The 7 types of busy: How to disentangle yourself from doing too much

Emma Grey is the author of ‘Wits’ End Before Breakfast! Confessions of a Working Mum’ (Lothian, 2005) and Director of WorkLifeBliss.  www.worklifebliss.com.au

Frantic?  Can't possibly take anything out of your schedule?  Modern life is flat out, and that's that. 

Or is it?

Have a look through the following 'types' of busy (some of which are adapted from an article by Soul Sisters Empowerment Groups), and see if you can identify your own style.

'Badge-of-honour' Busy

Being busy equals being significant.  Keeping your schedule jam-packed keeps you as important as everyone else - it's how you create your worth.

People say, 'I don't know how you do it!' (and secretly, you love hearing that).  The truth is, though, you don't know how you do it either - or even if you want to...

'Nobody does this as well as I do' Busy

You'd like to cut things out of your schedule, but you'd probably end up doing them anyway, because nobody else does things 'properly'.

You're the only one who can complete all that is expected of you at work and at home.  Well, technically others could probably do it, but would they do it well enough?

'Running away' Busy

There is something big that you really should attend to: perhaps it's an unhappy relationship or an unrewarding job.

Instead of tackling what should be first on your list, you fill your diary with unnecessary tasks so that you 'don't have time' to face the important stuff.  You could go on like this indefinitely...

'Comfort zone' Busy

There's something you'd love to try - a new hobby, online dating, a promotion at work - but it's a big step and you're scared.  What if it doesn't work out?

Staying busy keeps you in your comfort zone and protects you from taking the risk.

'People pleaser' Busy

You have a need to be liked.  'Yes' comes out of your mouth before you even consider an alternative response.  What if you say 'no' and they don't like you as much?

Is it easier and safer just to take the request on?  YES!  You'll do it!

'Scatty' Busy

You're disorganised at home and at work.  You spend a huge amount of time looking for things that you've misplaced.  You're regularly late for appointments.  You leave everything til the last minute.

Your lack of organisation creates chaos and manufactures extra work.

'Scared to ask' Busy

You're not sure you understand the task.  Rather than seek clarification, you go to enormous lengths to try to work it out yourself.

You're scared of asking 'silly questions' and choose to complicate your life in an effort to avoid these.

Think of the last five roles or responsibilities that you said 'yes' to, even if you didn’t really want to.

What was the motivation in each case?  (Tip: if your answer is 'I couldn't avoid it - I just had to take it on', then search a bit deeper.)

Uncovering your motivation to stay so over-burdened is the first step in untangling yourself from a life that is 'busy' ... and creating in its place a life that is 'full'.

And what a difference that makes.

Emma Grey from www.worklifebliss.com.au is the author of a new eBook on The 7 Types of Busy.