A strange trend has claimed the modern world, one that I too am guilty of: bragging about how busy you are.
Rather than focus on completing tasks and actually being productive, we take a sort of masochistic pride in a heavy workload. I know this from experience; even now, writing this post is just one of a number of items on my to-do list for tonight. I routinely take on more work than I have time for, if only to feel that I’ve accomplished something at the end of the day.
Why is this such an epidemic?
Part of the reason stems from being busy. Time spent in front of a computer is not necessarily time spent at work; after all, it’s far too easy to switch tabs over to email when one arrives, or over to Facebook when a message pops up.
When you’re in a working flow state, these interruptions break your concentration. And for far too many people, reclaiming that same sense of flow is extraordinarily difficult.
I recently began tracking how much time I spent in individual windows. I was surprised to learn that a lot of time was spent on social media, rather than on the tasks I should have been focusing on. Sure, Microsoft Word was open, but not the primary window.
With conscious effort, I’ve shifted the balance. More time is spent focused on work than browsing social media. At times, an hour or two will pass before I’ve realized it, and I will find myself several thousand words farther into my work than before.
I read something recently: “Productive people don’t talk about how busy they are.” They don’t have time. They’re focused on results, not proving to the world that they are successful.
This isn’t to say that all talk of workloads is bad; after all, it can be nice to share newfound success with friends, or lament a particularly hard assignment that has you down. Even so, it shouldn’t be your primary focus.
If you find yourself staring at a 10-item to-do list, don’t pull up Facebook and make a comment about how busy you are. Don’t go to Twitter and complain that you’re sooo busy.
Sit down and do the work. And when it’s done, make a comment about your success.
Results are meant to be celebrated. Unfinished tasks mean nothing.
As Thomas Edison says, “There is no substitute for hard work.”
Don’t be busy. Be productive.
Patrick is a freelance writer, novelist, entrepreneur, and adventurer. Follow his travels at Voyager’s Quill.