Using The Phrase I’m Busy Is a Lame Excuse

It is time to rethink your productivity if you are constantly stating to people that you are too busy. According to Janet Choi, CCO of iDoneThis, talking about you being too busy all the time is not a conversation, and will not lead you anywhere productive. You will only succeed in making the other person bored or even peeved. There is not a person out there that likes to feel peeved.

Then why do you keep bragging about being too busy? Choi investigates this question in a thoughtful manner. She discovers that individuals who are occupied legitimately with family or work duties seldom state they are too busy to others.

They may even make a special effort to connect with others since they have such a hectic schedule. Do not feel you are alone at overstating how busy you are as others also practice this habit.

Busy Means….

When people say they’re busy according to Choi they are really attempting to communicate other thoughts or feelings. This will vary depending on whom the overwhelmed person is who is complaining. Below, you will find some of her translations to what “busy” could mean:

1. I am too busy often equals I am important.

Busyness often provides people with a sense of importance. They feel significant and needed. It also signals to the listener that he is the witness to the “busy” person’s ego trip.

2. I am too busy also could mean, “I am providing you with my excuse”.

Stating you are too busy is an ideal way to avoid performing tasks for others. You can place your responsibilities onto others since you have such a hectic schedule at least, in your mind.

3. I am too busy also can be a statement of fear.

This is connected to feeling important. The speaker may or may not understand that when he complains about how busy he is, he actually is asking for help. It is a signal he is in demand.

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Choi also feels we now think of busyness as virtuous. Exhaustion is number one and busyness is number two on the “cool list” at work. This all points to a major misstep in our perspective on life and keeps us from meaningful tasks.

It is easy and sometimes welcoming today to avoid filling time with meaningful pursuits instead of being content with filling the hours of the day up with meaningless activities. We talk ourselves into our self-worth through these measures instead of seeking out meaningful activities.

Busyness is a type of laziness in this scenario. As we occupy our days with phone calls and appointments, we do away with all of our downtime. It is difficult to think about the quality of our activities when you are constantly doing.

How to Eliminate Busyness

This issue is an interdependent one. It is difficult to own your downtime when you boss believes to the time macho culture according to Ann Marie Slaughter. It is the belief that workers need to compete by staying later, working harder, pulling additional all-nighters and traveling throughout the world, while billing the additional hours the international time difference allows you. However, do not allow this to be an excuse. You can change the mind of bosses when you understand how to start the conversation.

5 Facts I Understand Thanks to the Highly-Respected Busy People I Know

Many of the busiest men and women I am friends with always take time to listen and be with me. They simply unplug from their phones and other digital devices before meeting me for a meal. They tell me the truth if they need additional time to respond to my request. They never make me feel like I am interfering with their schedules when they decline an invitation. I am surprised at this because these are the many of the busiest men and women I have contact with on a regular basis. How can they manage this so adeptly?

I have discovered the following 5 traits that all these people share:

1. These people are organized, structured, goal-oriented and steadfast in their daily lives. They do not run through life hoping to strike gold or run after the latest opportunity. They create a plan and stay on course.

2. Their priority is their family without hesitation. They never let their careers come before their life with their family.

3. These people have self-respect on top of respect for others. They know your time is as valuable as their time is.

4. They care for their overall fitness and health by living balanced lives.

5. These people also are honest almost to a fault.

All these acquaintances if mine had perfected the art of living balanced and meaningfully as they respect other people. This is how I want to live.

12 Months of Not Using the Term “Busy” for Your Excuse!

This is not my original concept. I am just putting my own take on this concept. The idea is to avoid using busy for an excuse even when you are swamped. I will have to be truthful about my priorities, goals and tasks without being able to blame my good pal “Busy”.

This will force me to quit spreading blame, justifying bad decisions, and manipulating people to take the easy way around things. My wish is that this will improve how I manage my life to the point that I will not be as busy as I am now. It all starts with not saying the word! I am not saying this will be easy to accomplish.

I also know that certain people could react negatively to this change. All of us understand the fact of people being busy, but we do not appreciate hearing the people will not make room or time for others. However, I understand that everyone craves truthfulness and will completely respect you when you are always truthful.

I challenge you to join me in my following pledge:

• I will set S.M.A.R.T.E.R. goals in 2015 in all of my life’s areas. (S means specific, M means measurable, A means actionable, R means realistic, T means time-bound, E means evaluate and R means revise to explain what S.M.A.R.T.E.R. truly means.

• I set daily priorities from #1 down to recoup my time. However, this will be difficult, as people have grown to expect specific actions from me throughout the day. I will need to reset priorities gently with truthfulness and not excuses.

• I pledge to quit turning to the term “busy” for my excuse for all of 2015 for my part in this honesty treaty. Regardless of how busy I am at any given time, I will follow through with this pledge.

• I know how trite it is to draw up New Year’s resolutions. However, deliberately setting goals for this year will compel you to decide what your priorities need to be in your life. No matter what your age is, if you make goals, stay on course to them, and are truthful with everyone you come in contact with, 2015 will be the best year of your life.

You can start to change your mindset about being busy by picking up a copy of “Mental Strength” today!