Being busy communicates importance; it often makes you seem a little untouchable to others. It also overwhelms the body so that it can only focus on the tasks at hand. Being busy is the ultimate way to distract ourselves from what’s really wrong.

To me, 'busy' implies that the person is out of control of their life.

To me, ‘busy’ implies that the person is out of control of their life.” — Derek Sivers23

Busy” = Out of Control “Every time people contact me, they say, ‘Look, I know you must be incredibly busy . . .’ and I always think, ‘No, I’m not.’ Because I’m in control of my time. I’m on top of it. ‘Busy,’ to me, seems to imply ‘out of control.’ Like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so busy. I don’t have any time for this shit!’ To me, that sounds like a person who’s got no control over their life.” TF: Lack of time is lack of priorities. If I’m “busy,” it is because I’ve made choices that put me in that position, so I’ve forbidden myself to reply to “How are you?” with “Busy.” I have no right to complain. Instead, if I’m too busy, it’s a cue to reexamine my systems and rules.

This is because being “busy” is not a virtue; it only signals to others that you do not know how to manage your time or your tasks.

Being busy is a form of laziness — lazy thinking and indiscriminate action. Being overwhelmed is often as unproductive as doing nothing, and is far more unpleasant. Being selective — doing less — is the path of the productive. Focus on the important few and ignore the rest.

Being busy is a form of laziness - lazy thinking and indiscriminate action.

Busy is a decision.” Here’s why: 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.” Like I said, busy is a decision. We do the things we want to do, period. If we say we are too busy, it is shorthand for “not important enough.

Someone who says “I am busy” is either declaring incompetence (and lack of control of his life) or trying to get rid of you.

Being busy is a form of laziness — lazy thinking and indiscriminate action.

Busyness is the unrivaled archenemy of spiritual authenticity.

Busy is what happens when you’re at the mercy of someone else’s schedule.

"Keeing busy" is the remedy for all the ills in America. It's also the means by which the creative impulse is destroyed.

Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.