I might get some flack for this one but I think it needs to be addressed and in the forefront of our minds much more often.We're not THAT Busy...
Sporting practices and games, musical rehearsals and productions, running, weight lifting, debating, teaching, dating, birthdays, dentist appointments, getting involved in the community, service opportunities... I know. The list could seriously go on forever!
For most of us, it starts slowly and builds over time. Before we know it, we're not sure when we will find time to brush our teeth. Eeek! We find ourselves in a constant state of running around like chickens with their heads cut off, not really present in anything we are "doing." Not good.
Like sleep, busyness is another area of modern culture that I don't really understand. It seems like we must get a lot of satisfaction in telling others about how crazy our lives are and just how much we can accomplish in a day. We brag in this way, similar to how we brag about how little sleep we get too. Maybe it gives us a sense of validation in our effort to do things...? I don't think less sleep and more busyness are generally good things, at least not for a healthy body.
Full(filled) or Busy?
I am not saying that we should do nothing and be bored or idle all the time. I have certainly over-filled my schedule before and have praised the busyness of others but it is becoming more of a thing of the past for me. The more I learn about stress and the negative impacts it has on the body, the less I think shoving our lives full of "stuff" to do, is a good idea.
To be clear, there is a BIG difference between a "full" and a busy life. Life can definitely be full without being out of control. Also, it is not necessarily a fulfilling life, just because it is busy. Still with me? There will be times and seasons in our lives where it is more busy than others; but do we get too carried away, with super busy becoming our "new norm?"
Stop and Evaluate
Most of the activities we have filling our days are good things. I am not here to tell you to stop doing the things you love and enjoy. But I am encouraging you to take the time to stop and evaluate whether or not the activities filling your day are meaningful (to you) and adding value to your life.
Do you ever find yourself so busy that you didn't notice your child, significant other, or friend is sick, needs some attention, or help?
Are you ever too busy to eat at the table together, let alone cook a meal or be present while eating, to notice if you're full and how the foods make you feel?
Does sleep make the bottom of the priority list compared to everything else you are doing?
Do you have any time left to in your day to spend with those you love or are you just too fired and so "vegging out" on your smart phone or through watching TV takes priority?
Have you taken the time today or even this week to notice the beauty outside, soak in some sunshine and unplug from the overstimulating world we live in?
Have you had a time where your body was telling you that it needed rest and recovery and instead, you pushed through it?
Like I said before, there is no intention of guilting anyone here but simply an invitation to stop and evaluate. How would you rate your "busyness" on a scale of 1-10? What are you doing to focus on the things most fulfilling to you?
