“How are you?”
“Oh, I’m so busy!”
“Could you help me with this project?”
“Sorry, I can’t, too busy!”
“Did you get that project done yet?”
“Sorry, didn’t get that done…I’m too busy.”
I started to hear myself saying these phrases in my own personal conversation, and it bothered me! I had to question myself, and think, “Am I really that busy?” I started listening to see if others used this phrase as much as I did and guess what? I heard it everywhere! I heard it from family and friends. I heard it at church. I even heard it from cashiers when asked about their day!
Busy, busy, busy, we have an obsession with being busy. Does this sound like you? Apologizing or excusing yourself for not completing or doing what you said you would do, because you are too busy? The “I’m so busy!” phrase is everywhere and is quickly becoming the go to phrase when asked how we are doing! Now, before some of you get uptight, I understand that we ALL go through busy cycles in our work and at home, but if busy is becoming your new norm, perhaps you need some self-reflection time.
Once I became more aware of my overuse of this phrase, I found that just saying it was an energy drainer. The words alone can make me feel stressed out, tired and behind schedule. I decided that it was time for a change and I made a commitment to stop using I’m so busy in my vocabulary. This challenge has been hard, and I will be honest, I’ve screwed up more than a few times!
The top two reasons why we use, “I’m so busy”, to explain our busyness.
1.The I’m so busy, excuse
Busy has become the newest crutch to explain why we can’t do something or why something didn’t get done. All too often, it has become an excuse, an excuse why we are late with projects or why we didn’t follow through or why we can’t be on the committee. We feel we need to justify ourselves with sharing how busy we are. We list our schedules and by the end of the conversation, we have others agreeing with us that we are so busy!
2.Badge of Honor
The next reason we use this phrase goes a little deeper. I call this reason the busy badge of honor. We equate busyness to hard work and hard work is good…right?
We use, or should I say overuse, the “I’m so busy” to show the world that we are busy because we feel that is what the world expects from us. If we aren’t busy what does that say? I’m lazy? I’m unproductive? Who wants to be lazy and unproductive? Not me, so we share our busyness with others, so they will understand just how productive we are…we are not slackers!
Now plenty of people are really busy, especially this time of year, but the challenge is not to use your busyness as an excuse or a badge of honor. Be honest with others. If your schedule is overwhelming, say NO more often. If you don’t want to do something, just say no…you don’t need to give a reason. The reality is that our lives ebb and flow and we must learn how to manage our busy schedules, but we also must learn how to enjoy our down time without feelings of guilt, which is another blog for another day!
Many things aren’t equal but everyone gets the same 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We make time for what we truly want. –Unknown
Challenge yourself to make sure in all your busyness that you are making time in your schedule for the people and things that are truly most important to you.
What’s one thing you “busy” yourself with that you can commit to stop doing, today? Post it in the comments below.
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