The Culture of Busy-ness

Even as I begin to share these words, my soul is cringing. Mostly because I feel like a hypocrite. I know that friends and family will begin to read these words and potentially laugh, because, well, I am known for always going and doing, not stopping and resting.

And then I remember, that I’m still learning too, and this, this is something that I want to learn now, not years down the road.

I recently came across this beautiful reminder about there only being 90 days left in the year of 2019, which meant only 90 days left in this decade. It kind of spooked me if I’m being honest. How has this past decade almost come to an end already? How is that I’m gearing closer to the third decade of life already?

Before I even begin answering those questions, or looking more deeply at them, I was bombarded with a hashtag that seemed to be everywhere on social media. This hashtag is #90DayChallenge, #hustle, #busylife and it seemed to be about how these last 90 days were the best time to solely focus on your dreams and goals and make them become a reality.

How these last 90 days should be busy.

Don’t get me wrong; I’ve fallen into the glamorous trap of a busy lifestyle! Don’t worry, I’m not immune to it: the beauty and mystery of living a purposeful life. One that is packed to the second with meetings, work, seeing those you love, working towards making your dream become a reality.

But, what would happen to our days if we stopped idolizing it? What would happen to our lives if we stopped encouraging, celebrating, and vying for the busiest life?

What if we actually got back to living our each and every day with purpose to be present rather than living each and every day with the mindset of “getting sh*t done”?

Forbes: The key to getting on top of your work is getting on top of your to do list- GETTY

Now, please don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about not having goals or dreams you are working towards; I’m talking about the intoxication of idolizing those dreams and goals and nothing else.

I think it’s toxic and I think we need to get away from it.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having dreams and goals we are working towards, I think they are incredibly important and help us from becoming stagnant. What I’m talking about is this way of living that makes us so busy, so narrow focused that we forget everything else around. The way of living that doesn’t allow for any movement in our days. The way of living that doesn’t allow us to check in with dear friends and loved ones. The way of living that makes our souls feels purposeless when we aren’t busy and working.

This is the toxic lifestyle that I am working to get away from. It’s not easy. It’s ingrained in my body and mind that if I am not moving and working, then I am lazy. Which isn’t true. It’s ingrained in our culture that if we’re not sacrificing for our dreams and our goals we’re not really working towards them. Which is a lie. It’s become such a constant commentary that if we’re not going all in and only focusing on those dreams and goals that we don’t care about them and aren’t driven. Which is SO untrue.

This way of living busy and hustling to make our dreams become a reality has changed the narrative of our lives for far too long, and I am seeking to change it back. I am working to change my mindset that if I am not working and not busy, that is wonderful. I am working on making sure my days do not need to be packed to the brim anymore because I want, and my soul needs, to breathe more and have flexibility. I am working on making sure my friends and family are a priority and no longer something that I pencil in weeks down the road. I am making sure that my days are filled with purpose even when it seems like my days are only about completing tasks. I am working on retraining my brain to realize that rest is something that I need daily, not just when I’m burnt out.

This is the way of living that I want to continue seeking. I am sure some seasons will come in and my life will be busy again, but in that busy-ness, I want to make sure that my heart is filled with focusing on the reason behind my busy.

I challenge you to ask yourself, to really look at your schedule and ask, “What am I filling my days with? Why I am busy today?”

Is it because you’re challenging yourself to complete a task in the next 30 days? Is it because you have a big project you need to complete at work? Is it because you’re working on making your dreams come true? Is this just for a season, or has the season been lasting too long?

What is the real reason behind your hustle and bustle? Is it because it’s ingrained in you to be so because of this culture of busy-ness?

As for me, I’ll be taking some time to reflect on these questions as well, and I hope and pray that I find the answers, and when I find the ones that reflect the culture of busy-ness, I hope and pray that I can change my schedule around and reprioritize my reasons for being “busy”.