Has busy-ness become a status symbol? Do you feel guilty of being BUSY and think that everyone around you is equally busy? That’s how many of us live these days, entangling ourselves in an unpleasant cycle of doing things we don’t like/love and stretching ourselves towards a mundane life.
Neuroscientists call Busyness as a state of “Cognitive Overload.” This state is a significant barrier to leverage our power and ability to plan, think, decide, act, organize and pioneer our productiveness. Generally, busyness is a self-seeking cop-out which is making us shallow beings and results in a sheer waste of time.
Stop NOW! Deepak Chopra, M.D and an Indian-born American author defines Stop as S-stop, T-Take three deep breaths, O- Observe and P-proceed with kindness & Joy and love. This state of being is the highest form of Human Intelligence.
Follow these steps to Get Out of ‘Busy Mode’ and ‘Become UnBusy’:
1. Journal your to-do list or use calendar to accommodate a schedule: It takes exactly 2 minutes to write down what you must do in a day, take a glimpse of it at night to evaluate the list. I guarantee by the 7th day of the week, you will experience the completion of each task if you had written in the morning. Our schedules are determined by us, and it is simply a matter of choice. “Take care of minutes and hours will take care of themselves”-Earl of Chesterfield
2. Wake up 1 hour earlier to fit in a morning ritual: Robin Sharma Nation teaches a principle of 20-20-20 rule which means 20 minutes of meditation, 20 minutes of physical movement and 20 minutes of reading/writing your goals or to-do list/working on a project. This ritual pumps up your dopamine which boosts your brain functionality. “As you live your mornings, you craft your day.”
3. Revisit your priorities regularly: Being busy is about misplaced priorities. Understand the difference between what is important vs. what is urgent to you, this will help you become more intentional with your priorities and pursuits in life. “Not everything needs to be done right away.”
4. Make your obsessions as your possessions: Own fewer possessions as everything own takes up far more physical and mental energy than we realize. Own your obsessions rather which I guarantee won’t drain you but it will drive your potential. “The best things in life are not things.”
5. Schedule and Guard your Rest Day: Rest is equally important as hustling is to keep thriving to live the life you’ve always dreamt of. Recognise the value of rest as it stimulates your mind, body, and soul to give life to your life after every ride. “Most of the things we need to be most fully alive never come in busyness. They grow in rest”- Mark Buchanan
6. Say No more often: Usage of the word “no” to less important commitments opens your life to pursue the most important. The power of No is equivalent to experiencing the freedom to must-do things you love. “It’s easier to take back a no than take back a Yes.”
It is challenging to act on these steps. But, the real thrill is to make a choice, cultivate space in your daily routine, practice minimalism and to invest thoroughly in Solitude.
You are your greatest asset. Be wise to leverage the asset no one else can empower you with.
“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt
A full life is not a busy life! Period