Busy Versus Productive

Have you ever found yourself so busy during the day? Then, all of a sudden, it’s evening, and you feel like you have accomplished nothing. This is the quickest way to become emotionally overwhelmed and feel internally defeated. Read on to find out tips, and watch the video.

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“Jodi, you are so busy!” versus “Jodi, you are so productive!”

Is anyone else irritated when people tell you you are “so busy?” I never did before I learned the difference between these two terms.

Busy and productive are two terms often used to describe how someone spends their time or engages in their work. While they may seem similar, there is a significant difference between being busy and productive.

The famed UCLA basketball coach John Wooden once said, “Never mistake activity for achievement.”

Just because we are “active” does not mean we are accomplishing anything. This is a severe problem in today’s society and is leading to increasingly heightened health issues across the globe.

Research shows that since the 1990s, employees have increasingly worked harder under tighter deadlines and more stressful conditions as they try to master additional skills to outpace the robots gunning for their jobs and as digital devices trap them in a 24/7 workplace. This has significantly affected mental and physical health (Waytz, 2023)

Being busy typically refers to being occupied with various tasks or activities. When someone is busy, they may have a lot on their plate, and their schedule is filled with numerous commitments. However, being busy doesn't necessarily imply that the person is accomplishing meaningful or important work. It can sometimes indicate being overwhelmed, constantly juggling multiple tasks without a clear sense of direction or purpose.

As a health coach and someone who has become very experienced in the “busyness” culture, I notice it quickly because most of my clients are overwhelmed moms and entrepreneurs. However, “busyness” does not discriminate. It can hit men just as easily. Employees receive commands from upper management and work long hours for little pay. They can’t afford to take care of themselves and find the time to care for themselves and be there for their families. It’s a shame to hear, but it’s prevalent today. Even the office I am in, a co-working space, operates like this with its employees. No wonder great team members are leaving corporate America! No one is looking out for them and their mental and physical well-being. They get more tasks and are told to get it done no matter how long it takes. Is this beneficial to the employees?

When I coach entrepreneurs and CEOs, I always educate them on true “productivity.” Adding breaks and activities into the day is more beneficial and increases productivity. According to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Learning Center, “While it may seem counterintuitive, taking regular breaks can…help you be more productive than working without stopping. [Effective breaks can help reduce your stress levels so that you’re ready to re-focus when you return to work.] Taking breaks while studying can even improve recall! If you [grow] increasingly frustrated or stalled on a certain task despite your efforts, this may be a sign that it’s time to rest your brain and take a break” (UNC Learning Center, 2023).

Being productive refers to making progress and achieving desired outcomes or goals. Productivity is efficiently using time and resources to generate valuable results. A productive person focuses on tasks that align with their priorities and contribute to their long-term objectives. They prioritize their activities, delegate when necessary, and use tools and strategies to maximize output.

The key distinction between being busy and being productive lies in the outcome. Busy work may involve time and effort, but it may yield little results or move the individual closer to their objectives. In contrast, productive work is purposeful, goal-oriented, and produces meaningful outcomes.

Here are a few characteristics that differentiate busy work from productive work:

1. Prioritization: Productive individuals prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency. They focus on high-value activities that align with their goals. Busy individuals may need to consider their significance to tackle tasks indiscriminately.

2. Time management: Productive individuals manage their time effectively, setting clear goals and deadlines. They allocate their time to tasks that bring the most significant impact. Busy individuals may spend excessive time on less important or trivial activities, resulting in a lack of progress.

3. Outcome-oriented: Productive individuals are results-driven. They concentrate on accomplishing key objectives and measure their success based on the outcomes achieved. Busy individuals may appear active but need a clearer focus on specific results or fail to measure their progress effectively.

4. Delegation and automation: Productive individuals understand the value of delegating tasks to others or automating repetitive processes, allowing them to focus on higher-value activities. Busy individuals may try to handle everything themselves, leading to inefficiencies and decreased productivity.

5. Reflection and improvement: Productive individuals take time to reflect on their work and identify areas for improvement. They seek ways to optimize their processes and enhance their efficiency. Busy individuals may need to reflect on their work methods or seek growth opportunities to continue their hectic pace.

In summary, being busy and productive represent different work and time management approaches. While being busy may give the impression of being productive, it doesn't necessarily lead to meaningful outcomes. Productivity involves intentional focus, effective time management, prioritization, and a clear alignment of actions with goals. Individuals can work smarter and achieve more significant results by emphasizing productivity over busyness.

References:

Mantua, Janna, and Rebecca M. C. Spencer. 2017. “Exploring the Nap Paradox: Are Mid-Day Sleep Bouts a Friend or Foe?” Sleep Medicine 37, (September): 88–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2017.01.019.

McGuire, Saundra Y. 2016. Teach Students How to Learn: Strategies You Can Incorporate in Any Course to Improve Student Metacognition, Study Skills, and Motivation. Sterling: Stylus Publishing.

The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Learning Center. (2023). Taking Breaks. Retrieved from https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/taking-breaks/.

Waytz, A. (2023). Beware a Culture of Busyness. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2023/03/beware-a-culture-of-busyness.