Comments on: Busy is Not A Badge of Honor

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 02:48:41 +0000

Thank you for sharing this piece and your introspection. I’ve learned that underneath the glorification of “being busy”, I am a human who loves spending hours alone in nature, who can enjoy my own company and that of others, and exactly how empty my life feels while being “busy”.
I was in a career and job that worshiped this-it took the clarity of chronic fatigue and my health starting to suffer in order to wake up. I quit my job and realize I will have to incorporate boundaries and be honest with myself and others with whatever is next-it’s really worth it to ask one’s self these questions thank you!!

By: Pauline

Pauline — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 22:53:29 +0000

Beautiful essay and message, Kate. Thank you for sharing!

Practicing self-care, particularly as a woman of color and as a new working mother, is now an essential priority for me. I’m interested in self-care that goes beyond the commercialized and shallow definitions of self-care (i.e. massages, manicures, a yoga class, etc), but exploring a more nuanced and transformative type of self-care. Some of those practices include learning how to say no and redefining the boundaries of my relationships to others, learning how to give from a place of abundance and joy and not from a “should.” For me, self-care has become tied to self-love and acknowledging my worth. It’s telling myself that “I am enough as I am” and not basing my worth on what I do or do for others. Thank you for keeping this conversation going! Best, Pauline

By: Megan

Megan — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 15:47:57 +0000

I make sure one Saturday a month I don’t do anything. I tell myself whatever is pending can wait, it’s hard & takes practice but it’s worth It. I’ve learned that I am capable of surviving even though everything isn’t complete.

By: Jack

Jack — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 16:48:12 +0000

who I am without the doing? There are so many things that lie beyond the surface, at least I like to think there are, of what I do. I’ve always thought the actions and the busy work were something that made me who I am. I guess I am still trying to figure that out everyday. In short, I like to believe I am someone that tries, that cares deeply, that has had a lot of failures, I am someone, who is growing still.

I loved this article— Thank you!

By: Amie Balthazor

Amie Balthazor — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 05:06:09 +0000

“Who are you without the doing?” A powerful and brave question! A few years ago after my daughter was born, my manager at the time asked me what my passions were. And I couldn’t answer her because I didn’t have any. I was droning and hustling at my corporate job, going home and going through the motions. I wasn’t very passionate about any of it. It took a lot of time with myself and introspecting, and I revisited things that used to give me joy when I was a kid, like writing, poetry, history, music, and embracing curiousity. And to lean into these things with no expectations – to not label them as things to keep me “busy” – then I felt welcome to them again. And now I can eagerly and enthusiastically list my passions ☺️ The real “me” underneath it all.
This quiet time with yourself is essential to revealing the ‘you’ underneath the doing. It’s easy and natural for us introverted types – and now I crave it like air!

By: Megan McCarty

Megan McCarty — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 23:38:59 +0000

I love this! When I look at my life – I see that it is busy – work, husband, daughter, dogs, workout, girlfriends, home, cook, bathe. The days are full – with good things. I know that I enjoy all of it. Productivity and accomplishment feel good to me. But I also crave simplicity. To find that simplicity, I’ve focused on a few things:
1. Get up early and take it slow. First, coffee. Make a real breakfast. Get dressed last. I used to love to worry about every detail of my outfit but now my priority is actually enjoying my cup of coffee while its warm.
2. Give all my attention to my daughter when I first get home from work. I may want to decompress from work with a snack or some instagram, but it never feels as good as hugs and playdough creations.
3. Say no – even if it sounds like fun. Like trivia with friends tonight when I still have to unpack from vacation and my in-laws are coming for the holiday tomorrow.
Without the doing, I find a more confident version of myself. Someone who believes in and trusts herself, who lets the opinions, thoughts, and words of others just pass on by. Someone who processes, delights, finds gratitude – instead of someone who just reacts.

By: Suzan

Suzan — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 22:53:15 +0000

Why was “no pain no gain” ever a mantra to success?? The battle for who’s first in the all in game is exhausting. I’ve been a willing participant all my life. Missed birthdays and weddings, too busy. Actually, I never married as I was too busy to bother with that! Would I have done it differently? I don’t know. Being older is a horse halter with a big WHOA Girrrl! You’re not going to take me that fast and hard down this path again. But then I’m bored…..I started playing a game app of Wordscapes. Must. Keep. Mind. Racing. I’m so over myself. Thanks for sharing, I also enjoyed your piece related to this about giving birth and working so you could relax to have a baby. You do many things well. And that’s enough! I need a needlepoint pillow of this saying. I’m too chicken for a tattoo. AND! I don’t have time!!!

By: Anna

Anna — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 20:55:05 +0000

Very much enjoyed this essay. I can relate. Thank you for writing it!

By: Teresa

Teresa — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 20:03:35 +0000

I love being busy, it gives me energy. But being busy for the sake of being busy is a concept I hadn’t even realized until I moved to London. There everybody seemed to be so busy 24/7… And not in a good way: looking haggered af while running around like headless chicken, and jumping and shouting in their expensive suits on the metro platform when they missed a train when the next one’s 2 minutes away. When it came to the point that I found myself running for no reason – I wasn’t late or anything, but everybody around me was running so unconsciously I did too – I decided that’s it. Even if I’m late it isn’t worth getting caught up in the mess that all these people are caught up in. From then on I’ve paid extra attention to the speed I walk, never run 😉

Teresa | outlandishblog.com

By: Mykki

Mykki — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 19:33:17 +0000

“When you remove what your work reflects to OTHERS, you have more room to explore the why behind the doing.” – Now that was a powerful statement!

As an introvert, there’s always something firing in my brain. Even if I don’t outwardly look like it, I’m usually quite busy overthinking and over-planning things that, honestly, probably don’t require all that much thought.

Meditation has helped me learn to slow down and just breathe – in all areas of my life. I’ve come to relish the stillness that comes with it, the ability to simply be in that moment and let that be enough.

It’s still hard to check out sometimes though, but that’s why I keep doing the meditation thing. I know it will feel more natural with time.

By: Let’s Get Real: Busyness – The Defiant Romantic

Let’s Get Real: Busyness – The Defiant Romantic — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 17:53:56 +0000

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