Mistaking Busyness for Progress

Are You Truly Making Progress or Just Staying Busy?

 “Business” or “Busyness”? How often have you responded with "really busy" when asked about your day? It's easy to mistake activity for progress, filling our hours with tasks that make us feel productive without truly moving us closer to our goals.

 The word "business" itself stems from the Old English "bisignes," meaning "care, anxiety, occupation" which derived from bisig “careful, anxious, busy, occupied, diligent”.

 True progress should be measured by tangible outcomes aligned with clear objectives, achieved as efficiently as possible. As my former manager wisely advised, "It's not the hours you put in, but what you put into the hours that counts."

Unconsciously, we may gravitate towards tasks we enjoy while avoiding less pleasant ones, jeopardizing our focus. It takes discipline to prioritize high-impact activities over mere busyness.

Next time you review your schedule, ask yourself: Am I devoting my valuable time and effort to the most important steps toward my goals? If you need guidance, Greg McKeown's "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Doing Less" offers valuable insights.

Cultivate the habit of mindful productivity, ensuring your actions align with your aspirations. Busyness is easy; progress requires intention and focus.