Short on time? Busy is a decision

Postcards from Rethink Central

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The designer Debbie Millman talks about how ’busy is a decision’. And she’s absolutely right.

But when you’re in the middle of being busy, it doesn’t feel like a decision. It feels like you just have so many things to do.

What she means, and what I also talk about ditching all the things you don’t need to do, is being super clear about exactly what you need to do and removing all of the other stuff.

I quite often find that my clients will say ’I didn’t have time to do that.’ And that’s not really accurate. What they mean is ‘I prioritized other things.’ Maybe they’re super important things. Obviously, things like childcare and buying food and eating the food are all vital. But they have been prioritized.

If you say you don’t have time for something, it’s because you have chosen to spend your time elsewhere.

And you have chosen to be too busy. So be aware of those distinctions.

There’s that old saying that ‘We all have the same 24 hours as DaVinci.’ Or though I have heard it updated recently to ‘We all have the same 24 hours as Madonna.’ I know which one of those I prefer. But we do all have the same amount of time. How we spend it is vital.

I choose to spend a lot of time in research and reading. And I created a business that allows me to do that. If you were listening to these blogs a lot, you’ll have heard me talk about how last year I got sick and only worked 2 hours a day.

The rest of that time I spent reading and researching. All on audiobooks because I couldn’t really see too well. Because I chose to do that.

So although I wasn’t well I had the most wonderful year. I read well over 500 books last year. I could easily have laying about being ‘sick’. Instead, I laid about reading books, improving my ability to coach, improving my knowledge, and having a fine old time.

Because busy is a decision: how you choose to spend your time, but also how you choose to view that time.

So have a look at your calendar.

One of the things I do at the beginning of every week is just delete five things off my to-do list that I know I don’t need to do. I don’t cheat and add extra stuff on there. And it does make a difference.

First thing I do on a Monday morning or the last thing on a Sunday night is just go through and think ‘Do I really need to do that?’ And if not, I delete it. And there’s always four or five of those that I can delete.

Thank you for watching. My name is Liz Scully, and I’m so glad that you spent time with me. This was a great decision.

Next live call is October 10, 2023 - Noon Eastern / 5pm UK.
Come along to ask your questions about launches, strategies for marketing, Masterminds or whatever you're stuck on in your business.

Add your email below and I'll send you the zoom info for the calls. See you there!

Or come say hello on Instagram here.  I microblog daily.