Being Busy Steals Your Life Away
Most of America and many other developed nations feel that being busy is a badge of honor.
We think gives us our worth.
I think the opposite.
I think that being busy can keep us from being who we TRULY are.
I think it gets in the way of doing the things that are the MOST important to us.
I think that WE use being busy as a way to protect ourselves from stepping out of our comfort zone into what we feel deep inside we ought to be doing — and I am not talking about all the nagging ‘shoulds’ that come from outside, but those things which we know we are ‘called’ to do.
Doing Good, or Doing the Best?
We’ve all heard the quote, “The good is the enemy of the best”. I am not saying that many of the things you are doing aren’t good things. They may even be GREAT things, but, they may not be the BEST THING for YOU at this point in your life. When busyness gets a hold of us, we become bound by our ‘shoulds’ and we cannot be at peace in our lives.
So how can you be sure you are doing the right things?
Christ wants us to have life and have it abundantly. He wants us to have what is best for US. We must be in tune with Him and with our hearts to avoid this empty busyness.
Below is a list adapted from Leo Babauta’s Zen Habits. Included are links to many of his helpful tips to accomplish these things.
10 Ways to Stop being So Busy
- Make a list of your top 4-5 important things. What’s most important to you? What do you value most? What 4-5 things do you most want to do in your life? Simplifying starts with these priorities, as you are trying to make room in your life so you have more time for these things.
- Evaluate your commitments. Look at everything you’ve got going on in your life. Everything, from work to home to civic to kids’ activities to hobbies to side businesses to other projects. Think about which of these really gives you value, which ones you love doing. Which of these are in line with the 4-5 most important things you listed above? Drop those that aren’t in line with those things. Article here.
- Evaluate your time. How do you spend your day? What things do you do, from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep? Make a list, and evaluate whether they’re in line with your priorities. If not, eliminate the things that aren’t, and focus on what’s important. Redesign your day.
- Simplify work tasks. Our work day is made up of an endless list of work tasks. If you simply try to knock off all the tasks on your to-do list, you’ll never get everything done, and worse yet, you’ll never get the important stuff done. Focus on the essential tasks and eliminate the rest. Read more.
- Simplify home tasks. In that vein, think about all the stuff you do at home. Sometimes our home task list is just as long as our work list. And we’ll never get that done either. So focus on the most important, and try to find ways to eliminate the other tasks (automate, eliminate, delegate, or hire help).
- Learn to say no. This is actually one of the key habits for those trying to simplify their lives. If you can’t say no, you will take on too much. Article here on how to say NO.
- Limit your communications. Our lives these days are filled with a vast flow of communications: email, IM, cell phones, paper mail, Skype, Twitter, forums, and more. It can take up your whole day if you let it. Instead, put a limit on your communications: only do email at certain times of the day, for a certain number of minutes (I recommend twice a day, but do what works for you). Only do IM once a day, for a limited amount of time. Limit phone calls to certain times too. Same with any other communications. Set a schedule and stick to it.
- Limit your media consumption. This tip won’t be for everyone, so if media consumption is important to you, please skip it (as with any of the other tips). However, I believe that the media in our lives — TV, radio, Internet, magazines, etc. — can come to dominate our lives. Don’t let it. Simplify your life and your information consumption by limiting it. Try a media fast.
- Purge your stuff. If you can devote a weekend to purging the stuff you don’t want, it feels seriously terrific. Get boxes and trash bags for the stuff you want to donate or toss. Here’s my guide on decluttering. Here’s a post on starting small.
- Do what you love. Once you’ve freed up some time, be sure to spend that extra time doing things you love. Go back to your list of 4-5 important things. Do those, and nothing else. Read more.
It will take time to implement these steps. They cannot be accomplished in a week, or even a month. I encourage you, however, if you find that you are not at peace with your level of busyness, that you go through this list, examine your heart, spend some time in meditation, and create an action plan for creating change in your life.
What are some things that you would like to change or possibly do away with in your life? Are there some things you would actually like to add?
My goal is to help as many people as possible with these issues we all deal with! Be sure to subscribe via email or RSS so you don’t miss any posts! If you know of someone who would benefit from the info in this post and in my blog and you would like to share with them, please click on the appropriate link below!
i’m with you sweet bella, i hate being bogged down with too much busy-ness. i heard once someone say that B.U.S.Y. stands for “being under satan’s yoke” *wink*
Great post! I agree totally AND nice to meet you!
I am in the process of the Big De-Clutter. We recently moved into our new home and I am going through the boxes one at a time. I refuse to clutter up our new home with “stuff” that will never be used. The process should be a little easier this time around because most of our stuff has been packed and stored away for about 9 months. It was kind of a trial seperation if you will, LOL!! Thanks for sharing the tips!
#3 is the hardest for me. I feel like I know what is truly important to me and I don’t think that I over-commit (well, sometimes, but not generally), but when it comes to actual time management, I totally suck.
Oh, and I totally need to do a stuff purge. Big time. It’s been a while and it’s amazing how quickly stuff accumulates!
I want to start working on that purging thing.. Atleast since I read your how your “brain on overload”, I feel, I have improved, disabling all 6 email addresses and making one email, my main point of contact.. It has helped me a lot, now I think, I have to do the same to my “to do” lists!! 😀
Thanks, one more great post from you!
Rachana.
Found your blog at Never Growing Old. Can’t wait to read more!!!
Great blog! I can tell it’s going to become one of my daily reads! I found you via The Girl Creative party blog.
Have a great day!
Chrystal
http://www.adornonashoestring.com
This is a great list. I love the point of doing what you love. Stopping from Mom Loop! Come join the Friday Follow!
Ugh! The internet sucks up all mytime. I seriously think I’m addicted. But if I weren’t, I wouldn’t have found this great post!
Now, I’m getting out of the recliner to finish cleaning my closet and doing laundry. Thanks for the kick in the rear!
I really needed this. And, I love that you noted that media consumption depends on the user. Great post!
Stopping by from the blog hops! I am your newest follower. Come on over to GOODEness Gracious sometime 🙂
YES! Too often, women take on too much stuff! We have to make time for what’s important, and we shouldn’t be afraid to say no. Thanks for visiting during my SITS Day!
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This is a useful, thoughtful list.
I find that even after you have simplified your life, you are still busy. Yes, busy seems to be the way the human is designed to be. Watch your animals sometime and you will see someone who really isn’t busy. They just go with the flow of their day.
Great post!
I stopped by via Java’s Follow Friday 40 & Over.
Happy Weekend Hugs,
Kat