How to Stop Wearing Your Busy Badge

Emma O'Connell
Being busy for the sake of being busy is not going to get you where you want to go. You need to slow down and take a step back. We need to start accepting that taking time off is OK. The world won’t end, you’re business won’t collapse, social media will still be there.

The problem is when you fill your schedule up with busy work, you feel more valuable. Society has placed a greater value on being busy, because busy means productive and productive means worthy. I mean that’s what our ego tells us, so it must be true. Mustn’t it? But that is in actual fact a load of bullshit.
When you see other coaches and consultants produce a load of content, showing up everyday on instagram stories, hustling hard, winning, with loads of clients and a 6 figure business, you feel the pressure to do more, work more hours and then you hope that all of that will turn into greater results. But being busy just means you are being unproductive.
Being busy is impacting on your wellbeing
You are left scattered, lacking focus, mentally and physically exhausted and stressed AF.
You are not super woman. So stop acting like her.
You need to slow down and take a step back. We need to start accepting that taking time off is OK. The world won’t end, you’re business won’t collapse, social media will still be there. Honestly!

You are not superwoman. Stop acting like her.
For us as women, the best time to really slow down and take stock of our lives is during our inner Autumn and our inner Winter phases of the menstrual cycle, this is also know as the luteal phase (which lasts approx. 12-14 days) and happens immediately after ovulation and the menstruation phase. During this time, our critic and ego is at her most vocal, so instead of listening to her and just pushing through trying to find the energy you had a week ago (trust me, you won’t and you can’t, its hormonal), take the time to slow down and really listen to what she has to say. There is great wisdom in it, but you need to honour these phases and their request to slow TF down. Be more intentional with the things you spend your time doing.
If you don’t slow down and take some time to nourish yourself, turn inward, rest and restore your energy, you’ll just keep spinning around the ‘busy’ wheel until suddenly you collapse from burnout and that is not a place you want to be.
Busyness is procrastination in sheeps clothing
I should know, I used to be the champion of procrastination!
You see, we often use being busy as an excuse because we are stalling. Stopping ourselves from doing what we really want to do, something that is going to add REAL value.
Be honest with yourself, do you go to bed late too many times in a week? Do you spend far too much time scrolling through social media? Perhaps you spend your evenings binging on Netflix? How often do you say ‘yes’ to meaningless activities that just eat up your precious time? Do you keep putting things off because you are too tired?
I am guilty of all these things. I’m not perfect, I get sucked in to busy work every now and again. And this is exactly why being aware of how you spend your time is the first step to making a change and creating a more balanced life. Start by saying NO a lot more. Only say yes to the things that REALLY matter, that LIGHT YOU UP.
Simplify, SIMPLIFY and then simplify some more
When we are constantly busy, it’s because things just aren’t working. We are saying yes to too many things, taking on too many projects, trying to do all the things and lacking structure in our lives and business.
It’s time to look at simplifying. Simplify your life by decluttering your workspace, your office, your bedroom, your house, your life! Get rid of the stuff that Marie Kondo says no longer “sparks joy”.
Simplify your business by doing the same – decluttering. Clear out your digital files, take the time to create and document your systems and processes, relook look at the million programmes and courses you offer and scale them back.
There is beauty in simplicity. Own it.
How you spend your time and energy starts and ends with you. What are you going to do today to stop some of the busy work and make a step towards creating a better balance? If you need some help and support, come and joined like-minded ambitious females over in the Facebook Group.
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