Edition #18: How to Be Productive Without Being Busy
People think I’m a nice person.
And mostly I am…until you see me in traffic.
The drive to the prosthetics clinic that makes my legs can take anywhere from 2.5 to 6 hours depending on the M1 and M25.
I made this trip a lot when I was competing. And I sat in a lot of traffic.
I was in a comfortable car. I had snacks. I had music - so where was all this rage coming from?
Eventually, I realized I was angry about being busy: occupied and engaged for hours and hours with absolutely nothing to show for it.
“The busy man is never wise and the wise man is never busy.”
The Problem: How can I be productive and not be busy?
The first step is understanding the difference…
BUSY = doing things
PRODUCTIVE = getting results
Busy looks impressive, feels exhausting, and is driven by the tyranny of the urgent.
Productive looks quieter, feels intentional, and is driven by priorities. It’s about doing the right things, not just many things.
Busy fills your time.
Productive moves your life.
Ever feel like you are working hard but going nowhere?
The Solution: Choose your direction
The question that changes everything… 👇
If I repeat today 100 times, will my life actually move forward?
If the answer is no, you were busy.
If the answer is yes, you were productive.
But there’s a bigger question hiding underneath.
What does moving forward look like?
Because it’s hard to be productive if you don’t know where you want to go. And it’s hard to know where you want to go if you aren’t clear on your values and priorities.
The key difference between busy and productive has nothing to do with the volume of activity and everything to do with intention and result.
If you don’t know the result you are looking for, busy will always be your default.
The magic of a goal is that it is defined. There is a finish line. A clear ending
The Application:
Spring 2022 was a wobbly one for me.
Dancing on Ice had ended, and I announced my retirement from 18 years in athletics. Two things that had given my life purpose and direction were suddenly gone.
I spent hours in my office, staring at a screen, unable to do anything. And we are talking basic things. Like showering. Or paying an overdue bill. It all spilled out in a teary conversation with Sharon, the exceptionally wise Dancing on Ice physio.
She listened until I was talked out, and then presented me with this task: everyday, set yourself 3 goals. I would text her at the beginning of the day, and she would call at the end to check that I had done them.
They could be anything I wanted. A walk. Calling a friend. Finishing a chapter. But there had to be three, and I had to start with paying my overdue bill.
Having focus and purpose for each day helped snap me out of that funk. And it still helps me now.
Some days my goals are related to work. Some days they’re about having fun. Some days they’re about pursuing ridiculous Hail Marys!
They can be whatever you want. The important thing is that you define success.
Your to-do list will never end. It will keep you busy forever because you can always add more.
The magic of a goal is that it is defined.
There is an end point.
A sense of accomplishment.
A chance to rest.
What goal will you set today? This week? This month? This year?
Sometimes I don’t want to confess my goal, not even to myself. Because the moment I define it, I also define failure.
And I don't want to fail.
But I also want a shot at success, which means I have to set my direction.
And this is what the Hail Mary Friday Club is all about: it may not work out, but it will never be because I was too scared to try.
Stay bold, friends!
- Stef 💪
PS. I feel it is important to mention that in addition to paying that bill, and all the ones that have come since, I am also showering on a regular basis, and over achieving on most measures of personal hygiene.
Forward this to a friend you want to encourage!
Or forward to someone looking for an inspirational speaker.