Busy is a decision - David Silverberg

We’ve heard this refrain too many times, from our own head and from others: “Ugh. I’m just too busy to tackle anything else right now.”

Such a declaration frees the overwhelmed professional from approaching other work that matters to them, or diving into creative projects they claim to have zero time to begin.

Author, designer and podcaster Debbie Millman once said on a Tim Ferriss podcast:

Of the many, many excuses people use to rationalize why they can’t do something, the excuse “I am too busy” is not only the most inauthentic, it is also the laziest. I don’t believe in “too busy.” I think that busy is a decision. We do the things we want to do, period.

Those sentiments resonated with me because I’ve claimed to be busy when really I wanted to stiff-arm the commitments I knew were important. Why? I chalk it up to a mix of fear, anxiety, imposter syndrome and laziness. Hard work is hard for a reason. It’s going to challenge us in a way that doesn’t fit into the routine we’ve enjoyed so far.

There’s an odd cachet around announcing you’re busy. It’s as if you’re boasting about the many responsibilities swirling around your life, perhaps leading to invaluable successes you’ll reap once that “busy life” eases up. But I think the business of being busy could bankrupt our confidence; instead of strengthening our willpower to push away distractions, the idea of an overwhelming life acts as a salve. Yeah, I’m so busy I just couldn’t take on this creative projects that means a lot to me. Gots to keep the lights on!

Thing is, we DO have time for X and Y if we set our schedule differently. Professional writers can prioritize their goals by limiting the distractions that soak up precious time (do you REALLY need to binge-watch The Queen’s Gambit?) and laying out their schedule on paper. I didn’t write “on paper” as a typo. Even if you organize your meetings and deadlines on your phone calendar, I recommend printing your schedule on paper so it’s on your wall as a reminder of what’s ahead.

Millman also said, “You can’t let being busy stand in the way, even if you are busy. Make the time to do the things you want to do and then do them.”

So I’m refraining from Netflix overload and doomscrolling on Twitter. I’m waking up earlier to get more out of my day. And I’m reevaluating my priorities to set a schedule for myself so I’ll be free to do what I want, when I want. If busy is a decision, then I consistently decide to shift my mental energy into securing more consistent work as a freelance writer and helping writers level up in their careers.

This is one of the lessons I share in my Become a Better Writer courses for fiction and non-fiction writers. If you’d like to learn more, contact me anytime.

David Silverberg

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