Busyness Is Boring, Rediscovering Purpose In The Pause

By Tricia Scott.

As I write this Biz Love Letter, I find myself rather than in my office as usual, in the corner of the sofa, with a large caramel latte on the side table and two snoozing cats on a heated throw at my feet (I also almost didn't admit that I have the movie 'Last Christmas' on Netflix as I write but then I remembered I promised to be honest when we chat so...)

Having released our 50th issue of Create Evolve Overcome Magazine last week (after a few insanely busy weeks), I decided to take most of this week off. Now, I could have written this last week and not worked at all today, but I always feel that we get to the heart of the matter in the moment, and that's what I want to share with you on Mondays: genuine lightbulb moments and lessons that have made a difference to my journey so here's what I was thinking about this morning as I reflected on the past weeks and months.

My busyness is boring.

Seriously, I've lost count of the number of times recently I've heard myself say, 'I haven't got time,' and when I look back, I'm always saying no to the fun things. 

Want to meet for dinner?  Sorry, no time this week!

Glass of wine after work? Sorry, I'll be working late.

Fancy a coffee and catch up? Maybe in a few weeks, I'm snowed under! 

Quite frankly, I'm seriously boring myself. 

I've been here before and got the t-shirt, but like most things in the entrepreneurial journey, it is never a one-time lesson but a series of catching ourselves slipping back into old habits - each time a little earlier than before until we (eventually) recognise the signs before the event and stop ourselves making the mistake again. 

I used to love to be busy. Like loved it. I would wear my busyness like a badge of honour, and whenever someone asked me how things were going, I'd reply, 'Great! I'm SO BUSY', usually over my shoulder as I raced off to the next meeting or seminar, and they would be oh-so-impressed at my stamina and staying power. Look at her go! Of course, the truth was I was mentally and physically worn out, but I fully believed that to be seen as a success, you had to be ON IT at all times. 

I don't need to tell you this is untrue. Not only that, but it's an actual prescription for burnout, especially when we factor in everything outside our work that still needs to be done (like, you know, actual life stuff).

A few years ago, after my second round of burnout (as I said, we live and learn), I picked up that lesson, and while I'm still ridiculously busy, I no longer wear it like a proud kid with a gold star sticker. In fact, I actively look for ways to be time-smart, am much more careful with my work commitments, and am selective about the work I undertake.

This is how I arrived at the decision to take some downtime this week. I noticed that I was turning down more fun invites than I was accepting, and even when I did show up, I was never fully immersed in the moment or the occasion; instead, I was in my head and planning my next move the entire time.

Who wants to hang out with someone like that? 

I know we're busy. I also understand the pressure (usually from ourselves) to get it all done and the military-esque planning it takes even to begin to implement work-life balance into the equation. But I also know I do my very best work when I have space to think rather than just react. I recognise that when I fall into bed after another 15-hour day, and my brain starts to come up with amazing ideas, it is because I haven't given it any space during the day, and this is the only time there is a mental break long enough for me to hear it. What am I supposed to do with those ideas at midnight??? 

I know you've heard it before, but these are the signs. Take a break. Plan it in your diary like you would an important meeting and stick to it. Allow the creative ideas to flow, carry a hot pink pen and paper around, and when inspiration strikes, record it (don't implement!). Allow your brain to know that it's safe to just create, and you'll be amazed at what happens. 

I love my work, and often, it doesn't feel like work, which we're led to believe is the dream - but it's only part of the story. Yes, doing what you love is a dream scenario, but it can easily lead to an all-consuming obsession that can leave us depleted, which defeats the freaking purpose. 

If you're feeling panic setting in at the thought of your workload, choose again. Re-organise your day or take some of it off your plate until next week or the week after. Take a walk or connect with a friend, and know that the more fun things you choose, the more energy you'll have for the rest when you get back to it. It can feel counter-productive, but it reallyisn't. 

If you want to go the distance, make space. 

See you in a week (who knows what exciting ideas I will have had by then!) 

I believe in you (always).

👉🏼If you want to receive a Biz Love Letter directly to your inbox every week, I email our Hello CEO mailing list every Monday. To join, head to The Homepage and sign up!

Tricia Scott is a passionate startup business mentor and the Founder and Editor of The Female CEO - Create Evolve Overcome, a platform and digital magazine holding the space to showcase female entrepreneurs from all over the world. 

The Female CEO is gaining global recognition daily and Tricia is able to bring her own level of expertise as a start-up mentor and multi-company director to her very exclusive table along with her team of brilliant Guest Editors and Contributors. You'll usually find her with her MacBook in one hand and a coffee or a glass of something fizzy in the other. Reach out anytime!