“I’m Busy” and why I hate that phrase

 

Friends, let’s be honest with each other: we all used the excuse “I’m just so busy” WAY MORE than we should. Is this to say we aren’t busy? No, not at all! I know we’re busy. I’m busy. But using “I’m busy” as an excuse for not doing something is a thing of the past.

 

Just too busy

How do you feel when someone says, “sorry, I couldn’t get to your ___ because I’m just so busy.” It makes me feel like that person doesn’t care about me enough to value what I sent them/talked to them about/etc. I would rather someone just say they aren’t interested in *whatever it is* than repeatedly brush me off.

We make time for the things we want to do. Everything else gets pushed under the “I’m Busy” rug.

 

Note: There are definitely seasons of life where being busy is a totally valid reason for not doing something. I’m not talking about those times. I’m talking about the overuse of “I’m busy” in an everyday setting. I’ve told people lots of times “I’m so sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner–I got busy!” It happens. ;-)

 

Making Time

For instance, take my Saturday a few weeks ago. I had to be at work at 1pm, then we had company coming over at 6pm, and I had to do some cooking. But from 11am-2pm, my brothers were going to a dancing workshop that I desperately wanted to be at. It would have been a lot easier to just tell my friends, “sorry, I’m too busy–catch you next time.” I could have spent that time at home getting dinner ready before heading to work. But I really wanted to go!

So, I went on in with my brothers, hung out at the dance workshop for an hour, then headed to work. I fixed dinner when I got home. School had to be doubled-up on the next day, which meant TWO tests. Exhausting? Yep. But totally worth it.

 

“I don’t have time to ________.”

Something I was frustrated with is how I don’t have time for reading. So I did a little experiment on myself one day. I decided that anytime I wanted to pick up my phone and check twitter, pinterest, instagram, facebook, or email, I would instead read one chapter of the book I was reading.

I read five chapters in four hours. (Not proud to say that I spend that much time wanting to look at social media, but it’s true, and I’m working on curbing my media addiction.) And guess what? I didn’t even want to look at the SM’s much after that. Not because reading is a punishment, but because I learn my brain craves SM when I’m (1) getting tired, (2) bored, or (3) just need a break from whatever I’m doing. Reading fills that hole just as much, if not better, than SM does.

And guess how many books I read that week? A LOT. I even got almost caught up on my Goodreads reading challenge. :D

 

Can we make an agreement to stop blowing people off with the “I’m too busy” excuse? I know we can all be more original than that. ;-)

 

 

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