When I keep myself busy, I know I’m being productive, and when I’m completing tasks on a to-do lists, whether those are chores or fixing things or organizing my space, there’s a sense of accomplishment that comes from knowing that I’m being productive and utilizing my time wisely.
Of course, there are limits to how much we can stay busy, because staying too busy can lead to burn out, exhaustion, and a sense of restlessness. Time needs to be set aside for rest, relaxation, and recreational activities, such as exercise, sports, and or hobbies. But even those have their limits as well, since too much rest, relaxation, etc., can lead to a general sense of boredom, lethargy, and a feeling that time is passing by without making the best use of it.
Staying busy is one of those things whose meaning varies depending on how you look at it. Does it mean a day filled with long hours of work, a schedule full of activities and a long list of to-do items, or does it mean keeping the mind and body busy, of not letting each day pass by without completing something that is important and fulfilling?
There is something to be said of each of these, since work can keep our minds active, give us a sense of purpose, and completing activities or to-do items can keep us on track of what we need to do so that we’re not forgetful about things. But when we’re pursuing something we’re passionate about, it’s a different kind of busy, since it doesn’t seem like something that’s busying us, but that by pursuing it, we are staying busy.
Fallton Havenstonne 