How Did I Get So Busy?
Aug. 14th, 2008 08:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
calzephyrI'm a little embarrassed to say that I found out about this book by Valorie Burton via the Oprah column on CNN.com - but when you've got a looong bus ride, sometimes you'll read anything on your cell phone :-D
This actually turned out to be a better book than I expected. Burton has a warm, inviting and extremely sincere tone - she truly has a huge capacity for empathy. If her "28 day plan to free your time, reclaim your schedule and reconnect with what matters most" doesn't completely solve all one's problems, it is at least filled with probing questions about finding ways to change your life. Each chapter ends with prompts for journalling such as imagining your ideal day or life or thinking about where you find yourself hurrying or being impatient with people. It is more geared towards women readers, but men should give it a try too!
Burton advocates a self-care lifestyle where you put yourself and what is important to you first. For example, bow out of activities that are draining or no longer accept habits that are preventing you from enjoying life (such as checking work email before bed). Every detail of your life can be probed for potential unbusying, from learning how to delegate to planning better. My favorite part of the book is Day 24, "Busy Does Not Equal Significant". It really spoke to me. When people see you are busy, they must think that you're doing something important, and if you're doing something important, you may secretly hope for recognition. I guess in today's culture, it doesn't pay to look like a slacker!
Usually I recommend taking these kinds of books out of the library, but this one I would actually buy or give to a friend. It's really worth it.
This actually turned out to be a better book than I expected. Burton has a warm, inviting and extremely sincere tone - she truly has a huge capacity for empathy. If her "28 day plan to free your time, reclaim your schedule and reconnect with what matters most" doesn't completely solve all one's problems, it is at least filled with probing questions about finding ways to change your life. Each chapter ends with prompts for journalling such as imagining your ideal day or life or thinking about where you find yourself hurrying or being impatient with people. It is more geared towards women readers, but men should give it a try too!
Burton advocates a self-care lifestyle where you put yourself and what is important to you first. For example, bow out of activities that are draining or no longer accept habits that are preventing you from enjoying life (such as checking work email before bed). Every detail of your life can be probed for potential unbusying, from learning how to delegate to planning better. My favorite part of the book is Day 24, "Busy Does Not Equal Significant". It really spoke to me. When people see you are busy, they must think that you're doing something important, and if you're doing something important, you may secretly hope for recognition. I guess in today's culture, it doesn't pay to look like a slacker!
Usually I recommend taking these kinds of books out of the library, but this one I would actually buy or give to a friend. It's really worth it.
