These days, ‘being busy’ seems to be something to aspire to on a daily basis.  The trouble is, we’re so busy filling our time with being busy that we forget about the things that it’s actually important to be busy with – like our family & friends, our health and doing what we love.

“I’m so sorry, I’ve had such a busy week that I just haven’t had the time to call you back!”

“I’m just really busy at work at the moment”

“Family life is keeping me really busy right now…”

“Not now, I’m too busy”

Being busy has become an excuse.

If something (or someone) is important enough to you, in my opinion you make the effort to restructure your priorities in order to make time for it (or them).

Being busy is only good if it’s not overwhelming.  Being busy is only good if it doesn’t get in the way of you living your life with enjoyment and contentment.

If being busy is stopping you from doing the things you want to do, or stopping you from spending time with the people that you love, then perhaps you need to have a look at why ‘being busy’ with all that other stuff is so important to you.

I had a crazy busy week last week.  A record number of clients and supervision sessions, evening events, travelling between London and Stafford, juggling home and work, commitments with my girls, guests from America coming to stay, family visits… There was a lot going on.

I love being busy and hate being bored, so last week for me was energising rather than draining.  However, I knew it wouldn’t be sustainable beyond the seven days I’d squeezed it all into.  So this week I’ve deliberately not let myself be too busy.  I’ve booked in fewer clients.  I’ve got plenty of unscheduled and  unaccounted-for time to do what I please with.  Ordinarily I’d be climbing the walls trying to find something to do, but because it’s such a welcome contrast to the busy-ness of last week, I’m embracing it.

Stop the glorification of busy.

Take some time out.  Remember what’s actually important to you.

Then go and make yourself busy with those things instead.