Busy work vs Busyness

Busy Work:

Work that keeps a person occupied but doesn't have little value in itself. Sometimes people keep themselves busy when they avoiding something. I know I do it all the time then realize I am doing it and go OMG I need to clean the bathroom how did I get so involved in this video game. LOL

I tend to procrastinate when I don't want to do something, like my taxes! Whether it's confront someone about an issue in my life, or do work that I do not know how to do! You need to work on achieving what I call Mental Energy! Take time to psyche yourself up, give yourself a PEP talk! Then take that item that you are procrastinating on and just deal with. Channel that good energy!

Great words to use instead of "busy"

1) Tied up - being so tied up in a project you don't notice things.

2) Occupied - Dealing with new things.

3) Overstretched - When you are so busy you feel stretched.

4) Over-extended - you have extended yourself 

5) Overloaded - you are feeling the weight of your overloaded

6) Swamped - 

7) Snowed Under 

Things to help you deal with busy work

1) Take a project and break it into batches 

2) Change the scenery it might make the project easier

3) When you feel overwhelmed say "NO"

How can you reduce Busy work?

1.) Leave the "busy" mentality behind.

2.) Make sure everyone is on the same page.

3. Write down your responsibilities and review tasks.

4. Use software to track projects.

5. Take some time off & refocus.

What is Busyness

State or condition of having a great deal to do. It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of a day or life. 

How to balance Busyness

One of the biggest complaints about living in modern society is that of being overscheduled, overcommitted and overextended. Too much of the time, most people find themselves burdened, anxious and frustrated by the demands of an ordinary day. 

Take time to relax and calm your mind. When we are so busy we tend to forget the little things in life. To smell the flowers, watch a sunset and feel the breeze on our cheeks. Instead of dealing with issues and taking on more to keep us "busy" we should take our feelings and deal with them.

Learn to manage personal expectations don't put so much pressure on yourself to "solve it" instantly. We live in a society that has to solve things instantly, receive answers instantly or items instantly. We never take the time and let things happen like they are supposed to. Society has become Total Control Freaks. 

Sometimes you need to leave the environment that you are in and give yourself another view. It will clean your mind, settle your heart and encourage clarity. Be creative with your time, explore all your options. 

Don't be afraid to think out of the box, play more, be adventurous, do things you have only dreamed of. 

The Mental Health Benefit of Doing NOTHING!!

Set aside that to-do list and focus on being, not doing, for better mental and physical health.

The very idea of doing nothing is terrifying and intolerable to some, a situation to be avoided at all cost. I'd been striving all my life. Back in the day, accomplishing my goals required herculean effort — or sneaking in a back door entrance. I found myself extoling the virtues of doing absolutely nothing, or close to it — at least a little every day. Though it sounds counterintuitive, I learned that letting go of everything, even for a short time, has mental health benefits. It's so tempting to get involved into all kinds of activities long beyond reach, but you might want to consider some moments of doing absolutely nothing

If that idea makes your heart skip a beat, you're not alone. Some of us don't want such an intensely uncomfortable experience or can't push through and are paralyzed or incapacitated by discomfort. Let's pause at this point, so I can define anxiety and explain some down-to-earth ways to address the subject, at least from this psychologist's point of view. Addressing your anxiety will help you attempt the practice of doing nothing. 

Don't be anxious about doing nothing. Simply stated, anxiety is an emotion characterized by fear which has some predictable effects on our physiology.

If you are a worrier, then you know that your thoughts can go down dark alleys that make your heart beat too fast. Or you may feel tension in your body before you even realize that you are imagining a catastrophic outcome to some person, or an event soon to take place. When your worries precede an experience it is known as anticipatory anxiety and is likely to cause some physiological effects like dry mouth or sweating; it is actually quite common when you need to perform, like on a test, or while giving a talk, or engaging in a sport competition.

Some of us are more prone to calamitous thinking but all of us worry from time to time. This is quite normal but when nervousness interferes with your daily life,  your work or your relationships, it's more serious and may need some professional attention.

Keep in mind that embracing the practice of doing nothing may create some discomfort because it's such an anathema to the way of life we've embraced for so many decades — unrelenting jobs big and small, and the obligations that come with being a responsible member of society.

3 Ways to Decrease Distress

Here are 3 ways you can use to decrease distress when you take on the counterintuitive task of doing nothing:

1.) Remind yourself that you can stop what you're doing (or not doing, as it were) and resume normal activity anytime you want — but wait a few minutes before you do to see if the concern passes.

2.) Stay with your plan and intention to do nothing but breathe slowly to calm down any jitters. Start with a slow and long out breath and then an in-breath as deeply as is comfortable. Continue this way of breathing for at least one minute. Mindful breathing is an effective strategy that can be applied to all anxiety symptoms.

3.) If your comfort level hasn’t improved, ground yourself in the here and now. Look around you at four objects that are familiar and pleasant. Listen for three familiar sounds, maybe the hum of a fan or refrigerator, birds chirping, dishwasher running, and so forth. Find two objects that are soothing to the touch and stroke them — like a blanket, a sweater, a pet, a warm wet washcloth. Nurturing any of your senses lends a sense of calmness.

"Beware the barrenness of a busy life." - Socrates