Our society puts a high value on being busy. Instagram is filled with images tagged #hustle, #hustlehard, and #busy. If we’re not making enough money we think we need to work harder, to do more.
Start listening for the word “busy” and you’ll begin to notice how much you and the people you know say you are “busy”. Busy has become a default state of being!
For someone that’s been writing a work-life balance blog for the last 8 years, even I fall into the busy trap more than I’d like to admit. I’m building a business and it’s often hard not to think I need to do more to grow.
But in my 8 years of creating intentional work-life balance in my life, I’ve learned many times over that I achieve more when I do less.
What?!
That’s right, I achieve more when I do less.
Being busy looks like me spinning my wheels. Being busy looks like me judging myself and my progress, not being happy with the progress I’ve made. Being busy looks like self doubt. Being busy looks like burnout. Been there, done that. And it’s not a pattern I’d like to repeat.
What does it look like to have work-balance? Balance looks like me having more joy and deeper connection with family and friends. Balance looks like being well-rested. Balance looks like being in the flow of life and getting more results with less work!
Doesn’t balance sound better than busy? Doesn’t balance feel better?
20 ways to stop being busy
- Stop multi-tasking. Do one thing at a time and do each task with attention and care.
- Set and stick to your office hours. That means no calls, no texts, and no emails outside office hours!
- Work in sprints to get more done in less time!
- Get comfortable making mistakes.
- Show more care for your own well-being than what other people think of you.
- Stop comparing yourself to others.
- Give yourself a break.
- Give other people a break, too.
- And while we’re on the subject… take breaks!
- Stop doing things you “should” do.
- Every day cross one item off your to-do list without doing it.
- Quit activities that aren’t serving you and your higher purpose.
- Say no more often.
- Live with intention, aka do things that matter and don’t do things that don’t!
- Declutter your digital life, including turning off social media and app notifications, unsubscribing, and filtering your news feeds.
- Turn off your phone during meals and events. (You won’t die, I promise!)
- Have an attitude of gratitude! Appreciating what you have instead of always wanting more.
- Celebrate your wins, big and small! You’ve accomplished so much already! Enjoy each win before moving on to the next one.
- Meditate 5 minutes a day.
- Do less, BE more. “Be” as in accepting your life and your situation for what it is, without judgment.
Choose at one item from the list and commit to trying it for a week. Throughout the week be curious and open to what is shifting for you and how it feels. At the end of the week make a note of what you learned.
How will you stop being busy?