The Performance of Being Busy

Are we really busy or are we performing?

I used to think successful people never stopped moving. Now I’m not so sure. Ask someone how they’ve been and before they even answer they’ll sigh. “I’ve just been so busy.” Busy has somehow turned into proof that you’re doing something with your life. If your calendar isn’t packed or you’re not juggling six different things at once it almost feels like you have to apologize for it.

I don’t think being busy is the flex we think it is anymore.

I’ve started to notice that people are performing productivity instead of being productive. Posting pictures of laptops open in coffee shops are just props at this point. Answering emails at eleven o’clock at night or telling people how you haven’t had a day off in weeks, its like we’re collecting points for exhaustion.

I used to think that in order to be successful you had to never stop working.

That hustle hard culture has given people a false expectation of how to obtain success. Maybe we’ve confused movement with progress. Just because you’re constantly in motion doesn’t mean you’re getting closer to where you want to be. Sometimes you’re just spinning your wheels in really cute shoes.

I don’t need every hobby to become a side hustle. Every dinner doesn’t need to become networking. Every morning doesn’t need a five-step routine that starts before sunrise. Some days I just want to drink my coffee while it’s still hot and let my mind wander without feeling guilty that I’m not crossing something off a list.

One of the best things I’ve learned is that not every hour has to be optimized.

These days I’m trying to build a life that looks good to me instead of one that looks impressive to everyone else. Ironically, slowing down has made me more thoughtful about how I spend my time. I say yes less often. I protect my weekends. I leave room for long conversations and spontaneous dinners. I wander more. I scroll less. That’s the real luxury now. Not having the busiest schedule in the room. But having a life you don’t constantly need a vacation from.