Are You Burned-out On Busy, Too?

Busy. It’s a buzzword in today’s society. Being busy is like a badge we proudly wear, and the person who is the most busy, of course, gets the biggest badge.

Yet, for some of us, we’ve been busy for so long, and because it has been overused and abused, we are just plain sick of busy. Consequently, we become burned-out on it and all it represents.

Are you burned-out on busy, too?

busy :: bustling, hectic, swamped, restless, overloaded

I assumed life would settle down after our children left our nest. I mean, with two less mouths to feed breakfast, lunch, and dinner, two less laundry baskets filled, two less schedules to keep track of, wouldn’t I have more time on my hands?

With visions of my husband and I chilling at home most evenings, and of unrushed mornings together, our life would be a little more simple, right? I would have more time to write, to read my Bible, to be still and to think. (Oh, how I love my thinking time!)

Yeah, right.

Life for me seems just as busy as it’s always been.

Now, I’m not trying to complain here. No. I’m thankful I can do all I get to do. But, goodness, some days I’m weary of fighting against the clock. I get tired of the rat race. I get burned-out on an overloaded lifestyle.

It’s then when I’m compelled to step back and take a long, hard look. At what’s on my plate, at my priorities, at my life. Like today, when I stop the madness and step off the hamster wheel. To catch my breath. To hit the pause button. And, to look at this busyness straight in the eye and exclaim, “You’re not the boss of me, busy!“

Questions I’m asking myself today:

1. What is God teaching me? What lesson am I to learn from this?

I don’t believe God desires us to be overwhelmed, over-committed, and overloaded. I cannot find an example in the Bible where Jesus was any of those things. When we find ourselves burned-out on busy, it’s likely God is trying to teach us a life-altering truth, or a better way to live, or a lesson we can apply to life. God, what do I need to learn in this time of busy? Help me to learn any lessons you have for me.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.

Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG

2. What are my priorities? What is important to me?

If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s continuing to do what I’ve always done. I’m a creature of habit. Sometimes so much, that I blindly just “do” without really thinking about “why.” Miles down the road I often find myself in a rut because I’ve been driving in the same tire tracks for way too long.

Until one day something wakes me up, and my eyes suddenly open to my reality. What am I doing? How did I get stuck here? Why am I feeling unfulfilled and burned-out?

Asking pertinent questions can help us get back (or stay) on track. What is of greatest importance to me? To you? I think of my faith in God through Jesus, studying His Word, my marriage and my husband, our children, honoring God, and encouraging others.

3. With what am I filling my time?

You know? I’m convinced whatever time we have, we fill it. Whether we have 20 minutes or 2 hours, we fill them with something. Maybe it’s not so much how much time we have, but with what we are filling the time we have.

We each have the same 86,400 seconds in a day. Yes, that’s a lot of seconds! But, what do we do with them? Imagine our seconds are dollars. Because in all reality, our time is just as valuable as the money in our purses. So, how do you and I spend our daily $86,400?

On social media?
On fretting, worrying?
Maybe wishing our lives were different?

Or, do we spend our $86,400 on making this world a better place?
On learning, growing?
On helping others?

Do you and I spend our time filled with what’s most important to us? With the answers from question 2 above? Consequently, could it be time to make some adjustments with how we are spending our $86,400 daily?

We’ll be talking about these ideas and more at our next BYOB and B event, Burned-out on Busy.

I invite you to join me and my daughter, Alissa, at our next Bring Your Own Bible and Beverage event on April 29, as we explore the help and hope that’s available to all of us in the busyness of our lives.

Details are here. It’ll be a powerful evening of encouragement, timely truth, fellowship, and a whole lot fun!

In the meantime, you and I don’t have to remain burned-out. I invite you to join me in taking action. Give your busyness to the One Who has the answers. Ask yourself the questions above, and see what your answers reveal. I’m doing this right along with you today, friend. As always, thanks for journeying with me!

Blessings,