When did being busy get really cool? Like people go around bragging about being so busy and having entire conversations about who is busier and making it a busyness competition? 

Sometimes people say “We’re all busy.” as a brush off to these conversations. I call bullshit. You aren’t busy. You’re lazy. You just don’t want to.

There is a difference between being legitimately occupied by work, life, family, etc. and being “too busy” to do anything, ever. I know. I own a business, recently planned a wedding, teach yoga, have family in town, and am married to an incredible guy who is working full time, in the Air Force, and going to nursing school. Legitimately occupied.

Were there days when I would find myself turning down coffee with friends and hikes in the park and dinner dates and instead found myself reading BuzzFeed lists from 7pm til oh-my-god-it’s-11pm-already? Hell yes. 

And then I shifted. 

I started saying yes, feeding my soul, reading books I’ve had on a shelf for years, spending time with my loved ones, spending time with myself. 

I also started saying no. A lot. And, let me tell you, saying no feels amaaaaaazing.

Janet Choi, CEO of iDoneThis, puts it well on her blog. Saying “I’m busy” easily translates to:

“I’m important.”
“I just don’t want to but have no other valid reason to give you.”
“I’m afraid.”

So, now, how busy are you again? As Choi says:  

When we’re endlessly doing, it’s hard to be mindful of what we’re doing.

When’s the last time you went out to eat and left your phone in your purse or pocket (or even at home – whhhaattt?!) 

How many times do you say “I’m busy” when the truth is you just really don’t want to?

What do you say no to via the old “I’m busy” routine because that thing might actually challenge you?

Busy is an epedemic and it’s cure is within. Get real about the amount of work you do, the time in your day, your priorities, and your goals. Respond from that place. The spot in your gut that sinks when you just don’t want to do something. Let that place say “No, thank you” and then give yourself the gift of presence in what you choose to do with that time.

Organize your life around being busy and busy will run you over. Organize it around who you truly are, and let that feeling of freedom sink in.

xo