What’s Wrong With ‘Busy’?

Busyness is a hallmark of modern life, but is it really that bad? I believe that it is, because Busy is the enemy of many of the things that underpin a rich and fulfilling life. Let’s look a bit closer.

Busy is the enemy of the Present

Busyness is all about the future, about that deadline or demand that is just about to pop up over the horizon – be it dinnertime approaching with no food in sight, rushing to get to a meeting or activity, or that looming work deadline. Whatever the demand, busy takes our eyes off what is happening in the present, and cuts us off from the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate what is happening right now.

Busy is the enemy of Connection

When we are too busy, we don’t have anything left to invest in our relationships. We don’t have time for the kind of honest and vulnerable conversation that sustains real connection. We stop being present, our relationships start to go on autopilot, and our connections become shallow and superficial. Worse still, we cut ourselves off from one of the richest parts of life, and from our ability to give and receive the support necessary to be resilient and thrive.

Busy is the enemy of Self-Expression

I believe that living in a way that reflects the uniqueness of who we are is of fundamental importance. But we can’t do this when we live an overcrowded life at break neck pace. When our schedules get too full, life becomes primarily about management. We end up living a generic, efficient life, cut off from the uniqueness of who we are.

With a big family and a business, I can often slip into ‘management’ as a way of life. Some of this is necessary, but I am my best self when life has room for the things that reflect who I am.

Busy is the enemy of Awareness

Moving through life at a hectic pace stops us from being aware of what is going on for us and for those around us. A counsellor once told me that all behaviour makes sense in some context, but we don’t always know what the context is.

When we are busy, we lack the time or the energy to slow down and understand that is really going on. What is causing our behaviour, and what could be driving the behaviour of others?  Our lives lack empathy and insight.

Busy is the enemy of Wellness

When we make a habit of pushing through a mammoth ‘To-Do List’, we often need to ignore or postpone things that are important for our own well-being. We feel tired, or like there is a niggling annoyance or worry that we choose to ignore.  Even when we do have time, we don’t know what we really feel and need. Many of these things don’t seem important on their own but, over time, this type of living erodes our wellness.

What about you?

Where do you see Busy eroding your life? Are there some of these things that stand out more than others?

For now, just be aware. We’ll look more closely in the coming weeks at what we can do to start living differently.