Let’s drop in on a commonly overheard (hypothetical) conversation…

Person 1: What’s up! How are you?

Person 2: Hey! Oh man, so busy. How about you?

Person 1: Dude, same. So busy, I feel like I barely have time to eat! *laughs*

Person 2: *laughs*

Or how about this one…

Person 1: Woah, hey! Long time no see! Haven’t seen you at the gym in forever. How’ve you been?

Person 2: Hey! Been good -- super busy. Between work, the kids’ schedules, and then travelling for a few weekends, I haven’t had time to make it to the gym. I feel so fat and out of shape! *laughs*

Person 1: *laughs* Oh man, I’m right there with you! (Insert season here) is always so busy!

Person 2: Seriously!

We have, perhaps, an unhealthy obsession with “busy” (and I’m as guilty as anyone). The unspoken agreement is that if you’re busy, you are obviously productive, valuable to the world, and spending your time well. After all, isn’t that the American dream -- to busy your way to success?

Now, I wouldn’t presume that anyone in the above conversation is lying about their full schedule. I know for a fact that many people who claim to be busy are in fact very busy, working 13 hour days, caring for children, squeezing in precious family time, traveling, etc. It is incredible how much people are capable of doing in a day. (I also know that there are plenty of folks who do plant their flag in the claim of “busy” and meanwhile spend 2.5 hours of their day arguing about politics on Facebook, but that’s another story).

But the legitimacy of being busy is exactly the problem -- “busy” becomes an easily defensible position -- a justifiable diversion. Busy lets you off the hook and permits you to not push your limits.

If you’re familiar with the Covey Time Management Grid, it is a simple way to organize the demands and goals in your life.

It consists of a four-squared grid: 1) urgent & important; 2) not urgent, but important; 3) urgent, but not important; and 4) not urgent & not important.

“Busy” tends to take hold of quadrants 1, 3, and often 4.

Meanwhile, quadrant 2 is the fatality of the busy life. And what’s most tragic is what quadrant 2 often contains: personal development, important relationships, self-care, projects, quality time, and maybe even your dream life.

Realize it or not, you use busy as a preemptive defense mechanism. It is your innoculation against the hard questions and against daring greatly into those important but not urgent things in your life. It is your way of saying “I’m trying really hard, so just let me off the hook, okay?” before the question of where you’re headed in life even comes up.

I’m sure you’re busy, but is that really where you want to plant your flag?

- PS

9/7/18

• For time:

• 50 burpees

Then...

• 3 rounds for quality:

• 30’ handstand walk

• 15 toes-to-bar

• 15 C2B pull-ups