Some people wear busy as a badge of honor, as something that elevates them and creates an illusion of progress. In reality, being busy can do the exact opposite. We can fill our days with being busy but are we really “doing business”? Busyness can also be addictive. Like doctors and nurses in triage, there is an addiction to the adrenaline rush of busyness. Feeding that addiction can leave us reaching for another adrenalin hit of busyness.
When you tell others you’re too busy, it can actually be insulting. Aren’t we all busy? Is your busyness more important than mine? Our ability to fill our day with busyness is second only to our ability to make excuses for not getting things done. When you say you didn’t get to something because you were too busy, you’re really saying, “I didn’t make it a priority.” Replace the excuse of busyness with saying you didn’t make it a priority. Try replacing “being busy” with “being deliberate.”