Beyond the Hustle: Choosing Presence Over Busy

Is "Busy" Your Identity? It's Time for a Change.

In today’s fast-paced world, “busy” has become a badge of honor, an identity we cling to as a measure of our worth. Social conversations often begin with how busy we are, as if productivity and long work hours are the ultimate benchmarks of success. However, this glorification of busyness can lead to burnout, stress, and dissatisfaction. So, what if we challenge this narrative? This week, let’s explore how we can actually accomplish more by doing less. Don’t believe me, keep reading. It isn’t really about your 12-15 hour work days; it’s about being intentional with your time and, more importantly, becoming comfortable with stillness.

Modern life has conditioned us to view busyness as synonymous with productivity, yet true productivity is less about quantity and more about the quality of our actions and intentions. Think of each task, each interaction, as part of a greater tapestry of your life. If I think back to those 12-15 hour work days, I’m not really sure what I accomplished. I mean at the end of the day, I could look back and check off items, but I couldn’t really remember where I made an intentional impact, where I was conscious of my contribution to my team, to the vision we were working to achieve. I can, however, tell you about the never-ending to-do list, my compulsive need to check and respond to emails 24/7 (um, remember last week when we talked about healthy boundaries), and the unintended consequence of my worthiness being associated with how busy I was and how much I accomplished.

So trust me when I say this isn’t something I take lightly, as being busy led to my burnout, and I’m on a mission to prevent that from being the reality for our AWARE Community! We all know that person who says, “I would love to, but…” and then proceeds to tell you how busy they are, why they can’t, and that maybe, someday, they could make it happen. Feel free to share this blog with that person, but before you do, I want to invite you to answer this question: if you looked in the mirror and were truly honest with yourself, might YOU be the person saying that to the people you care about the most?

I mean, no shame if you were brave enough to admit that you’ve said that a time or two; we’re all guilty of it. If you’re still with me, here’s your next question to consider…look at your calendar, is it full of things that leave you feeling joy, excitement, and a sense of fulfillment, or are those activities leaving you depleted, overwhelmed, and hustling for your worth? My calendar is full of truly rewarding activities and opportunities right now (including my work!) with plenty of time to be fully present with the people I love. Are you ready to start transforming your relationship with busyness?

Prioritize Downtime

The first step is to carve out intentional downtime in your schedule. Consider it as essential as your meetings and deadlines. Downtime isn’t wasted time; it’s an investment in your energy and clarity, it’s a time to refuel. You charge your phone, computer, and all the other devices in your life, right? Think of this time as the time to charge your inner battery. Begin by identifying non-negotiable time slots in your week dedicated solely to rest and relaxation. This could mean a quiet evening at home, a short walk in nature, or simply a few moments of solitude with a book. Here’s the thing, it doesn’t need to be hours and hours of time. Small actions over time can compound keeping your inner battery fully charged to show up and fully engage in your life. Ready to learn more strategies, let’s chat, as I would love to share my toolkit with you!

Explore and Embrace Stillness

Putting time on your calendar seems easy enough, right?!? Now, this step, (*deep breath*) this one was the hardest for me; I had to learn how to enjoy being alone with myself. If you think about it, you are the only person you get to spend your entire life with, and yet, you might be the person in your life you know the least. So, my challenge to you is to explore the richness of stillness. Stillness doesn’t mean doing nothing; it's a period of time where you can engage in reflection, meditation, or soak in the beauty of simply being present. This is your space to let thoughts pass without judgment and to reconnect with your inner self. Consider starting each day or winding down each evening with a few minutes of stillness. Focus on your breath, let your thoughts settle, and allow yourself to just be.

Carving out intentional time in the morning or at night is a great place to start. When you’re ready, start to incorporate these moments of stillness and mindfulness into your daily routine. Use brief, quiet moments to check in with yourself. Mindfulness can take many forms—from conscious breathing and gratitude journaling to creative pursuits that absorb your full attention. Mindfulness anchors you in the present moment, offering you those moments of stillness throughout the day, providing clarity, and aligning your actions with your true desires and beliefs.

The Impact of Embracing Stillness

Adopting this approach doesn’t mean abandoning ambition or neglecting responsibilities. Instead, it’s about harnessing your energy more effectively. Finding comfort in stillness allows you to recharge, leading to increased creativity, improved decision-making, and deeper connections with others. It cultivates clarity and purpose, ensuring that when you do take action, it’s done with intention and impact.

This approach also offers you an opportunity to reframe the identity you’ve built around busyness. Understand that your value is not tied to how much you do but to the depth with which you live your life. Your impact and worth aren’t calculated in hours filled, or tasks checked off but in the presence and authenticity you bring to every moment. Your well-being is the foundation from which all genuine success grows. This reframing begins with internal dialogue: remind yourself of your inherent worth and the lasting impact of your presence—beyond spreadsheets and start times.

Ultimately, the journey to change our relationship with busyness is personal and empowering. It encourages us to step back, reflect, and truly live our lives—not just go through the motions of being perpetually busy. Let this exploration bring a renewed sense of balance and fulfillment, knowing that sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is absolutely nothing at all.