We’re about to start our Little Black Dress Project!!

—> Click HERE to find out more! <—-

______________________________________________________________________

This morning I read an article that really inspired me. 

In fact, it stuck with me enough to change the topic of the Challenge of the Week that I already had planned.

The article is called “The Busy Trap” by Tim Krieder and I have to admit that I’m guilty of it occasionally.

The first paragraph reeled me in:

“It’s become the default response when you ask anyone how they’re doing: “Busy!” “So busy.” “Crazy busy.” It is, pretty obviously, a boast disguised as a complaint. And the stock response is a kind of congratulation: “That’s a good problem to have,” or “Better than the opposite.”

A lot of the time, when people ask me how I am doing, I say things are “Crazy busy!”  Guilty Offense #1.

Tim then goes on to describe what most people call “busy” is filling up their day with extra “self-imposed” activities, work, classes, and jam packing their schedule so full, that “down-time” is nowhere in sight and we end up completely EXHAUSTED.

I like to think that everything I commit my time to has purpose, intention, and is in line with filling my personal mission.

My personal issue however, is always trying to get “it” done RIGHT NOW.

In fact, Tim says “They feel anxious and guilty when they aren’t either working or doing something to promote their work.”  Guilty Offense #2.

Even last night, when I was watching True Blood (one of the most ridiculous shows ever made, but am completely hooked- thanks Erin & Liezl) I had my laptop open and was answering emails.

I really LOVE what I do and could never imagine doing anything else, so the extra time I spend working when I should be having my “down-time” never bothers me. 

But, I sometimes do have the occasional urge to throw my laptop out the window.

As a commitment to this Challenge of the Week, I am going to take a hard look at my schedule and see where I can trim the fat. 

It’s important to remember that it’s OK to do NOTHING sometimes.

“The space and quiet that idleness provides is a necessary condition for standing back from life and seeing it whole, for making unexpected connections and waiting for the wild summer lightning strikes of inspiration — it is, paradoxically, necessary to getting any work done.”

So…..after reading this article, my challenge of the week for YOU, is to REALLY analyze everything you are doing.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Is what I am doing really necessary and I am doing it efficiently, or I am just being “busy”?
• Is it moving me forward in a personal or professional way?
• Does this really make me happy?

If you answered NO to any of those questions, then you may want think twice about keeping it on your schedule or even outsourcing the task if possible.

Now, we can’t ALWAYS be doing everything we want every minute of the day, but we can be more aware of how we are spending our time.

Once we actually become AWARE of how we spend our time, we can make a CHOICE on HOW we spend it

I would HIGHLY recommend reading the original article —->  Click HERE for Tim’s Article <—–

You might not have every single characteristic that the article describes, but certain parts of it will resonate with you and cause you to think about your own “busy” life.

If you’re not too busy, make sure to leave a comment below if YOU are committed to this week’s CHALLENGE!!!!