I’d love to but I can’t… I’m just too busy

By Erin Casey –

What would you do if you weren’t too busy?

If you had a free hour… or even a free day, what would you do with it? You may imagine that you’d read all the books and magazines that have been collecting dust in your home. Or maybe you’d rent the entire season of your favorite show from Netflix and watch nine episodes in a row. Or maybe you’d sit still for just a few moments and enjoy that elusive quiet time—time to read your Bible, pray and to simply rest.

Or maybe you’d be like me and not know what to do with yourself.

I’ve been working on reducing my stress level, and although I still have a lot on my plate and my house is still cluttered, I’ve begun saying no to work projects that don’t match up with my goals. As a result, I experienced a not too-busy evening this week. With a reasonable amount of work done for the day, dinner in the oven, the laundry (mostly) done, and everyone playing happily, I stood in the kitchen at a loss; there was nothing urgent to do. And I didn’t know what to do.

I felt uncomfortable with my lack of busyness. I scanned my mental to-do list thinking of projects, errands, chores… nothing had to be done right then. I was free to do whatever I wanted.

So, let’s go back to the original question: What would you do if you weren’t too busy? Sometimes we fill our lives to the brim because we don’t want to be left with that uncomfortable feeling of sitting still. Some of us (certainly not everyone, but I know I’m not the only person who falls into this trap), falsely believe that if we’re sitting still—reading a book, indulging in a hobby, daydreaming, watching a movie with our families—we’re wasting time.

And then I am reminded that while Proverbs 31 encourages us to be productive and profitable, we must also take time to rest and reflect. It isn’t a waste of time to refill our cups; it is a necessity.

Unfilled time allows us to reconnect with (or perhaps discover) who we are. Periods of quiet, moments spent laughing with our families or friends, and time spent enjoying our hobbies all help reduce stress and reinvigorate our creativity and our enthusiasm for life. And if we choose turn that time into a few moments spent reading our Bibles and talking to God, we can reconnect with what matters most.

Today, take time to sit in a quiet place and consider the following verses. Think about how you may be doing yourself a disservice by distracting yourself with busyness.

God sets the example for us by establishing a day of rest. When was the last time you experienced an entire day of rest?

Genesis 2:1-3 – By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

God refreshes our souls when we are quiet and still. Are you making time to be still?

Psalm 23:2-3 – The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

Please leave a comment below with your response to the question: What would you do if you weren’t too busy? And then start figuring out a way to carve a few minutes of un-busyness out of your day.

Erin K. Casey is passionate about helping people live the life they imagine. She has interviewed hundreds of successful women and men including high-profile celebrities, business leaders and top-ranking direct-selling business owners. The goal of all this detective work is to uncover the success habits that help people achieve their dreams and regain control of their time. She offers tips and strategies for living the life you imagine at http://www.imagineyourselfthere.com/.