The False Pride In Being Busy.

To be busy is not a virtue though it might be mistaken as one. In this fast-paced world, we are somehow unconsciously obliged to take on miscellaneous ventures; to do one thing after the other in a swift motion, leaving us no space for our bodies and minds to breathe.

I’ve learned that it is relatively easy to stay busy. It is easy to stress ourselves, as if we had been programmed to accept burying ourselves into the torments of workload. It is not easy to be busy, conversely, but it is much less courageous. It is much less mindful to keep working and working, limiting the scope of our minds to obligations and responsibilities, fooling ourselves with the concept that it is essential, that there's no enough time, etc.

I fell into that trap myself, thinking that burying my nose into work and studying was the best choice to make. However, a lot exists beyond that. A realm of mindfulness and epiphanies exists when we stop ourselves to take a break and focus on what’s truly essential. Sometimes, it is far more significant to put things aside and breathe in some fresh air, or go check on a family member by spending a few minutes to have a little talk. Sometimes, it is more salient to shove your obligations aside and have some quality time with yourself, simply relishing the vastness of the present moment.

Every moment counts. Every single second in our life beholds a wondrous magnitude of meaning and sense. Being busy nips away the glory of time, making us more like machines rather than conscious human beings, able to savour each moment gratefully, when busy and when not. Of course, every choice has an opportunity cost— to spend 20 minutes with a loved one robs this significant time from completing a task due the next day. Yet, we must weigh in the benefits according to our priorities. And we must set our priorities with considerable thoughtfulness in order to truly feel alive.

Sometimes it is a priority to work and add value, sometimes it is the choice we have to proudly make, and in some circumstances, it’s actually the best choice to stay up working on something. Yet, we need to be starkly aware of our intuition and that inner voice that guides us towards what is righteous to do. Sometimes it just does not feel right to spend the day working with a mind that is groggy and clouded. It will only be a source of regret and unease the next day, for it has cost you an awful time with little rewards. Most often, we manage, even if we don’t complete our tasks. We are resilient creatures who are able to find alternatives and create solutions according to our circumstances. We are extraordinarily able to adapt.

It might seem valuable to somehow forgo sleep or a well-spent weekend, but we need to all think of the rewards of such a sacrifice. Will it truly add value? Or will it only be a source of adversity to our health and wellness? We need to put such variables into consideration and balance our needs, mindfully and with tact.

I personally learned that I need not stress myself, even if I have a lot to do. In the end, it somehow always gets done in the right time. I might have made mistakes and cocooned myself in my room instead of engaging in those stimulating conversations with my father, or taking some time to read or write a journal entry in fear that those few minutes will have a catastrophic cost, even though those few minutes expand the mind and fuel it to spark more creativity and focus.

I will no longer take pride in being busy and constantly challenge myself to create time for the things that matter most. It might be work and studying on some days, but on others, it’s having that one-hour call with my sister, reading a book or even resting. It always pays off in the long term. It always makes sense to do what is right and that inspires us with the empowerment we bestow upon ourselves to make independent choices that make us the best versions of who we are.

That was one precious lesson to learn.