Be selfish in how you occupy your time…and how you don't. Why you shouldn't be too busy.

The first shower thought of my newsletter is something I think about a lot — especially since the pandemic and quarantine hit. We found ourselves in 2020 with more time on our hands than ever before...a break from our busy lives. Without friends to see IRL, bars to drink at, clubs to dance, and foreign countries to explore, what did you do with your time at home?

The go-to excuse of “being too busy” seemed a bit funny when the words left my mouth. It made me realize that if you really want something, you will find the time for it, no matter what else is going on in your life. This goes for people to see and also passions that have been thrown on the backburner.

There's a difference when a friend who is genuinely swamped makes an effort to reschedule vs. someone who doesn’t. Put something on the calendar and don’t leave it with a “we have to do something soon!” and plans are never made from either party. I don’t believe in chasing people — and if you find yourself in a situation where you’re the one getting cancelled on and you’re the only one putting in the effort to reschedule, maybe it's a sign to spend your time elsewhere.

Because the truth is, we all have time. But we, as grown-ass adults, choose how we want to spend it. We choose how we want to prioritize our lives, and that’s how it should be. Respect someone’s hustle, but also put in an effort to be there for a friend when they need it — even if it’s as simple as a text.

As far as chasing passions go, I’ve learned to stop talking about an idea and just do it. I am a first-class offender of this because I simply just want to do everything sometimes. I wanted to do a newsletter since March, and didn’t launch it until September. Yes, a lot of work goes into starting something like this and I’m not downplaying that, but I wasn’t prioritizing it as much as I wanted to.

And if you are always too busy, I hope you’re too busy with things you love, a job that brings you joy, people you care about and aren’t waiting another five years to start something that you’ve been talking about or letting friendships drift because you’re not putting in the effort.

One of the reasons why you shouldn't be too busy is you will lose out on all the things you love. Is it too corny to tell you to stop and smell the roses? I’m joking.

Be good,

JB

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