Last month, we talked about the difference between Busy-ness and Productivity. Busyness is about motion without clarity. It’s a sense of urgency that is often driven by anxiety. Productivity is about moving the right things forward. It requires intention and direction. (If you missed that post, read it here.)
Now let’s bring this concept into the practical realm. This may sound like a funny statement, but being less busy is a skill. Here are several ways to practice that skill:
Rest
Understand the value of rest and downtime. We can fall into the habit of thinking of rest as a reward. (If I get this and this and this done, I can rest.) But rest is not a reward, it’s part of how you function well.
Oh, and don’t multitask when you’re taking breaks. If you’re scrolling, planning, or mentally organizing while resting, your brain doesn’t reset.
Putting things on paper
Okay, yes, I talk about this a lot, but here we go again. Write things down. Writing down what lives in your head tells your nervous system: This is handled.
This can be in the form of a running list, a daily mind unload, a weekly planning page, or whatever works for you.
Write a to-do list that supports you
If you feel a mountain of pressure any time you look at your to-do list, it may need some tweaks.
A supportive list:
- Is realistic
- Separates priorities from extras
- Allows unfinished tasks without guilt
- Reflects the season you’re in
Simplify your to-do list by looking through the items and asking, “Is it realistic to get this done in this time frame? Is this my priority? Am I trying too hard to get this done all at once? Does it make sense to take on this task at this time of my life?”
Let things go
Busy-ness isn’t always about the number of tasks on your list. Often, it comes from carrying too much responsibility. This might look like overseeing things others could manage, absorbing emotional weight that doesn’t belong to you, or feeling personally accountable for everything functioning well.
Some things can be set down (even if that means the results aren’t exactly what you hoped for).
Routines
Decision fatigue is a huge drain on our mental energy. If you’re constantly making decisions about when and how to do daily or weekly tasks, your busy-ness level will go way up.
Reusing plans, routines, and recurring lists reduces the number of choices you need to make each day. No need to reinvent the wheel.
Next Steps
Choose one tip—one tip—from this post and try it out. And all of you who are thinking, “I probably should, but I won’t,” I’m looking at you. Try it once, and see how it goes.