Wanna know the enemy of productivity?

We looooove being busy. 

It's become a status symbol.

Wanna know what else it is? 

An avoidance technique. 

If you're busy enough, you don't have to admit that you don't like your job. Or your spouse. Or yourself. 

You don't have to think about the stuff you're avoiding. 

Or whether you're being the kind of person that you feel good about. 

You don't have to deal with the constant criticism that plays on repeat in your head.

You can avoid the challenging feelings that come up - like disappointment or anger or guilt or loneliness. Or maybe all four. 

You don't have to hang out with yourself.

Busy allows us to keep running on automatic.

But it doesn't work. 

In addition to the fact that avoiding all of the things I mentioned above is not a healthy way to deal with life (duh) - busy also keeps us exhausted and unproductive. 

Here's the kicker - when you slow down and get curious with yourself, get to know your values and start getting intentional with your life and CHOOSE how you want to live it, hanging out with yourself is actually awesome. 

How many of your working hours are actually productive? 

How often are you slowing down enough to ask yourself if you actually want to make the commitment to spend time with someone or take on the extra work? 

And what are you avoiding by packing every hour of every day?

Food for thought…