Two weeks ago, you wondered if you were too busy.

So, we looked at certain myths and lies tied to the notion of “being busy.”

How busy is a subjective attitude, not a defined state of being.

How busy, for many, has come to imply importance and value. (Which makes it hard to quit.)

How busy is a title that is earned for work—certain kinds of work—that reflect cultural values.

Also, I told you:

if you feel too busy, you are.

But how do we take control of our schedules, if we feel this way?

How do we cure our chronically busy lives?

How not to be a victim of your own schedule

For those of you who talk about being busy like it is something that happened to you when you weren’t looking.

You have a hand in your own busyness.

Being busy isn’t something that happened to you.

Being busy is a statement, a descriptor, about the things you have on your plate–

–and how you feel about that workload. (For more, see “Are you too busy?”)

So, how to take charge of your schedule again?

Step 1

1.) Abandon the busy myths

As we talked about last week, there are several pernicious myths about being busy.

These fuel our overscheduled planners.

We feel lazy if we take breaks.

We feel fraudulent and work to overcompensate and fit in.

We feel out of control with our own schedules,

at the mercy of the things that “need doing.”

If you feel your worth is earned by what you do, not who you are,

you’ll constantly be stuck in the busy trap.

People pleasers are notorious for falling down this rabbit hole. That’s why we’re constantly doing, doing, doing.

To curry favor. To stockpile goodwill like it’s going out of style.

In order to take charge of your schedule, you must understand what’s fueling all of that work.

Is it a deep-seated desire to engage in those activities?

A matter of necessity?

A desire to prove oneself (and to whom?)

So, step 1: abandon the myths that idolize a busy lifestyle.

Abandon the notion that what you do is the most important measure of your worth.

Lose the idea that others get to size you up based on the contents of your planner.

Step 2

2.)   Live by your honest priorities

Which activities deserve your time?

If you’ve abandoned the priorities that say your worth is determined by your busyness, you’ve got to get in touch with your own personal values.

Busyness is much more tolerable, I imagine, if it is in service to things you care about.

(In which case, you probably don’t think of yourself as busy so much as fulfilled.)

So what do you care about?

You are in charge of your schedule. You have the same 24 hours in a day as anyone else.

How do you want to spend yours?

It’s your job to ask for help, to delegate, to decline.

To choose.

For help exploring & living by your priorities, try:

Ann’s homemade happy recipe—part 1

Ann’s homemade happy recipe—part 2

Ann’s homemade happy recipe—part 3

Step 3

3.) Spend time on what matters

Once you’ve clarified what matters, spend your time accordingly.

Walk the walk, one day at a time.

Where possible, delegate tasks that suck up your time.

For the irksome but necessary tasks you cannot delegate, practice swallowing frogs.

If you’re wanting to kindle your creative fire, try these simple practices.

And don’t forget the noble art of leaving things undone and enjoying some idle hours.

Do you get stuck in the busy trap? 

How do you stay true to your priorities? 

Please take a moment to share your thoughts in the comments.

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Last year:  I missed you!

Two years ago:  Seven traditions for growing your creativity.

Three years ago:  An account of a successful therapy.