. It’s all about the little choices you make everyday…. your time management… your priorities. It all come back to you.
Has the modern culture’s obsession with the “I’m so busy” mantra turned into a crutch that enables you to avoid taking 100% responsibility for your life? (One hundred percent responsibility happens to be one of Jack Canfield’s “Success Principles.” If you haven’t made your journey through that book, start now!)
It’s time to stop talking about how “busy” you are and start doing something about it.
[tags] busyness, busy, Jack Canfield, Success Principles, time, time management, priorities[/tags]
Amen. I’m going to be honest here. I’m not busy, and I love it.
We may not be rich, but I’d rather have time to read a book or go outside just to look at a flower.
Time is the one thing we’ve all got a level playing field at—we each get 24 hours a day.
Rich or poor, fat or thin, healthy or sick…whatever…we each get 24 hours to make work for us however we’d like.
Too often we do it the other way ’round—we WORK for our time, not allowing it to work for us.
I myself care to redeem my time carefully. That was the whole reason behind our sabbatical this year—more time TOGETHER as a family!
Time you enjoyed wasting really is NOT the same thing as WASTED TIME!!!
“Time you enjoyed wasting really is NOT the same thing as WASTED TIME!!!”
I love that!
A great post, Kim. Learning how to live life to the fullest and make the most of the time we have is the hardest lesson to learn, I think. I always seem to think that I can get more done than I actually can, so it ends up being the things I enjoy doing that stress me out the most!
Great post, Kim!
I have to admit that I use that “busy” word way too often, and that I actually know deep down that it’s all up to me to choose how busy I am.
I mean you can do a lot of things and still not be a martyr about it. If I organize my time better, and choose carefully what I want to do, although I do many things, I don’t feel busy but active :)
I guess there is a fine line between being busy and just doing lots of things. And it’s got to do with the stress level. If you stress about something you’re doing, you start feeling busy. If you don’t stress about it, you don’t feel busy.
Hi Kim,
Great post! I found I had to implement a busyness cap. When I first started the blog, I knew I was going to have a lot on my plate. I gave myself a month of insanity, and then I had to get back to normal life. The month is almost up and I don’t have anything on tap for the weekend. I’m delighted!
It is so easy to get into this whole “I don’t have enough time” trap. (I just posted about the “I don’t have enough money” trap, which is one of my favorites as well.)
Get over it, people. Make time. Find time. Watch a few less CSI rerun marathons. Whatever.
OMG – Kim – please look here…
http://www.jillamina.blogspot.com
my new blog, detailing WHY I hate the word busy, written last week. I feel very close to you now! LOL!!!!!!! If you haven’t read Amy Krouse Rosenthal, you need to… you’ll love her!
Cool article, Jill!
Amen sister! I agree! Busy is far overused & is the new answer to ‘How are you?’
Definitely busyness is all my personal choice & no one else’s. I also agree with Alison – sometimes I fill my time with ‘busyness’ of things I love & on occasion too much of a good thing is not always good. Moderation my dear Watson – how many times I have to tell myself that? But at least I’m doing something I enjoy. And as Jarkko pointed out – being active! Of course, balance needs to take place (which I’m not always the best at), but I do love life. Could I balance better – definitely, but at least I busy doing what I love. :)
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