“I’m too busy!”
If you are like me, you find yourself saying, “I’m too busy” at least once a day. Although I use the word busy all the time, I’ve never contemplated its meaning. Similar to the word love, busy is overused, and as a result, has lost its true meaning.
When did I start using the word, at what age, at what stage in my life? When I was in high school, I studied at least three hours each night, striving to be in the top five in my graduating class. I had a part-time job at a local grocery store and was a member (and often an officer) of every club I qualified for. I don’t remember stating, “I’m too busy.” I didn’t have time to read, watch television, or do anything not associated with studying, work, or club activities. Even though I was always engaged in doing, my perception wasn’t that I was too busy. But, was I? Perspective vs. reality.
Busy.. An adjective. The Oxford Dictionary defines busy as “having a great deal to do.” Can busy be positive or negative, depending on the person and situation? Can I be busy volunteering? Is there such a thing as being busy relaxing? And, what is busy work—doing something productive or simply busy being busy? Is there a difference between busy and too busy? If so, when does busy become too busy? What is the progression… relaxed, busy, too busy, stressed?
Busy. A feeling. The LaNae Dictionary defines busy as “the stressful feeling experienced when an activity prevents me from completing my to-do list.” My list is my routine—my comfort zone—home. Add an extra task to my list, and I immediately feel busy and stressed. If I didn’t have my list, would an extra task still cause me to feel busy? If that is the case, is my list—my routine—a blessing or a curse?
Busy. An interference. The LaNae Dictionary also defines busy as “anything that interferes with something I want/need to do.” The “something I want/need to do” could be work or leisure related. My response to being too busy varies, depending on if it is interfering with work or leisure. If it is interrupting work, the result is stress. For me, anything that interferes with leisure initially frustrates me, but if I continue in my leisure instead of “taking care of busyness,” I feel guilty. In my mind, I see leisure as non-productive and busyness as productive. Is being busy the same as being productive?
Where does associating busyness with productivity come from? Is it from society or me? Does society tell me I am successful and productive if I am busy; have a full calendar; have little time to myself? Am I proud of my full calendar because I am doing what society expects? Do I wear my busyness as a badge of honor? Does an empty calendar equate to not participating in society and being unsuccessful? Am I addicted to busyness?
A lot of questions. Are there right or wrong answers? I don’t believe so. Each person defines too busy individually, depending on his or her stage in life, circumstances, values, and goals. I do recommend that you (I will also) take some time to contemplate your definition of too busy and ask yourself some questions: Are you too busy? If so, do you want to stay that way? If not, how can you alter your situation? In my case, I will examine society’s influence on my busyness and strive to avoid basing my definition on its criteria for success and productivity. My greatest challenge is overcoming my mindset that leisure is unproductive. One day I will reach a stage in my life when I will no longer be able to enjoy the activities I do today. When I reflect back on this time in my life, will I see the benefits of my busyness and productivity or will I wish I had taken more time to be unproductive?
What is your major hurdle in your fight against busyness?
Remembering you guys from St. Francisville 2 years ago.
Hi Virginia,
So good to hear from you. Can you believe it has actually been four years since we me you in St. Francisville? Meeting you and enjoying the treats you gave us were some of the highlights on our journey. (You are in the book!)