99. Being busy is a form of laziness

a lack of time is simply a lack of priorities.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been slacking.

‘Oh but I’m busy with exams, I have a work shift, I deserve a break’.

I was waiting for perfect conditions and when that is the case there will always be an excuse.

Yesterday, I was on a run with a pal and we were discussing Summer plans and he mentioned how there is too little time to do everything.

And he was right.

We have a limited time on this earth and we can’t do it all.

Looking to my lack of writing I was living through indiscriminate action, discernment was needed.

That got me thinking, what do I really want- ‘does going on my phone 5 hours a day play a big role in that?’

I constantly think that the lack of refining my actions is just a battle I need to have each day. To simply muster up more motivation. More and more I’ve actually found that success comes from me being dialled in with my purpose.

“Self-discipline is when your highest desires rule your lesser desires, not through resistance, but through loving action grounded in understanding and compassion” - David Deida

It is in ambition that I have priorities, deadlines, and a drive to get after them.

The question for me then is how bad I want it.

My weakness is that I have an ability to go very extreme- all guns blazing.

The risk is that this can be seen in me going the opposite extreme and being a complete sloth, however, I must utilise this trait to my advantage.

"The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." - Marcus Aurelius

I need to recognise that I can be extreme but that involves doing actions that push the needle forward rather than simply doing menial tasks.

Reflecting on this all the key takeaways are that:

• Being busy helps no one

• I have to choose the things/ people I want to engage with and be okay with missing out on the rest

• Dialling in on my long term purpose helps me discern my short term decisions

• My unconventional traits can be used for good

• I need to focus on the tasks that push me towards my goals rather than just filling time

“There is not enough time to do all the nothing we want to do” - Bill Watterson