In today’s fast-paced world, it seems like everyone is juggling a million tasks at once. Let’s be real: I’m busy. You’re busy. We’re all incredibly busy.
From the moment we wake up, we’re racing to get out the door. We’re busy hunting for matching socks, preparing lunches, and organizing birthday celebrations. We’re busy responding to emails and leading conference calls. We’re busy managing the PTA and coordinating food drives for the local shelter. And yes, we’re busy catching up on our favorite shows and enjoying lunch with friends. Between kids’ baseball games, piano recitals, and those oh-so-important date nights, it’s a wonder we even have time for a midnight run to the store for diapers. Once again.
We’re busy making endless lists to keep track of our hectic lives, and let’s face it, we’re busy being the amazing women we are. So, let’s acknowledge it: we are busy.
Recently, the notion of being busy has transformed into some sort of badge of honor, a competition where being busy feels like the ultimate achievement. But here’s the truth: there’s no award for being the busiest person in the room, so let’s ditch that mindset.
Does this mean we should view busy as a taboo? Sure, it is a four-letter word, but I’m talking about the negative connotation. Is being busy inherently bad? Should stepping back from this relentless hustle mean abandoning our commitments and ensuring we spend evenings in a state of boredom? Is busy really our foe?
I recently came across an article in On Being that discusses the “disease of busyness.” The author, Alex Thompson, describes the toll that constant busyness takes on our health and wellbeing. “This dis-ease of being busy strips away our ability to be present with our loved ones,” Thompson writes, “and hampers our capacity to build the community we all yearn for.”
Initially, I found myself annoyed by yet another piece chastising my busy lifestyle. I felt the pressure to unplug, to go for aimless strolls, to embrace boredom. I should be doing this, or I should be doing that. It became overwhelming.
But honestly, I enjoy being busy. For me, staying engaged and having a packed schedule is beneficial. Yes, it can be tiring and sometimes overwhelming, but for my mind and spirit, being busy is ultimately more fulfilling than idleness.
Of course, busy isn’t for everyone. Many people thrive on downtime and prefer leisurely afternoons with no obligations. I, however, am not one of those individuals.
While I initially bristled at Thompson’s critique of busyness, I realized that his intent wasn’t to push for a complete withdrawal from our commitments. Rather, he suggested we shift our perspective from what we’re doing to how we’re feeling. Instead of responding to “How are you?” with a list of tasks, we should reflect on how our hearts are doing.
For me, being active and involved is good for my heart. It helps me focus my energy on the things that truly matter. I’ve learned that saying “no” to some commitments allows me to say “yes” to what I genuinely care about, freeing up time and energy for the activities that resonate with me.
Let’s be clear: there’s no competition for who is busiest. We’re all engaged in a mix of activities we want, need, or choose not to do. So instead of fixating on how busy we are (or aren’t), let’s focus on taking care of business, whatever that may look like for each of us.
After all, we have plenty to do, even if that includes simply doing nothing at all. And if you’re interested in more about home insemination, check out this in-depth guide. For further insights, consider visiting Modern Family Blog, which offers great advice on this topic, and don’t forget the excellent resource from the Mayo Clinic regarding pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary:
In a world where being busy is often seen as a badge of honor, this article emphasizes that busyness should not be viewed as a competition. While some thrive on a packed schedule, others prefer downtime. The focus should shift from merely being busy to how we feel about our activities. Finding a balance that works for each individual is key to wellbeing.