How to try and Break up with Being Excessively Busy.

How to try and break up with being excessively busy

Trying to squeeze in too many activities in a short amount of time can leave you feeling completely overwhelmed.
Perhaps you find yourself talking about how busy you are because it secretly makes you feel more successful. Maybe you’re under financial and family pressure that overuse your financial, physical and mental resources.
Either way, there’s a glorification of excessive busyness amongst modern adults that leaves
us feeling too rushed, exceptionally discontent, and short on any quality time. Try these solutions for better managing your time and becoming more productive and less busy.

Bigger Solutions to Excessive Busyness

Turn off your phone.

Being connected and available at all times obviously plays a huge role in being completely overwhelmed. Switch off your mobile devices at least two hours before you go to bed. Try spending time away from social media.

Be Mindful.

Engage intentionally and completely with whatever it is that you’re doing. Focusing on one task at a time. You’ll reduce stress and enhance the quality of your work.

Prioritise.

Think about what the purpose for each to-do is, and devote time to the activities that matter most to you. Using your time wisely makes your choices feel more meaningful and intentional.

Establish routines.

Do you spend as much time trying to organise your work as you do actually performing it? A systematic approach turns frequent chores into automatic habits. Do your grocery shopping on Tuesdays and Fridays. Check your email and return phone calls before lunch and dinner.

Work with others.

We can sometimes accomplish more when we work with others and ask for help. Focus on your strengths and try to outsource or eliminate the remaining challenges to relieve stress and workload.

Try to get more Sleep.

Resist the temptation to sacrifice sleep in favour of productivity. Adequate rest makes you far more effective in your daily life anyway. If you’re having trouble keeping your eyes open, go to bed an hour earlier than usual, and remember to put down those screens at least 2 hours before bed!

Edit less.

Stop replaying the past. Proof an email once and send it. If your kids eat and have clean clothes, and are loved, you don’t need to over analyse your housekeeping and parenting skills any further. This just uses far more time worrying, and will stop your brain from focusing on the important tasks.

Count up your free time.

Discovering you have free time is like finding money in the pocket of a jacket that’s been hanging in your wardrobe for months. Count up the hours you have outside of work, commuting, and sleeping. Decide how to use them before external demands swallow them up.

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Smaller Solutions to Excessive Busyness

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1. Brew real coffee. Coffee has been being replaced by instant powder coffee
   you pour into boiling water. Opt for a real cup of proper coffee with a
   friend.
2. Leave the office earlier. If you’re an office worker, and you feel like you’re spending more time with the nightly cleaning crew at work than at home or with your family, see what it’s like to be the first one out the door. Let your co-workers know in advance if it will smooth your departure.
3. Stop competing. Sometimes it feels like we’re constantly in a silent battle of trying to top each other when it comes to having a full plate. If someone starts talking about how over busy they are, try sympathizing and helping to change the subject to something more constructive.
4. Stand still. Action bias is an innate force that makes us want to do something even when it becomes counterproductive. Give yourself permission to stop and really think about your options, and how you’re feeling.

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If you’re feeling swamped, it’s time to create more balance in your life. There are many ways to try and save time everyday. Along with challenges and adventure, make room for mundane tasks, quiet reflection and self care. You’ll
soon find that less activity can be more fulfilling.

For some great books to help with mindset, take a look at our Growth Mindset books for Adults post, as well as giving our top tips for Self Care a read too!

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