Reclaim Your Time And Escape the Cult of Busyness

You're in the grocery store and see someone you know but don't talk to often.

They walk up to you feeling the obligation to say hello.

They ask, "How are you?"

Now think.

In a situation like this, how often is the word "busy" going to be in that answer, if not THE answer?

We have to come to grips with the problem we all seem content to ignore as it ruins the life that we wish we could have...

We're obsessed with being BUSY. But why?

The Lie

Everyone's competing to show off just how packed their schedules are.

It's as if we believe the more meetings, errands, and activities we cram into our day, the more important we look. 

The internet. Automated machines. AI. Slack. 

We are more efficient than humanity has ever been at completing tasks, so shouldn't that efficiency be rewarded with some free time?

But we have to be honest with ourselves. Work is just part of the problem.

Youth sports. School demands. Side hustles. Social media. TV. Religious gatherings. Eating out.

We PACK every moment of our day full even if we don't leave the house.

When was the last time you just sat somewhere and started to drift away in thought?

When was the last time you were truly bored?

The Mayo Health Clinic showed "being bored" stimulates creativity and problem solving but we've eliminated most of that from our day.

Breaking Free From Busy

Here's the hard truth: treating busyness like a badge of honor isn't doing us any favors.

It's trapping us in a cycle where we barely have a moment to breathe, let alone enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

So, how do we break free from this badge of busyness and reclaim some precious time for ourselves? It's not as complicated as it might seem.

First, let's talk about priorities.

It's time to become the boss of your own calendar.

That means figuring out what really matters to you and what doesn't.

Not every meeting is a must-go, not every email needs an instant reply, and not every social event is unmissable.

It's about making tough choices but trust me, your sanity will thank you for it.

Next, embrace the magic word: "no."

It's a small word, but boy, does it pack a punch.

Eliminating things that don't add value to your life opens up space for the things that do.

And no, it doesn't mean you're a bad friend or a lazy worker; it means you're smart about your time.

And for those people who have a hard time saying no (like my wife), just remember, that every time you say "yes" to something, you are saying "no" to a lot of other things.

Speaking of fun, remember hobbies?

Those things you did for sheer joy, not because they were productive or made money? It's time to bring them back.

Carve out time each week to do something just because it makes you happy.

It's not wasted time if it's spent recharging your batteries.

Lastly, let's talk about downtime.

Yes, doing absolutely nothing is okay.

Actually, science and common sense agree that it's necessary.

Your brain needs those quiet moments to process, recharge, and come up with brilliant ideas.

So, go ahead, embrace the art of doing nothing. Your mind and body will thank you for it.

Take Action

Reclaiming time in our bustling lives isn't about finding more hours in the day...

It's about using the ones we have more wisely.

It's about choosing what matters, saying no to what doesn't, and remembering to breathe and enjoy life along the way.

Life Hack: Automate or outsource boring things in your life. 

• Automate your bill payments
• Hire a maid service to do deep cleans once a month
• Pay to have chores done you hate doing (laundry, lawn, etc)

Let's not wear our busyness as a badge of honor but rather, strive for a badge of balance.