Busy, Busy, Busy
Inevitably when we meet up with colleagues and ask how they are doing, we hear the response, “busy.” We all grew up learning to be efficient and effective. To be most productive. To cram the most work and living in the smallest time frame possible. Busy has become a new way of being. Busy has become a badge of honor.
Yet we wonder what is underneath busy. Somehow in our society, our self-image has gotten wrapped up in being busy, even creating an unintended bias toward people who do not appear busy. But, as we all know, there is a very big difference between doing things and producing results. And a difference between being busy and doing meaningful work in a way that makes a powerful contribution.
A whirlwind of busy-ness may completely miss the mark. Busy is just having more to do than there is time to do it all. The fact is it’s all important. The simple answer is deciding what is most important — just prioritizing — as a path to be less busy and do what makes the most difference. Somehow this only works for a while. We reset and then other important things creep in, and we are busy all over again.
The answer may be in just deciding to be less busy. To work less. Both of us have experienced times in our lives where we had to fix our daily “stop work” time in order to catch a train or be home for family. Somehow knowing the end time caused us to prioritize our work and use our time efficiently. Limiting work time not only creates work/life benefits, but it also increases open communication with colleagues, enhances learning and development, and improved quality of work (see https://hbr.org/2009/10/making-time-off-predictable-and-required). Bottom line, working less means working better.
Every day, at least for a bit, go slow on purpose. Walk into your workplace leisurely, type that email slowly, answer that question unhurriedly. Slowing down will bring some clarity into your thinking. And clear thinking is the key to forward momentum.
Let us change our answers to how are you from “busy” to “enjoyably doing meaningful work that is making a difference.”
About the Authors
Pam Thompson MS, RN, FAAN is the CEO Emeritus of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, formerly AONE. During the same time, 2000–2016, she was the Senior VP of Nursing for the American Hospital Association. After retiring in 2017, she now serves as a healthcare consultant and volunteer board member and trustee for several healthcare entities.
Marla Weston PhD, RN, FAAN is the past CEO of the American Nurses Association Enterprise which included the American Nurses Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center and American Nurses Foundation, serving from 2009 to 2018. She now is a consultant and facilitator in leadership development, organizational strategy and growth, and future trends.
