What if we're actually not busy enough?
"The Busyness Trap." "Buried in Busyness." "We're all too busy."
I hear stuff like this all the time. I think the opposite is true.
In our great "age of abundance," most people don't have enough to do. What do I mean by things to do? I mean activities and pursuits that are fulfilling, challenging, and wholly engaging. That’s why time spent on social media, their phones, gambling, etc. is all trending in the wrong direction.
I think of the feeling when I have a day full of activities, like during a trip with good friends. The day just goes. Time flies by. I'm not looking at my phone, nor am I remotely concerned with what's on the news or social media. I’m happier and more satisfied.
We should try to design our days to be as much like this as possible! Pack every day with stuff that matters to you.[^1
If something stops being engaging or important, drop it and swap in something else. Being idle for the false promise of “mindfulness” or “slowing down” is going to do more harm than good.
Some drudgery in life inevitable. Work can be a grind. Family, while we love them, can be exhausting. Don’t wish it away or be resentful. A drudgery-free life is a delusion anyway. Build the muscle of handling those grind-y moments with grace, humility, and a good attitude. You’ll be better off for it and set an example for others to follow.
Ok thanks for coming to my TED talk. This is really a reminder to self.