What Is Being Busy Costing You?
I’m drowning. I have migraine headaches on a regular basis. My hair is breaking off. I have chronic back pain. I spend quite a bit of time feeling anxious and overwhelmed. All because of stress. The stress of the never ending list of stuff I need to do. For my business. For my blog. For my family. Around the house. And the list that keeps getting longer and longer. This is what being “busy” is costing me. What is it costing you?
Can you remember the last time someone asked you how you were and you didn’t include the word “busy” in your answer? Between everything on the list I mentioned plus smartphones, laptops, and tablets that keep us connected 24 hours a day, the line between where work ends and personal time begins is just about non-existent. And when we aren’t plugged in, we are raising our hands to volunteer for this or bring the cupcakes for that.
This stress—however it manifests in our lives or in our bodies—is killing us. As we are getting busier and busier, our health is getting worse and worse. Seventy-five percent to 90% of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints.
How many times have you felt sick or just knew something was off about the way you felt but just pushed through or ignored it because you didn’t have time to go to the doctor. You were too busy to get it checked out. Because remember that long to do list that I mentioned? Guess what—or should I say who is not on it? You! Us! We are not on our own list of things to take care of. We are so busy taking care of everything and everybody else that we aren’t taking care of ourselves. How crazy is that?
But here’s the thing…
A busy life does not equal a full life. Being busy doesn’t mean you are being productive. It doesn’t make you successful. And it doesn’t make you important. Actually, the results are usually quite the opposite. Being busy can stop you from showing up and being present for the stuff that matters. It can stop you from connecting with people you love and doing the things that you love. It can rob you of your creativity and your joy. It can leave you feeling depleted rather than fulfilled.
If you are as tired of being busy as I am, here are 2 things you can do to get off treadmill (or at least slow it down a bit)…
1. Think about what’s really behind your busyness
Maybe you are afraid to sit still and be. Afraid to listen to your own thoughts. Afraid to deal with some stuff you’ve been avoiding. Be honest with yourself about why you feel the need to keep yourself so busy.
2. Take a hard look at your schedule
Get intentional about how you spend your time. Scratch off places and people and things that don’t really matter. Learn to say no. Decide the quality of life you want and what is important to you.
I’ve started making some changes over the past few weeks and hope to get my head above water soon. In the meantime, please share any other tips you have to help get out of busy mode and on the path to creating lives that are rich with love and laughter and success.
Be Inspired,
