Are you busy with busyness? Now that’s a strange question. Perhaps you’re wondering exactly what I mean. Here’s the thing, most people get caught up with busyness. We like busy work. It’s always at least a little bit less painful than the task we know we should be doing. At the same time, we feel at least a little productive. Smug even.
Sorting out your cupboards Konmari style might feel daunting, but if the other option is doing your tax return, well suddenly it seems the better option. Only problem is – your tax return is still lurking in the background. Waiting until the last minute to start screaming at you that it needs to be done – ugh!
It’s important to be aware of when you’re avoiding your real work for busyness. You’ll actually be happier if you make the most of your time each day.
Consider these examples of busyness:
Deleting old emails
Unplanned house cleaning
Learning when you should be doing
Organizing files
Busyness is any activity that provides less value than what you should be doing, such as:
It gives the false impression that you’re being productive
You can feel pretty good about busyness. You’re active and feel like you’re accomplishing something. No one can say that cleaning out your wardrobe is a completely useless activity. Or can they? In any event, it’s probably not the best way to use your time. Busyness gives the illusion that you’re being productive, but it doesn’t generate income. It doesn’t make progress toward your goals. It doesn’t get the really important shit done.
It’s a form of procrastination
When engaged in busyness, you aren’t being completely useless, but you’re avoiding your real work. Recognize that busyness is just a way to procrastinate in a way that seems justified!
You’re failing to do what’s meaningful
Ultimately, busyness prevents real progress from happening. You might be active, but you’re not effective. Using your time wisely is the key to success and progress.
Avoid busy work and accomplish more today with these strategies:
Plan your day
This should take no more than five minutes. You can choose whether you do this in the evening or first thing in the morning. Make a list of the high-priority items that need to be done before the end of the day. There are many apps available that will allow you to create a schedule and set reminders. Or simply a productivity journal – good ol’ pen and paper! No excuse for forgetting what’s important.
Pick out the three most important items
Ensure that you’re using intelligent criteria for choosing these items. These should be items that will move the needle, not just be items that feel good to do. In fact, the most important items will often be the least appealing. Busyness is about avoiding discomfort. Choose your tasks based on usefulness, not on how enjoyable they seem to be. Average people plan their lives around comfort. Avoid being average.
Get started early
Avoid waiting as long as you can to get started working. Create a little momentum and use that to carry you through the day. If you have a productive morning, the rest of the day will be productive, too.
Before beginning any task, ask yourself: ‘Is this the best use of my time at this moment?’
Asking that question and allowing yourself to be guided by the answer is the solution to using busyness. It can be that simple.
Busyness will waste your time and keep the achievement of your goals off in the distant future. Take control of your day by keeping busyness at bay. You already know what you should be doing. No distractions. No excuses. Just do it.
“If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.” – Bruce Lee
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And there’s more…
Take a look at these resources to get you out of useless busyness and into truly productive work!
The Inspire Now Journal is a great A5 size daily and weekly productivity planner that’s undated, so you can start anytime – like now! It’ll help you to set and achieve your goals and get stuff done. Available in various colours, it’s a joy to use and super useful to keep you on track: Buy this now! Click on the link below: Inspire Now A5 Journal:
‘Deep work’ is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. Coined by the author on his popular blog Study Hacks, deep work will make you better at what you do, achieve more in less time and provide the sense of true fulfilment that comes from mastery of a skill. Focus on the right task is the new superpower you need. Find out how to achieve it. Buy this book! Click on the link below: Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World – Cal Newport:
People think when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions doing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes early, or holding a single short phone call. He calls them atomic habits. These small changes will have a revolutionary effect on your career, your relationships, and your life. Buy this book! Click on the link below: Atomic Habits – An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones – James Clear:
Mindset is your most deeply held thoughts and beliefs that affect how you see the world. These thoughts affect your focus, assessments, and behaviour. In short, mindset has an outsized impact on your outcomes. Powerful thoughts can instantly propel you forward while limiting thoughts resist big ambitions. The exciting thing is that if you have beliefs that are untrue and holding you back, you can change it within less than 24 hours! Adopt thoughts that better reflect the reality of what’s possible. And get further than you could ever imagine. Buy this book! Click on the link below: Change Your Mindset: Master Your Mind to Achieve Your Goals and Create Lasting Happiness! – Brayden James:
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And here’s Confidence Tip No. 2! Click on the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDpnnFWbjvE
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© Ruthy Baker 2020