Can we talk about the culture of 'busy'?

I'm guilty on occasions (more often than not) of taking on too much and having the dial set to 'maximum capacity' in work and life in general. I value purpose, I value challenges, and I value growth.

Last September, I returned to full-time employment after almost 10 years of self-employment; at the time, I was at the tail end of an MBA module and was due to start another a mere 3 weeks later. The timing was less than perfect, but opportunities only come to pass, so I grabbed both and prepared myself for the tidal wave. I thought I could do this; I'm a master of spinning plates, and years of endurance sports have given me the mental and physical strength to find 'comfort in the discomfort'.?I survived, just.

My final assignment for 'Managing in a changing world' was submitted four weeks ago. Five days into a two-week holiday in one of my favourite places, Kona, Hawaii, I was incredibly relieved, and I am still incredibly proud of myself for getting through it.?

However, I want to be honest about the costs involved in being so busy and the necessary techniques required. The most frequent remark I heard was, 'I don't know how you do it all'. The short answer is I didn't. Discussions were had with my husband, outlining how we would make it work, where I would need extra support and how I could maximise my nights away for work to minimise the impact on our home life and quality time with our 6-year-old. The reality was far from perfect, and for the most part, it allowed for very little 'downtime' as a family.?

My non-negotiable list included quality sleep and exercise. The fact that we had invested in a home gym a year ago definitely made this easier—it's a luxury, for sure. For transparency, this often involved sleeping by 9/9:30 p.m. and being awake at 5/5:30 a.m.

I'm sure I'm not alone in having some of my best problem-solving ideas while running. This is quite possibly the only benefit of being a woman and not wanting to wear headphones when exercising outdoors.?

The benefits of testing your limits are only exposed when you embody the self-awareness to recognise when too much is, well, too much. I'm amazed and proud of myself for not getting ill during these 6 months. There were times when I felt mentally and physically exhausted, so I rested; often, this involved eating well and avoiding alcohol.

These simple measures, are complicated when the temptation to do the opposite heightens. A lesson in itself to listen to internal cues; they're there if we are willing to hear them.

For those of you who have made it this far, you might be thinking, 'Sounds miserable,' and I'd be lying if I didn't admit to having similar thoughts myself (regularly shared with my new suffering but also incredibly supportive colleagues!)?

But back to the culture of being 'busy' and my motivation behind writing these thoughts down. I wanted to share my experience from another perspective, as I'm aware that I could easily be seen as a promoter of 'busyness'. And whilst we will always experience intense busy periods in our professional and personal lives, we must follow them with periods of rest to decompress and recharge, but also to reflect, learn, and critically and honestly analyse what served us and what didn't.

?I am fortunate that the Northern Ireland Government covered the costs of all my studies over the past 3.5 years; it encouraged me on a path I had held at the back of my mind for some time, and I am so grateful they helped make it a reality. I'm still awaiting final marks, but I'm confident I'll get the marks to qualify for a post-grad degree in business administration. Currently, I'm 50% shy of credits for a full MBA. Honestly, my ego would love to continue on this path. Still, my head and my heart tell me it is time to take a step back from academic learning and focus on implementing what I have learnt over the past 3 years and still have space for my family because the most significant teaching I have had during this time is the best gift anyone can give the people they care about is their presence. Busy can wait.

TOP 3 TAKEAWAYS:

1. Prioritise your health: Above all else, your well-being is the cornerstone of success. With it, achieving something meaningful becomes possible.
2. Practice honest communication: In a world of constant demands, setting boundaries and being transparent about what you can and cannot take on is essential. Saying 'no' when necessary is not a sign of weakness but a demonstration of self-awareness and integrity.
3. Embrace the balance: While the hustle is often glorified, true fulfilment comes from finding harmony between work, personal life, and self-care. Take time to recharge, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters.

?? What's one strategy or practice you've implemented to maintain a healthy work-life balance amidst a busy schedule?

Drop your insights in the comments below, love to hear about others experiences ?? #WorkLifeBalance #ProfessionalDevelopment