Are You Addicted to Busyness?

By Carlene Ashby

“Ask us to lighten our load, actually say no to a task, and we start to panic. As if our world would shatter if we slowed down. The truth is, we’ve become so controlled by shoulds, oughts, musts, have-tos that we’ve lost sight of what’s honestly important.” ~ Barbara Stanny

Is this you?  Do you have trouble slowing down?  Difficulty saying no? Problems staying present with what you are doing?
Are you addicted to busyness?  I confess, I am.  It is my biggest vice.
It is a major problem amongst most people these days, especially entrepreneurs.  Think about it, when was the last time you sat down to eat a meal in silence without reading or watching tv?  Can you just sit on your deck and pay attention to the sun on your skin, or do you need to have your laptop there, checking emails compulsively?  Is your phone on 24 hours a day?
The irony of the addiction to busyness is that it comes from a drive to succeed and a compulsion to get more done, but it is actually counterproductive because the well of what needs to be done never runs dry.  The well just gets deeper as society’s expectations of productivity increases.
In today’s society, multitasking is an expectation.  Doing one thing at a time, mindfully, is almost impossible with the invention of Blackberrys, iPhones, faster computers, dvds in vehicles, and laptops that keep getting smaller and more portable.  We can’t even stop texting while we drive for crying out loud.  But why are we doing this?  Truly,what is the point of this multi-tasking?
My answer has always been, well, if I get more done now, then I can relax later.  I’ve always included technologies that help me get several things done at once, so that I can be done.  But I’m never done!
At the end of the day, when I should be able to feel great about what I’ve accomplished and relax, I just feel anxious about all the things I have to do tomorrow and all the things I could be doing in that moment.
I have structured my lifestyle so that I work part-time so I can enjoy free time and pursue my passions which most people would find enviable, but lately I’ve noticed that I am not enjoying any of that extra time because I am thinking about work while I’m doing it.
Does any of this ring a bell for you?  If so, you may want to do this week’s assignment and detox the busy drug from your life.
Your Prosperity Assignment Should You Choose To Accept It:
1)     Organize yourself- Many times we’re doing too many things at once because we ‘re just taking on projects as they pop up and shifting our priorities as the day goes on.  As more projects come up, write them down in your day timer (you do use one, right?!) and decide which needs to happen next.  Decide if you can finish what you are doing, or if you need to come back to it.
2)     Say NO!  Stop adding things to your plate simply because someone asks.  If you find it hard to say no, try this, “Thanks for asking, but no, I simply can’t.  It works well because there is nothing to argue with.
3)     Do one thing at a time.  Just for today!-  I will not tell you to just simply do one thing at a time for the rest of your life and- tada!-  problem solved.  Au contraire.  It will take time to practice doing one thing at a time, so challenge yourself in each moment to be present with what you are doing.  Eat sitting down and taste your food.  Write your blog with the tv off.  Check your email once a day- okay twice.  Drive without talking on your phone or texting.  Watch tv without trying to work!  Just be present with whatever you are doing for a moment, an hour, a morning, a day.
4)     Write down all your beliefs about relaxation, work, multi-tasking, busyness, etc and question them.  Do The Work of Byron Katie on your thoughts and see if you can find alternative realities to your current thoughts and beliefs.  You may surprise yourself.  Visit www.thework.com on how to do inquiry.
5)     Schedule down time.  If you want to end your work day at 8pm, turn off the phone at 8, turn off the computer and relax with a cup of tea and a good book.  But don’t do chores or work.  Just enjoy and see what happens!

© Copyright 2010 Carlene Ashby

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Filed under: Achievement • Career • Stress reduction • Time Management

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