A commentary on Busyness

Busyness: a word that encapsulates this modern era. But what are we all rushing toward?

It feels inevitable and inescapable to have a jammed schedule. Long on to-do lists and obligations, short on time to get it all done. But have we stopped to think about the quality, and what it is we're actually accomplishing?

Personally, am I making space for the people that matter most? To be curious and to stumble, without always having to nail the weekly check lists? To give myself the grace to do the inner work so I can show up with intention?

We fill our hours and days with oh-so-much, but would we actually accomplish more if we routinely took inventory on what it is we're actually driving toward? As a person, a family, a team, a company?

How many weekends have I spent fulfilling commitments, rushing kids to activities, attending to the school emails, reservations, sign ups, party check lists etc…that don’t get looked at during the work week, to turn around and realize it's already Sunday night and I've done a lot less 'resetting' and just a whole lot of 'keeping up'.

With every season, I go to the nursery only to realize I barely sit down to enjoy the newly planted flowers. For real. I see them out my window and smile, but how sad it was when I realized I barely had time to sit and exist in my garden? Only recently did I commit to creating an outdoor space that is peaceful, beautiful AND one that I have made the time to sit and enjoy sans-technology.

It’s not enough to simply say “I don’t want to be busy all the time” because we exist in this modern world, so how can we all be part of the change?

By no means do I have the answers to the test. I believe it will take continued societal shifts to make a meaningful dent that we can truly all feel. Nonetheless, here are some personal reflections:

?? Doing the inner work – vs filling time with distractions. At times (and especially when fried) it’s easier and less daunting to scroll online and watch videos than it is to ask the hard questions of how and where I want to spend my time. How I want to show up, and the legacy I want to leave. Over the last year or so, it’s what has enabled me the space to say NO thoughtfully. (Though, let’s face it, funny internet content IS what got me through the pandemic, so I guess it has some merit?!)

?? Time blocking and sometimes saying no – a hard one. Unfortunately, there is no feasible way to say yes to every invitation, activity and even meeting. Sometimes, whether personally or professionally it needs to be a no, or a not right now to make space for the things that matter.

?? Values and passions prompts – I’ve only recently assembled and organized all of my journals and writing pads into one place. But even though I have felt like my inner thoughts were all over the place over the years – literally – in flipping through and re-reading old journals, some patterns have definitely emerged. These taking stock entries have helped clarify and reinforce where I’m headed and what’s important. Rather than grinding through the motions, I’m realizing this exercise is helpful in being much more intentional around where energy is spent.

?? Decluttering – check. Getting rid of the excess and clearing spaces physically has had a profound impact mentally. I feel more prepared to take on to-do’s while also welcoming in rest when needed.

?? How I fuel myself – what I eat, how much I sleep, the amount of water and exercise I get – it all really does matter. It’s so basic, but when any of these elements are out of whack, I am WAY more inclined to make the next poor choice..(hello chips at 10pm after 2 glasses of wine). While I know it’s OK to indulge once in a while, for me, it needs to be the exception and not the rule because I’m winding down from the chaos of life.

On an individual level, I feel as though I can maybe increment toward change, some weeks. However, oftentimes it feels like I’m just a cog in the bigger universal wheel versus actively choosing to live at this setting of life. When I stop to think, I often come up with similar questions, such as:

• How can I/we push back against what feels like an unwinnable race?
• How can companies have less meetings and more productive outputs?
• How can we accomplish and give and live out our purpose, and still find time for rest?

We’ve all heard “work Smarter not Harder” but how does that work in practice? How do we make space, create boundaries, and at least slow the rat race?

I’d love to learn more about how both individuals and companies have made positive shifts toward more fulfilling and less busy lives. What can we learn and what can we implement?

In the midst of what feels like the busiest we've ever been as humans, here's to hoping we can also continue to lean into quality connections, slow down and reset after particularly intense periods, experience truly breathtaking moments and learn to revel in the art of just being.

Written by: Alison Campbell