During this pandemic, many of us are working from home or working in-person but feeling "strange" to be out and about with a mask. It is easy to be distracted. BUT nothing has changed - every day you are given is a gift.
You don't know if you have tomorrow...so are you using today the best way you can?
Being distracted is never a good thing. We have all read about someone walking to their car watching their phone and not seeing the thief lurking along their car. Distractions turn us into pushovers.
When you are just "staying busy" you are in a trap. And staying busy makes you "average".
If you want to be average, run around all day with a false sense of busyness. Stay unfocused and passive. Only half concentrate on what you are doing. Worry a lot. Plan for the worst - constantly. Work to "fit in". Let others boss you around. And never be selective with where you put your attention.
If you want to be productive - if you want to get to your worthwhile goals AND feel a sense of fulfillment, you need to get focused.
COVID or no covid you need to start being self-aware. Reject busy, meaningless tasks. Yes, talk to your virtual boss. Sort out the important from the busy work. Make time for you. Revise and revisit your goals.
The best way to be interesting is to be interested. Find out what is going on in other's lives. Dig deeper than just their job title. If you kick off your "meeting" or "relationship" (yes even if virtual or by phone) with "I am just so busy" then you have blocked the future relationship. That lead line guarantees you won't learn anything about the other person.
If someone is up against your "super busy" opening line, they would no sooner admit to being "less busy" than to cutting their lawn with scissors. The whole "busy" dialogue just keeps on keeping on!
Note that people doing cool things DO NOT SAY IT. They are more in control of their time and being busy isn't something that they regard as prestigious.
Repeating how busy you are make you look pretty "middle management". Is that how you wanted to come across?
Have you ever researched a management model that has been attribued to a 1930s German General named Kurt Von Jammerstein Equord. He suggested that people fall in one of four categories - smart, stupid, energetic, and lazy. He also said that all people have two of those qualities.Generally stupid and lazy people are both useful and necessary. They get grunt work done and won't cause trouble. Smart and lazy people to get everyone in the other quadrants to get stuff done. They have clarity for tough decisions and enough time to think things through. Energetic and stupid folks are the worst. They write stupid plans and waste everyone's time trying to make them happen. They are busy all the time!
How about the next time someone asks you how you are you bite your tongue (to stop from saying the "so busy" line) and say "I'm great thanks. What have you been up to?"
Then just listen. Take it from there. Respond with phrases like "that is cool or tell me more or what do you think is next?"
People will remember you when you bother to care and listen. They will only leave you shaking their head when you use the "I'm so busy" response.
Focus on the few things that really matter.
BTW - What is wrong with "I have been so productive!"
