Breaking the Habit of Busyness

In our performance-driven society, we easily fall prey to valuing others and ourselves by the work we do and how successful we appear to be. We see productivity as an indicator of success and busyness as its measuring stick. So, we talk about our crazy 60-hour work week, create long to-do lists, sign up for the fifth volunteer opportunity this month, and say “yes” to another working-lunch meeting. When asked how we’re doing, we answer, “Keeping busy.” We wear our busyness like a badge of honor, not realizing that we have allowed it to become a measure of our self-worth. In other words, we try to prove our worth by staying busy. In actuality, busyness doesn’t necessarily correlate with productivity, and productivity does not define personal success. The more pernicious truth is this: staying busy can take a serious toll on our mental as well as our physical health. It’s time to counter the notion that our work, productivity or busyness accurately reflects our worth as human beings. Here is a five-step strategy for breaking free from this unhealthy habit of staying busy and the myth that busyness determines your self-worth.

Acknowledge and Define Your Self-Worth Outside of Work

It’s possible that as long as you can remember, you have been on this hamster wheel of busyness and you don’t really know how to get off and start living a life that honors your worth and reflects your values, priorities and passions. It’s crucial to remember that external factors (how many hours you work, your job title, and others’ opinions of you) can neither quantify or qualify our true worth. Our worth transcends the hustle culture and is not diminished by missing a deadline or being laid off. At the heart of it all is how you view yourself in terms of your innate talents and abilities, and the values that motivate you to be your best self. It's about truly knowing your value and holding onto that belief, no matter what others may say (or not say).

Reflect on what's most important to you and let those core values guide your journey. Honesty, peace, generosity, fairness, excellence, and collaboration are just a few examples. Discovering your core values is just the start of a journey towards strengthening your self-worth. It's important to stay true to those values, but it's equally important to be kind to yourself along the way. Remember that making mistakes is a normal part of being human; don't be too hard on yourself when things don't go as planned. Instead, show yourself the same grace and compassion you would offer a good friend. Remember self-worth is internal and is recognized through self-compassion, personal growth, and a deeper understanding of our values and unique talents and abilities. Embracing this mindset allows us to achieve a more integrated and fulfilling life, where we prioritize our emotional and mental well-being over the relentless pursuit of productivity. By stepping back from the societal pressure to be constantly busy, we can cultivate a self-concept that honors our worth, free of the constraints of popular success metrics.

Set Realistic Goals for Yourself and Learn How to Say "No" to Unnecessary Tasks?

It is more important than ever to set realistic goals for yourself and learn the indispensable skill of saying "no" to unnecessary tasks. This is not just saying no to others but even yourself if it is not a priority. By doing so, you maintain control over your workload and prioritize your mental and physical well-being. Now you may be thinking, “What if I have competing priorities?” In that case, partner with your manager or a key decision-maker to narrow the priorities. You can ask a trusted friend to be an accountability partner that will be your voice of reason when you are tempted to plan another event or volunteer for another task. Give them permission to ask “Will this further your goals?” or “Do you actually have the time to devote to this?” As you practice discernment in your pursuits, you foster a greater sense of self-awareness and intentionality in focusing on what truly matters while staying in integrity with yourself.

Practice Self-Care to Recharge Your Energy

Taking breaks from work is an essential aspect of practicing self-care, as it helps recharge your energy and maintains your overall well-being. During these valuable pauses, whether going for a walk, taking a nap, or engaging in your favorite hobby, you are not only stepping away from the stressors at your job but also revitalizing your mental and physical capacities. Going for a walk, for instance, can clear your mind and induce creativity, while taking a brief nap has been proven to boost productivity and cognitive function. Ultimately, embracing self-care by prioritizing regular breaks throughout the workday fosters work-life integration and ensures that your energy levels remain replenished, empowering you to perform at your best while getting the necessary rest that you deserve.

Ask for Support Before You Get Overwhelmed

Despite our best efforts, our lives can become unbearably busy and stressful at times, leading to feelings of exhaustion and a sense of powerlessness. However, proactively seeking assistance from colleagues, friends, and family members will enable us to effectively manage the demands of work and life and reduce the length of time we live in a state of busyness and its adverse impact on our long-term health. Additionally, by reaching out to others for help, we are cultivating relationships that can enable us to learn and grow. Remember, it's not a sign of weakness to ask for help; instead, it’s a strength that demonstrates self-awareness and the ability to prioritize one's well-being.

Assess Your Progress Regularly

Busyness is like a bad habit – it can be hard to break. But the good news is… it can be broken. How? By replacing it with good habits. Start by taking out your calendar and scheduling fifteen minutes at the end of your week to assess how you have done this past week in meeting your goals regarding managing workloads and prioritizing your well-being, and note what factors tripped you up and how you can preempt them in the future before they throw you off your path. Then schedule another fifteen minutes (right after your past-week assessment or the next day before you begin your new week) to plan your upcoming week, setting aside time for activities that will refresh, revitalize and energize you. Lastly, consider taking a small weekend retreat annually to review your progress, revitalize your spirit, and reset your course, if necessary. You are worth it!

Self-worth is a critical component of how we see ourselves and show up in the world. We must remember that our value is not predicated on our level of busyness. Embracing this mindset and experimenting with the strategies I’ve just shared will create a stronger sense of self, which will increase your confidence and strengthen your well-being and happiness in your career and life.

Here are some ways to access additional tools, advice, and tips to accelerate your leadership & career:

→ Review the numerous career-enhancing resources available on my website at?aliciadreece.com .?

→ Explore my best-selling book,?Driven to Thrive .

→?Follow me on LinkedIn , and click the ?? at the top of my profile page to learn more about Drive to Thrive events and join the conversation on my posts.?

→?Subscribe ?to receive my Driven to Thrive newsletters.?

→?Enroll in one of my LinkedIn Learning courses:?Coaching Yourself to Career Success ?and/or?Using Personal Authenticity to Drive Career Success

I’m rooting for you always!