“Those who are wise won’t be busy, and those who are too busy can’t be wise.” ― Lin Yutang
It was in this video from Jeff Shinabarger that I first heard the phrase, “‘Busy’ has become the new ‘Fine’.” As in, when you ask somebody how they were doing, they used to answer, “Fine.” But nowadays, everybody answers, “Busy.”
Seemingly, busy has become the default state for too many of our lives.
But is the state of busy really improving our lives? Certainly not. Statistics indicate 75% of parents are too busy to read to their children at night. There is a rising number of children being placed in day cares and after-school activities. Americans are having a hard time finding opportunity for vacations these days. 33% of Americans are living with extreme stress daily. And nearly 50% of Americans say they regularly lie awake at night because of stress. This is a problem. We have become too busy.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Busy is not inevitable. (tweet that)
Each of us can take intentional steps to unbusy our lives.
Consider this Helpful Guide to Becoming Unbusy:
1. Realize that being busy is a choice. It is a decision we make. We are never forced into a lifestyle of busyness. The first, and most important, step to becoming less busy is to simply realize that our schedules are determined by us. We do have a choice in the matter. We don’t have to live busy lives.
2. Stop the glorification of busy. Busy, in and of itself, is not a badge of honor. In fact, directed at the wrong pursuits, it is actually a limiting factor to our full potential. It is okay to not be busy. Repeat this with me: It is okay to not be busy.
3. Appreciate and schedule rest. One of the reasons many of us keep busy schedules is we fail to recognize the value of rest. But rest is beneficial to our bodies, our minds, and our souls. Set aside one day per week for rest and family. Intentionally schedule it on your calendar. Then, guard it at all costs.
4. Revisit your priorities. Become more intentional with your priorities and pursuits in life. Determine again what are the most significant contributions you can offer this world. And schedule your time around those first. Busyness is, at its core, about misplaced priorities.
5. Own fewer possessions. The things we own take up far more time and mental energy than we realize. They need to be cleaned, organized, and maintained. And the more we own, the more time is required. Own less stuff. And find more time because of it.
6. Cultivate space in your daily routine. Take time for lunch. Find space in your morning to sit quietly before starting your day. Invest in solitude, meditation, or yoga. Find opportunity for breaks at work in between projects. Begin right away cultivating little moments of space and margin in your otherwise busy day.
7. Find freedom in the word, “no.” Seneca wrote, “Everybody agrees that no one pursuit can be successfully followed by a man who is preoccupied with many things.” Recognize the inherent value in the word “no.” Learning to say “no” to less important commitments opens your life to pursue the most important.
Busy does not need to define you. Unbusy is possible. It’s okay to be happy with a calm life. And doesn’t that sound wonderful right about now?
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Further Reading
Interesting article & good information.
I find it difficult to put myself before others. I am in my heart & soul a caregiver. I took care of my husband with Lewy body dementia for years. Prior years I took care of my 2 daughters & grandson. And prior to that I took care of my mother who had a stroke. Then my mother in law who was hit by a car. Had a broken arm & leg.
I also was a waitress for 25 years & waited on people.
Then started our own retail company & took care of more people’s needs & wants.
This was a great read and reminder that, “it’s okay to not be busy.” It’s so easy to get loss in work, responsibilities, and obligations. But it’s important to remember to make time for ourselves, say no, and evaluate our priorities. –Ryan
Being retired I find I have more control now to choose what I want to do. After being in the workplace for many years I don’t have any rigid set schedule & no more alarm clock to wake up anymore.
Actually my two cats (one still a kitten) wake me up very early each morning with food bowls in hand, but I just go to sleep earlier. Gone are the days when I could get by with only 5 hours of sleep each night. But I have always taken time out of my day for a catnap here or there, time to read, meditate, or simply do nothing! Wow that’s a concept lost on some people.
But I love Joshua how you emphasize the optimum word “Choice”.
with simple, practical steps to make changes in our lives.
With the New Year here it is never a better time to start slowing down & enjoying life rather than rushing through it. It is not a Race.
The only thing I fear with not being busy is that others view that as an empty space they can fill with their projects. It’s a war fighting for personal space.
The book boundaries is fantastic. It may help with that. Sounds like you’re too nice. Your free time is the project taking up that time.
I know what you mean. The same happens to me. It is like you clean a table and everybody put their things on them.
All the points are very relevant in the current scenario wherein don’t even have time to wish our loved ones a Happy birthday, thanks to we being so called Busy!!
Scheduling rest, power of saying no and relaxing activities like meditation makes a huge difference. I myself make it a point to do meditation at least twice and day in order to remain efficient and keep my mind calm.
Thanks for another awesome article.
Good read Josh. I always find the best way to not be busy is to lie on the couch with my meditation app and just listen.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this. :)
great post!!!
Thank You Joshua for very poignant article! I am definitely lucky when it comes to life. I am able to enjoy it as it comes simply because I have set up my life carefully according to my own needs and wants.
No doubt it has been challenging journey but without it I would be different person. Growing up and working I kept my “moral radar” turned on to see who in life around me was happy and what were they doing. I decided that it would be smart to emulate them but only to the degree necessary. One has to be very cautious to not jump on band wagon because “one man’s cure is the other man’s poison”.
I have concluded that I was not willing to spend endless hours chasing something that eventually will be taken from me in blink of an eye. Don’t get me wrong, one still has to make a living but how you do it and approach it makes all the difference in the world.
I have concluded that to avoid facing big problems in one’s life later one must acquire sensible way of living and then acquire the lifestyle.
Unfortunately many people acquire the lifestyle first and the thirst for it becomes unquenchable. Then they are regrettably forced into working long hours and months which turn into years if you are healthy enough to live long time. As such main question stand: what’s the point of having long life if one is not enjoying himself / herself? Even living long life like that, is it truly satisfying? Not just on surface but truly deeply at your soul’s level. One can flash nice smile but only him or her can know how they feel deeply inside. I would rather live true to myself and face whatever consequences come my way. Living this way brought me much satisfaction. You must become become your own surgeon of life and live it accordingly. There will always be people judging and disagreeing but at the end of it all you will have to answer to yourself. And at that moment you want it to feel good and right and then finally take the final leap into the unknown.
Be strong, be you, live long.