How to Overcome Busyness

Today I’d like to share some of the things I’ve learned about busyness, and how to respond to chaos in a healthy way.

What busyness does to us

• Busyness leads to burnout

• It leads our vision way from long-term goals

• Makes us fixate on the immediate chaos

• Makes us live moment-to-moment

• Puts us “out of commission” mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually

• Makes us feel buried and discouraged

How do I move out of busyness?

Of course, when we find ourselves in a busy season, we most often have one of the first two responses.

• We either push forward, nose to the grindstone, with gritted teeth, determined to “git ‘er done.” We buckle down.

• Or, we totally withdraw, not in a good way, however, because we may still be thinking about what we have to do or isolating ourselves from others. We shut down.

• A third, healthier response we can have is, of course, to rest (insert link to episode 2). We can break away.

And here’s the good news: “breaking away” doesn’t have to be something big or involved.

What do you think it would feel like if - the next time you felt overwhelmed with all the things you had to do - you just took a moment and sat outside in the sun? Or you found a peaceful spot inside your home and just stepped back for a few minutes to clear your head?

What do you think it would do for your perspective to take some time to read a chapter of a book, or call or text a friend, or just do something you enjoy?

It really is that simple. And it’s hugely empowering! Just take a deep breath and recognize that there’s too much going on, and you need a few minutes to regroup. Then take a “time out!”

By doing this, you are learning how to carve out a moment of time to step away, break away, and create some space for yourself.

Rest helps to guide our next steps. It puts us in a position to gain clarity about our goals and how to move forward.

Here’s your sign

Inside this episode, I share how I had to scale back in a recent season of busyness, and the benefits I found by doing so. It’s worth a listen if - no, when - you’re needing encouragement to step back for your own well-being.

Next steps for you

Spend some time thinking about what short activities provide you immediate rest and help you fight the busy. If you need some help, check out my free 3-day time-blocking mini-course you can use to explore this concept. Remember, good rest fuels great work!