The Problem with Busyness
“The greatest enemy of good thinking is busyness.”
― John C. Maxwell
Have you ever felt that you are working so hard, so busy, too many things on your desk, keeping all the balls in the air? And when the day is done, do you feel like you got nothing accomplished? I know I have. See, busyness is often harmful to our business as well as to us personally.
We all know it is no fun to be stuck in the busyness quagmire, nor is it good for our professional success. In this newsletter, I will explain why we get stuck in busyness, discuss some of the problems with it, and give you 8 tangible tools to escape the prison of busyness.
HOW DO WE GET STUCK IN BUSYNESS?
Why is it we always feel a compulsion to be so busy? Why is it when we get our desk somewhat cleaned up, and do not have such an overwhelming pile of things to do, that we begin to feel anxious? Why is being too busy the new normal?
See, we all want to be successful. We want to be viewed as someone who is held in high regard by so many. We have started to view being “busy” as a sign of success. We begin to see busyness as a mark of validation for our professional achievement. Sometimes we connect our self-worth to our level of busyness. We may begin to view our being so busy as a sign that we are professionally successful. What do you think of someone when you ask how he is doing in his profession, and he says he is doing well but is not so busy?
Sometimes our overwhelming busyness is our own choice. Our ambition fuels our desire to be busy. If we are so busy, we must be doing something meaningful, and we must have achieved a high level of success, right?
WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WITH BUSYNESS
Sadly that is not the case. Busyness in fact can be an indication of our lack of success and fulfillment. Busyness causes us problems because it actually shows we lack choice in what we do. We are not acting with purpose. Our being mired in busyness causes us a lot of problems, including the following:
Physical health issues. These can include such things as fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of interest in sex, digestive issues, poor sleep, immune issues, muscular tension, and so many others.
Mental health issues. Our busyness can create feelings of stress, depression, anxiety, inadequacy, sadness, loneliness, overwhelm, and so many others.
Loss of productivity When we are flitting from one task to the next, trying to manage too many things at once, we are far less productive and less effective.
Burnout. We simply cannot manage being in a state of busyness all the time. Burnout is a common result. Our work life balance can be significantly harmed. When we are so busy, we are frustrated at how little we accomplish, so we bring our work home causing further stress and creating burnout.
Damage to our relationships. When we are so overwhelmed with being so busy, it can have a direct impact on our relationships, both professionally in our office, and at home with our family and our friends.
THE CURE FOR BUSYNESS
We all agree, in our heart, that being stuck in busyness is not really what we choose for ourselves, is it? Our sense of self-worth should not come from being too busy. So how can we break out of the prison of busyness? The key is to be purposeful in how we spend our time and what we choose to do. Here are some handy tools:
Evaluate how you spend your time. Begin tracking how you actually spend your time during the day and what you do. What tasks are you working on? What time do you find for yourself? Is that how you want to spend your time?
Start time blocking. Instead of simply going to your office and being drawn from one task to the next without stopping, plan your day. Calendar your activities and what you’re going to work on when. Prioritize your most important projects to work on. Save special time for putting out fires or unexpected emergencies. Schedule your lunch, time for yourself, and rest. Start each day with a plan of how you will spend your time. Set time limits on how much time you will spend on such things as email.
Set your goals. What do you want to accomplish in your business? Is how you are choosing to use your time productive? Does it help you accomplish your goals? Be purposeful in how you spend your time, and see if it is consistent with your long-range plan for your life.
Make your priorities transparent. Let those around you know what your priorities are and how you will be spending your time that day. Eliminate interruptions that are not consistent with your priorities and your goals for the day.
Set limits. Set limits on how much you can reasonably take on. Choose what tasks and new matters you are going to accept, consistent with your goals and priorities. Avoid saying yes to every new matter that is presented to you when it is more than you can handle or not consistent with your priorities.
Establish your boundaries. Both at home and at work, learn how to say no, If you are focused on an important task at work, do not allow yourself to be interrupted by a staff member about something much less important. Let the person know respectfully that your priority right then is to complete a certain project and you will get back to them later. Avoid letting your work overwhelm your home life as well. Understand that it is perfectly fine to learn to say “no.” As long as those around you know what your goals are and you are transparent about your priorities, they will become more accepting of your boundaries.
Practice self-care. Understand that you are important. Your physical health and your mental health truly matter. Find time for yourself. Engage in a hobby. Eat well and sleep well. Make a conscious choice to find time to take care of yourself during the day.
Practice mindfulness. Be aware of your thoughts. Choose to believe that your self-worth does not come from being too busy. When you begin to feel overwhelmed or stressed, take a break, and determine the cause of it. Make a choice about how you want to spend your time.
CONCLUSION
Our busyness is not in any way a sign of our success. It can create significant physical and emotional issues. It causes us to feel depressed and unfulfilled. Decide what your goals are for yourself. Set a plan for how to accomplish them. Prioritize how you use your time. Eliminate unnecessary distractions and interruptions. Set boundaries at work so that your time is productively spent on your priorities, and also establish a boundary between work and home. Take care of yourself, and make your physical and emotional health a priority. Be mindful of how you spend your time and whether it is consistent with your vision for your life.
Which of these tools was most helpful to you?
I am working with attorneys and other professionals to help them be as successful and fulfilled in their profession as they want. I would love to learn more about you, your challenges and your goals. If you would like to chat, please set up a complementary discovery call with me here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call