We live in a culture that values busyness. We're constantly bombarded with messages telling us we need to be more productive, efficient, and accomplished. But what if busyness isn't a sign of productivity or success? What if it's a form of moral laziness?
The idea that busyness is moral laziness is not a new one. The Desert Fathers, a group of early Christian monks, were known for their belief that busyness was a way of avoiding the hard work of spiritual growth. They believed that when we're constantly busy, we don't have time to focus on the things that really matter, like prayer, meditation, and relationships.
There are a few reasons why busyness can be seen as a form of moral laziness. First, busyness can be a way of avoiding our true selves. We don't have time to sit with our thoughts and feelings when we're constantly busy. We don't have time to ask ourselves the hard questions about our lives. We don't have time to deal with our pain and our fears.
Second, busyness can be a way of avoiding our relationships. When we're constantly busy, we don't have time to be present with the people we care about. We don't have time to listen to them. We don't have time to support them. We don't have time to love them.
Third, busyness can be a way of avoiding our responsibilities. When we're constantly busy, we don't have time to care for our bodies, minds, and souls. We don't have time to cook healthy meals. We don't have time to exercise. We don't have time to meditate or pray.
So, what's the alternative to busyness that starts to press into moral laziness? Is it possible to be productive and successful without being so busy that we avoid ourselves, relationships, and responsibilities? We believe it is. We believe there is just enough time to do what we need to do moment by moment to respond to and to be present with the people, gifts, and responsibilities in our lives.
Of course, this doesn't mean that we'll never be busy. There will be times when we have a lot to do. But the key is to keep busyness from becoming our default setting, which causes us to neglect ourselves, the people, and the world around us. The key is to be intentional about our time. The key is to choose to lean into the good tension of proactively working on sorting, prioritizing, and attending to all the gifts, relationships, and experiences that make this human experience and journey impactful and meaningful.
How to Break the Cycle of Busyness Gone To Far
If you're ready to break the cycle of busyness, here are a few things you can do:
Start by asking yourself why you're so busy. What are you trying to achieve by being so busy? Are you trying to impress people? Are you trying to avoid your problems? Once you understand your motivations, you can start to make changes.
Learn To Say No. It's okay to say no to invitations, requests, and commitments. You don't have to do everything that comes your way.
Prioritize Your Time And Efforts. Decide what's most important to facilitating your self-actualization and caring for the gifts - friends, family, mind, body, and spirit - that surround you. This is and will always be a challenging both worthwhile task.
Take Care of Yourself. Ensure you get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and exercise regularly. When you take care of yourself, you're honoring and attending to the only body you'll have to carry you through this human journey.
Be Present. When you're with people, be present with them. Put away your phone and give them your full attention.
Meditate or Pray. Taking time each day to meditate or pray can help you slow down and be more mindful of your time and where you ought to place effort.
Breaking the cycle of negative busyness takes time and effort, but it's worth it. At The Conduit, we understand busyness, but we also know that that busyness cannot supersede our responsibility to serve, care for, and come alongside our members.
