Busyness Is Not a Badge of Honor
A very common misconception is that being “busy” means that you are filling your time with meaningful and productive activities, tasks, and interactions. We often use the term “busy” to describe the feeling of having lots to do. However, the critical question we have to ask ourselves is whether we are truly engaging in activities and commitments that bring meaning and impact into our daily lives. I hope the following will help you reflect on the way you define busyness in your own life and differentiate between filling time versus living purposefully.
Changing the Paradigm
Most people will often explain to you how busy they are and the undertone is one of pride. This is rooted in a deep seated misconception in our society that you are being productive and living a worthwhile life only if your time is always filled with things to do. This is the paradigm that I hope to help you redefine so that you don’t get stuck in the exceedingly common trap of unnecessarily running yourself ragged or burning yourself out, all in the name of staying “busy”.
Imagine if instead of proudly telling the next person who asks you how you are just how busy you are, you were to instead triumphantly share how rested you are? Sounds like a foreign concept I’m sure, but what it represents is shifting away from the idea that pausing, resting, or relaxing is a bad thing. In contrast, it means embracing unstructured time in your daily life as a necessity for health and well-being. Those people who do allow for unstructured time during the week tend to actually be more productive at work, more present and connected with their families, less stressed out and overall happier. It that doesn’t convince you that it’s worth a try, I’m not sure what will. So give it a shot: grant yourself permission to slow down, assess what truly needs to get done and what doesn’t, and give yourself that time each day where nothing is scheduled or required of you. You’ll be amazed at the impact this has on your state of mind.
Schedule an Appointment for Therapy In the South Bay
As a therapist in Hermosa Beach, I strive to help my clients make shifts in their lives and in their ways of thinking that promotes greater mental health and overall well-being. If you are interested in having the supportive space of therapy, give me a call at 310.892.2572 to get started!