Are you too busy to read this?

If you’re still reading then you’re probably not the demographic that needs to. But if by chance you are this demographic then listen up, being busy all the time might be sending you backwards, not forward as you’ve been assuming. Let me use a quick experiment to show you. If you have time I’ll then explain it.?

This experiment will take 10 minutes, do you have time? The hypothesis is, “I am addicted to being busy.” You are both the subject and the moderator so you have two things to do. Before you start, set a timer on your phone for 10 minutes and then put your phone away so you can’t see it.?

During the experiment, as the subject you are to do nothing. Just sit there. Don’t even label the things you see. Don’t say to yourself, hmm look at those clouds or look at that table.? Just observe the world around you.?

As the moderator, listen to the thoughts that pop into your head. Just observe them as a scientist would, making a mental note of them but do not analyse them. We’ll do that later.?

Ok. Stop reading, set the timer and start.?

…

Is 10 minutes up already? If not, start again. You might be tempted to keep reading but you’ll spoil your own investigation if you do.?

Right, let’s review the experiment. Everyone’s results will be different so I’ll describe the two extremes and you will probably fall somewhere in between.?

To my left we have the subjects who loved this experiment. It wasn’t a strain, in fact it was energising. It became a creative exercise with helpful ideas popping up. It was over in a flash and they can’t wait to take some action. The hypothesis is negative for this person.

To my right are the subjects that didn’t make the full 10 minutes. Their thoughts started with, “this is a waste of time” or “maybe I can use this time to plan my day tomorrow.” Every minute thoughts kept saying, “let’s just wait 5 minutes, 2 minutes, or maybe just skip it and keep reading.” This subject did not enjoy the experiment, it was draining and distracting. Ten minutes went on forever and they kept wanting to check if they're timer had stopped working. The hypothesis was proven for this person.

If you loved this experiment, keep doing what you’re doing.?

If you hated this experiment, you might want to check your thinking about being busy and busyness motivation. In effect, this experiment did just that.

Being busy in the moment is a glorious thing. I’d call it flow or being in the zone. But being busy for egoic reasons is why this person hated it. When your ego leads your motivation, you can still be busy doing the same thing but how you’re doing it is very different. It takes more energy, it’s frenetic and you find it difficult to stop. Being busy becomes the motivation and your thoughts are either in the past, the future or driven by an external circumstance, but hardly ever in the moment.?

If you need a hand, let us know but you could also ponder on this idea. Achieving something does not always require loads of effort and pain. I would suggest it hardly ever does. Even Einstein used wondering and creativity to make his massive steps in progress and perspective. If you’re feeling the stress and the strain take a 10 minute break, remember that you’re feeling come from your thoughts, find your calm and creative mind and see what happens.?

If you’re the always busy type, you did the experiment and you’re still reading this…congratulations! I can promise you, you won’t be disappointed in the direction you’re now heading.?

Enjoy,

Tim.