43: Why Saying “I’m So Busy” is Out of Touch
As I laid on my couch staring out the window at the colorful leaves for what seemed like hours during this spectacularly indulgent Minnesota autumn, I contemplated my small and brief existence in this world. It was easy to focus on my own finitude as my life has been bound to a 753-square-foot apartment for the last several weeks, compliments of a torn Achilles.
All this time of solo contemplation brought up a number of thoughts that have been rummaging around in my noggin’...some of them for years.
What if I slip and fall in my bathtub and no one finds me?
Why am I so reluctant to accept the generous offers of help from friends?
As I go through my days mostly horizontal, how will I ensure all those rogue facial hairs are properly managed before my partner, Shea, discovers the real truth? And shouldn’t we just normalize facial hair instead?
Is this Achilles injury the harbinger of what’s to come as I age? And, if so, which of my nieces and nephews will care for me when I’m elderly?
How can I functionally evolve from lowest-common-denominator living, where last night’s pajama pants become today’s loungewear and tonight’s workout pants? And will this help my motivation?
Why am I prioritizing a need for motivation instead of simply accepting this as an opportunity to rest and recover?
There’s an undercurrent of acceptance to it all. That is to say, I wasn’t trying to simply bypass these thoughts in an attempt to “optimize” my convalescence. I wanted to be with them...and to allow space for whatever would arise.
And I imagine I’m in good company with even having these thoughts. Am I right?
During the next several weeks, we’re going to explore these thoughts further...alongside the courses and contours of busyness, time management and productivity porn, internalized ageism, longevity, caregiving, social connection, and more.
In this episode of Bullshift, we’ll focus on the “B” word...no, not that “B” word. The other one: busy. Because saying “I’m so busy” isn’t the status symbol you think it is. Actually, it’s one of the most out-of-touch phrases you could ever utter that’s fueling disconnection, giving the impression of deficiency, and holding you back from actually living what matters most.
Okay, so that’s a pretty confronting opinion. And I’m doubling down on it by also suggesting that we need to strike "I'm so busy" from our vocabulary altogether. Yep. Check it out.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE
Why “I’m so busy” is one of the most out-of-touch statements you could ever utter.
How being busy holds us back from actually living what matters most.
What to do to change your perspective and tap into your authenticity.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Click here to see the transcript!
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In this episode, Meghan discusses the questions we tend to ask ourselves as we approach the new calendar year. She explains that these are the questions for which purpose is the answer. Who we are today is not the same as who we were yesterday and who we’ll be tomorrow. Yet, paradoxically, we are exactly the same person we were yesterday and will be tomorrow. This is one of a few key paradoxes of purpose that Meghan explores in this episode. Sit back, enjoy the holiday feels, and join Meghan as she gives us a preview of where we’re going with Bullshift in 2022!