What to Say Instead of “I’m So Busy!”
I absolutely love this article for the NYTimes Opinionator by Tim Kreider about the Busy Trap. It highlights that our answer to how we’re doing is how busy we are – even children. Tim has a great outlook on introducing a bit more play, removing unnecessary distractions and finding space for himself.
Something that I try to do when people ask me how I am? Rather than lament how busy and overwhelmed I am, I do two things:
- Be honest with them (and myself) about how much I may have taken on myself. Most times that busy trap is something I’ve done to myself, and it’s important to remember that!
- Focus on all my accomplishments in the past week. It’s more enjoyable to list off my accolades and wins (and, bonus, share a little bit more with friends) than to simply share just how busy I am.
Try it! You’d be shocked how much more fun your week looks when you aren’t just saying you’re busy.