Comments on: November Challenge: Does Being Busy Add to Your Life?

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:39:10 +0000

After living in Europe for 8 months now, I’ve really been a lot better about this. I think America definitely feeds the ‘busyness’ syndrome. I have never been too bad about it..but I definitely live better now. Everything means more and you feel the pleasure of getting something done (or doing something relaxing) more when you aren’t trying to jam several things in at once. It’s true that I have more time here since I don’t have a full time job, but I also feel like my time is spent more wisely. A big part of this is the HUGE decrease in shopping. What a time waster!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:11:10 +0000

I think it depends on what I am busy WITH. When I am busy with my work study job or a class I don’t like, I tend to get worn very easily and stressed. But when it is something that I am passionate about – when I feel like I am in my element – I think the busyness feeds me. Does that make sense?

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:38:43 +0000

Thanks for the great thoughts! I’ve noticed exactly what Katherine mentioned – when multi-tasking, I don’t seem to actually get more accomplished at the end of the day either.

So the challenge is finding what the time wasters are now, right? hmmm.
Katie

By: Jane @ the Borrowed Abode

Jane @ the Borrowed Abode — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:48:21 +0000

My life is always busy, but busy with things I love. I’m learning to cut out the timewasters that are not truly valuable, but I still keep busy. When most would watch tv after work, I’m busy working on a project of one sort or another. It makes me happy.

I do struggle with overbooked weekends, between family that is 2 hours in one direction and my very best friends, who are 2 hours the other direction. While my monthly visits to both are worth every moment, I also find that I cherish my downtime on weekends when I don’t have any traveling to do. But in these days we live in, it’s very important to make time for those who matter, and let go of timewasters that are truly not a priority.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:22:09 +0000

Great article! I think the key to life is finding balance between being busy and having nothing to do. Right now I’m way busier than I’d like to be, but I know that it is only temporary. I look forward to the end of my grad school program so that I can choose to just relax and do something fun on a weekend, instead of writing papers and doing research. I’ve been wanting to go to the botanical garden near our apartment since we moved out here a year ago.. instead it’s still on my list of “someday” activities. But at the same point in time, we do have weekends where we just relax with each other, go for walks, cook together, and enjoy each others company. So I think the key is balance – it’s good to have important things to do, like my work or my grad program, but they shouldn’t overwhelm the simple interactions that make life enjoyable.

By: Cathryn

Cathryn — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:59:02 +0000

What a lovely idea, so beautifully expressed. We have been re-organizing our weekends to be less hectic. We found we were running around everywhere, rushing to get to-do list items crossed off our lists. By Monday, we were still tired and did not feel rewarded, no matter how much we had achieved. First we cut down our lists to the basics. Then, we spread out our errands over the week: 1 or 2 errands each day after work that still get us home at a reasonable dinner hour. By the weekend, all our weekend time is free to do what we feel like doing. Much better!