The Right Kind of Busy
“It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?” — Thoreau
So what are we busy about?
Bullshit!
That’s usually the honest answer. I don’t mean to condescend. I’m the biggest busy-bullshitter I know. I can take any trivial, simple task and trick myself into being busy with it. I sometimes spend a couple hours in google calendar being busy planning out how I’ll be busy.
God I’m talented.
But I try to remind myself that the question is — what’s worth being busy about?
Here’s a shocking exercise: write down 3–5 causes of most of your busy-ness. I’ll wait…
Now write down the 3–5 things that matter most to you. Here are my lists…
Busy with: What matters:
- Work 1. Friends and Family
- Hustles/Marketing 2. Health (e.g. exercise)
- Creative Work* 3. Mindfulness/Spiritual Practice
- Errands 4. Having Fun
- Planning/Organizing 5. Creative Work*
Odds are you have some major discrepancies. You might find the things you’re most busy with are some of the least important things in your life. (I’ve got an overlap of one which is pretty good for a semi-delusional neurotic).
I want to be busy- busy with inspiring work, taking care of my mind and body, and being with those I love. So I study these lists often.
Don’t shoot for less busy. Shoot for the right kind of busy.
This post was created with Typeshare
