Of all the distractions that keep us from living a fulfilled life, the most prevalent in our world today may be busyness.
Possessions and property and the desire for wealth all come to mind, but the greatest distraction of them all may be busyness—it seems to transcend every social class.
I was struck recently by a quote from Søren Kierkegaard concerning the danger of living a fast-paced, hectic lifestyle. Over 150 years ago, he said it like this:
Of all ridiculous things the most ridiculous seems to me, to be busy—to be a man who is brisk about his food and his work… What, I wonder, do these busy folks get done?”
I have found his words to be true in my own life. Being busy does not result in fulfillment and meaning. Being busy may mean more things are getting done… but they are often the wrong things.
A busy life is an unexamined life. And an unexamined life is rarely worth living.
I learned this lesson many years ago when I was forced to slow down in college because of a unique course assignment. We were required to spend 1 hour per week, alone in a room with our thoughts. There was to be no music, no books, no meditation guides, no technology, no thought aids whatsoever. Instead, we were to sit quietly and allow our minds to focus wherever our hearts took us.
The practice was difficult at first, but eventually turned out to be one of the most significant assignments and practices of my entire college life.
The hour of solitude did not result in papers being written, homework being turned in, books being read, tests being studied for, or to-do items being checked off. It didn’t result in the usual busywork being completed. Quite the contrary, it resulted in deep life reflection about the trajectory of my life, the person I was becoming, and whether I even wanted that to be true of me.
It is why, I think, when I first read Kierkegaard’s quote, it resonated so deeply within me. Busyness may keep us rushing from project to project, place to place, or appointment to appointment, but what really are we accomplishing with these hectic schedules?
Rarely does busyness result in the most important work of our lives being completed. It most often just distracts us from it.
I experienced a very humbling moment yesterday. I ran into a friend—a good friend who is battling cancer. And it occurred to me, as soon as I saw him, that I had not spoken with him for over two weeks. Not a phone call, not a text, not a single inquiry into his health. My friend is facing the greatest struggle of his life… and I didn’t even think to check in with him.
Reasons quickly surfaced in my head to excuse my lack of thoughtfulness. I would have checked in, but “I’ve been traveling out of town most of the past week,” “I’m launching this really big project next month,” “I’ve been so busy with so-and-so and this-and-that, it’s understandable that my friend never crossed my mind.”
This, you see, is what busyness does to us. It prevents us from remaining focused on the most important work that we need to do.
Busyness crowds out self-reflection. It keeps our mind and feet always scurrying from one thing to another and never allows us to sit quietly in our thoughts to determine if the next opportunity is even something we should be engaging in.
As Blaise Pascal once said, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”
A busy life is an unexamined life. And an unexamined life is rarely worth living. It may be full, but it is rarely fulfilling.
It should be noted, of course, that this does not mean we will not go through busy seasons of life. Every new parent knows there are busy seasons in life. Every college student knows there are busy seasons during a semester. And almost every worker in the world knows there are heightened periods of busyness as deadlines come and go.
I am not saying there is no space for busy seasons. But a busy season is different from a busy life. If you find yourself racing about season after season after season, constantly chasing who-knows-what, you may want to ask yourself if you are finding enough time for meditation and solitude and self-reflection.
In this regard, some have even begun equating busyness with laziness. It is not laziness as we typically define the term, but it can still be a form of it. If our rushing about from one activity to another distracts us from self-reflection, or even worse, the important work that we should be taking up with our lives, it may indeed be a form of laziness—at the very least, it produces the same result.
I am challenged by the words of Søren Kierkegaard. His thoughts on how busyness may be preventing us from important work ring true—especially in our modern culture.
How many regrets have I heard from others who spent too much time working to be present with their family? How many times have I turned the other way from helping another (or simply calling a friend) because of the commitments on my calendar? And how many days have I let pass without focused self-reflection?
In each case, it may be asked, where does busyness get us? What exactly does it allow us to get done? And how might we be using it as a shield from the deeper work required of us?
Pat Dunham says
I read your great article today. And it is reminding me to look at my projects. I keep thinking that I have things to finish and accomplish and then I will slow down, but haven’t figured out how yet. I have a goal to make enough money to be completely debt free which I am very close to right now. And that will be behind me. I want to finish my book and get it published on a topic helpful to lots of people who want to live in a smaller space. I am always multitasking which I have heard is unproductive. When I should be just sitting totally concentrating on the grandchild I am with, I think I should be doing something else at the same time so I am getting more done. So I think I am okay just being there while maybe the grandchild is watching a show or on their tablet, while I am on my computer trying to get my book done or something similar. I will keep reading all your geat content and everyone’s comments because here I am busying myself with all of this, while never finishing everything I want to and at age 80, I know I don’t have much time left.
Mary Wiggins says
Pat, please turn off the computer and the grandchild’s tablet and go take walk, get an ice cream – it will be more valuable than finishing whatever is on the computer. Or go fishing…. the child will be more blessed than anyone that reads your book.
Peggy says
The best way to get away from it all is take those you love, or a friend hiking. No distractions. Make it a weekly or more.
Kimberly Abrams says
Give Socrates some credit for writing your headline for you!!
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
Nancy in WA says
This post puts words to something that I have felt deep in my spirit for quite a few years now—that I am living a lazy life, in spite of my busyness and workaholic tendencies. Now I know that is true (that I am lazy) and how to correct it. Simple, yes; but not easy! Thank you, Joshua for this post!
I have been aware of a good book on this subject for awhile, but have not wanted to read it. Now I will. “I Was Busy, Now I’m Not,” by Joseph Peck. Dr. Peck is one of the most productive people I know! Also, I was recently reminded of another book that is helpful on this subject called “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry,” by John Mark Comer. I hope the spelling of his last name is correct.
Stephen says
Strong powerful words-
What a huge impact busyness has on our emotional, spiritual, & physical health- and all for what endpoint?
Matt Riedemann says
Thank you for your words of wisdom. Powerful thoughts.
Karla says
Connection with people who matter are the prize when we slow down and reach out. Busyness robs us of this wonderful gift. Thank you Joshua for the reminder!
Kalli says
Excellent post to start off this new Decade Joshua.many thanks
Genevieve says
A great take on busyness. What personal value is there for an individual living an unexamined life!? As I grow older, it is increasingly my intention to live a more – intentional life – and having started a daily meditation practice last year, it seems to me that the pause in the day helps me to gain perspective which helps to clear some of the unnecessary busyness. Thank you Joshua
Gabrielle says
Thanks so much for this article – it was timely and a good reminder, particularly your point of ‘A busy life is an unexamined life.’.
Michele Genevieve Jarvis says
Thank you Joshua. I have been bullet journaling with intention this year and the self reflection component has been life changing.
For lent I will be giving up busyness.