No matter how busy we are, His plans for us should prioritize our plans for us. But we will only hear His promptings if we devote time to pause and pray.
When I was in college, I had a fifteen-shade color-coded schedule. From sunrise to sunset, I didn't know where I was going or what I would be doing without this schedule. Not only did it dictate my life, but it often made me inflexible and unable to adapt. Though it was helpful at the time, I wish I had realized the futility of long-term busyness.
By the time I graduated college, I was overwhelmed and deeply burnt out. I was 23 years young and looking for the next path. Though I majored in teaching English to high school students, student teaching made it clear that wasn't my calling. Nevertheless, that's the career I pursued for the last five years.
Proverbs 19:21 tells us that we can make many plans, "but the Lord's purpose will prevail" (NLT). Ecclesiastes 5:3 (NLT) adds to this message, noting "Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool." The Message interpretation says it this way: "Overwork makes for restless sleep. Overtalk shows you up as a fool."
Despite the hustle culture we live in, the Scriptures make it clear: It's not good to be too busy or overly consumed with our work. Psalm 127:1-2 (NLT) convicts me heavily for this reason: "Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones."
We know that being busy is a double-edged sword. It's good to have our affairs in order, socialize, and invest in this life God has given us. On the flip side, when busyness controls our lives, perhaps we're more engaged than God ever intended for us to be.
What do you do when you're addicted to busy?
Here are 3 tips to help you overcome this habit one small step at a time:
1. Reflect and Pray
It sounds simple, but many of us are so busy that we hardly make time to reflect and pray. One of the best ways to combat an unhealthy dependence on being this way is to slow down, remember, and meditate.
Many times when I'm anxious, on edge, depressed, or overwhelmed, my default setting is to move a million miles a minute. In one day, it's not uncommon for me to have written 5 blog posts, edited a podcast, walked a dog, worked out for an hour, deep-cleaned the entire house, read my Bible, and prepared a four-course meal. While it sounds appealing and productive to society, this way of living is often harmful to my soul. Why? Because I've tried to combat the noise in my mind by moving from one thing to the next when maybe what I need to do is stop, pause, reflect, and pray.
If you're having trouble sitting still or taking a break from your tasks, try setting a timer for five or ten minutes. That might seem like a lot at first (it always does to me), but over time, it will get easier. During these few minutes, I encourge you to write your thoughts in a physical journal using a pen or pencil. It doesn't matter if you mess up or scribble along the way. What matters is that you pour out your heart to the Lord.
For me, this raw and open confession is a prayer to God. I get to reflect on where I am, recognize how I feel, and invite God into the conversation. He looks into the depths of my heart and usually invites me to stop, start, and continue different things on my schedule.
In Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV), David writes a similar prayer: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting." No matter how busy we are, His plans for us should prioritize our plans for us. But we will only hear His promptings if we devote time to pause and pray.
2. Establish Intentional Down Time
The second way we can seek to combat busyness in our lives is by establishing intentional downtime. Until the last year or so, I truly believed I needed to be available 24/7 for everyone. After teaching all day, I'd go home, work on my writing, and respond to emails—all while constantly responding to additional texts, messages, DMs, and calls.
One day, after a long day at work, I decided to work out first instead of diving into writing. However, five minutes into the workout, I was simultaneously doing jumping jacks and checking my phone. An uneasy anxiety set in my chest every time my screen lit up and another message appeared. It's taken me years to work on this, but I now realize I don't need to be available for everyone 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
One practice I've started to prevent myself from living this way is putting intentional downtime on my calendar. I don't do it all the time, but scheduling these "events" on my calendar helps. Not only does it prevent me from over-extending myself, but it reminds me that self-care matters to God.
No one but you has to know that your appointment from 1-2 every Monday is a bubble bath or long walk on the closest nature trail. While you're welcome to be flexible with these boundaries from week to week, the emphasis is on carving out time for things that matter most. You can also do this for devotional time, prayer, and intentional moments of stillness. There was a reason Jesus took time to slip away during His ministry (Luke 5:16), and He encourages us to do the same.
3. Focus on the Why
The third and final way to reduce busyness is not for the faint of heart. While journaling, reflection, and putting dates in our calendar aren't always easy, focusing on the why can be even more challenging. This is something I've learned through years of counseling.
When I find myself searching for the next thing, I'm often tempted to fill my schedule with more events, to-do lists, and service projects. While these can be good things in and of themselves, might I remind you to ask yourself why?
Why are you running to the next activity?
When is enough enough?
Why are you filling your schedule to the brim?
Why are you endlessly searching for the subsequent adventure, date, or vacation to plan?
Will you ever be content with where you are?
Only God can help you answer these questions deep within yourself, and only God can help you change the answers.
A Call To Redeem Your Busyness
Friend, burnout is not a badge of honor or a prized possession to hoist on your shelf. Nothing is holy about burning yourself out, or running yourself until you're dry, weary, and famished. Even for those of us who enjoy the feeling of being busy, there will come a day when the busyness is too much.
Sheila Walsh, author of Praying Women says it this way: "You can kill yourself with drugs and alcohol and know deep down inside that you're ruining your life, but you can also kill yourself working for God and think it's holy."
Focusing on the why of our busyness allows us to slow down and tune into what the Spirit of the Lord might be saying to us. It probably sounds scary and overwhelming. For those of us who come from chaotic and traumatic backgrounds, being busy is often a major coping skill. But it isn't a coping skill that should serve us forever.
One of the best things to do when you're hooked on being busy is to ask God to help you slow down. He will do His part through the Holy Spirit within you, but you must be willing to do yours.
While I hate to burst your bubble, I want you to know that God is often heard in the quiet moments, more than the loud, chaotic, and non-stop ones. God is found where the chaos of life fades and His gentle whisper can be felt in the stillness (1 Kings 19:11-13, NIV).
In these sacred pauses, we have an opportunity to find clarity, peace, and a deeper connection to His presence. Through reflection and prayer, establishing downtime, and focusing on the why, we open our hearts to hearing His guidance above the rat race of life. It’s in these quiet spaces that our burdens are lifted, our anxieties lighten, and we are reminded of His loyalty and grace.
Agape, Amber
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