I know you're busy, so I'll keep this short. You're probably too busy to read it properly anyway, so you'll skim it, get the juicy nuggets of information and discard the rest.
It's okay, I understand. I do that myself, as I too am a Very Busy Person or VBP. After all, I'm far too busy to be typing Very Busy Person out over and over, that's 14 characters, and 'ain't nobody got time for that'!
Busy, busy, busy. With a daily to do list a mile long.
It's stressful being a VBP because I don't get any downtime, and the time I do get I like to sleep because I am also a VTP (Very Tired Person).
Fun? Oh, I remember fun. It was...fun! But I am too busy for that now...
More...
We have labour saving devices, time saving computer programs, online shopping and convenient apps which free up time to enable us to... what?
How do you spend all this extra free time?
Well, you find more to do, because doing nothing is lazy and you were brought up to believe that lazy is bad.
After all, sloth is one of the 7 deadly sins, and the definition of sloth is: habitual disinclination to exertion; indolence; laziness. And 'The devil makes work for idle hands'.
So what use is lots of free time when we have been brought up to believe that the opposite of busy is lazy, and lazy is bad?
Maybe we should re-frame it, bring it up to date? After all, guilt is a massive buzzkill.
Let's celebrate the extra downtime we have
Use it to have fun. Kick up your heels. Find pleasure in life.
Isn't that what life is all about? The fun, the pleasure, the moments and memories we make, the friendships and relationships we build and maintain during our downtime, after the deeds of the day have been completed?
Instead of the opposite of busy being lazy, how about we use:
Busy // Relaxed
Work // Leisure
Duty // Recreation
That feel better, doesn't it?
Taking the 'guilt' out of 'guilty pleasure'.
Give yourself permission to stop, and use non busy time for leisure, fun, relaxation, pleasure, recreation, peace, quiet, respite. For 'me' time, for self care.
What do you do with your leisure time?
Hhmm.... what indeed...
Being busy serves a purpose:
- It makes you feel important
- It makes you feel useful
- It makes you feel indespensable
- It makes you feel needed
- It gives you a distraction
This is why the people pleasers of the world are very busy - it makes them feel all of these things.
But... distracted from what?
When you are no longer busy and allow yourself to be still, you will find out. And when you find out, you can act on it.
Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time
Don't know how to fill your leisure time?
Play isn't just for kids! But if you've been a VBP for a long time, you might be out of touch with your playful side.
So if you are constantly busy, make sure you also have leisure time, and that you use it well. Because stress reduction doesn't just involve relaxation, it also includes activity
Take my FREE 21 day Self Care Challenge, designed to kick start you into prioritizing your wellbeing and starting a regular self care habit.
Written assuming you're busy and on a budget, it's simple, highly effective and fun!