A trend that made the biggest impact last year was the concept of using a busy schedule as a sign of being successful. I’m on the fence about it. I am a busy worker, even when I’m having ‘time-off’ my mind ticks over with ideas. I love keeping busy and having a constant stream of ideas on the go but I don’t know if bragging about being busy is better than saying what my successes are and is running out of time really a good thing?
Being busy can be a measure of two halves.
Generally within career wellbeing, if you are busy and stressed it means you’re overworked and not organised. The flip side is being busy with exciting projects or being busy hitting targets at work or blogging opportunities coming your way. I think we’re always wanting to prove to people that we’re successful and being the ultimate girl boss that we’re not defining what is taking up our time.
Since time is the value here, why are we so caught up on declaring we have none of it? Would you say having no spare time is a success? Probably not…
So why do bloggers become obsessed with the idea of being busy?
Blogging is damn competitive. If you work full time and blog then you’re catching up in the evenings to see what is going on. Opportunities tend to come around during the day when the PR teams are working and if you miss a tweet offering a sponsored post or request for a blogger, it can suck. You therefore compensate for the missed opportunities by essentially bragging when you do get one.
Zoella doesn’t tell us every-time a big brand deal comes in, and I bet she has a few. Think of it as a business, you wouldn’t declare every client you get, BUT you can celebrate those deals that can be life-changing and pillars of success.
Blogging competitiveness is fiercer than ever, content is everywhere, the concepts are the same. So trying to stand out is hard!
Bloggers would rather appear busy to show they’re committed and working hard than lazy and quiet – obviously right? Do brands buy into the ‘busy’ lifestyle because that blogger looks more successful than another? There’s part of me that thinks they might but another that thinks they may see through it.
Being busy isn’t a problem.
If you’ve got a lot going on, then well done you. It’s fantastic that your work, blog or business is doing so well that you’ve got a lot going on. The other option would be having no work which is never fun and wouldn’t appear a success in anyone’s books. When I quit my last job, it was because I had so little work on that it was ruining my motivation and personal successes. How can you achieve anything if you have no work on?
I think there should be more of an emphasis on celebrating little wins, it’s not only good for your mental health to realise those achievements but great to tell the world what you’re up to! Personality is key to a blog after all.
A lot of us thrive in the idea of being busy too, that was something I found I needed when I went freelance – I must be kept busy!
Does it mean you’re more successful though?
The simple answer is no. Being successful is a fluid term. It’s in the eye of the beholder; being successful. Having a lot of projects on, but them all being shit, doesn’t make you successful if maybe you’re working too many hours vs payment etc. If they bring you in ££££, then yeah, that’s pretty awesome or you’re landing some incredible brand deals, you’ve nailed it.
I think there needs to be a change from bragging about being busy to bragging about successes as achievements. Some of the most successful business people stay quiet whilst building their biggest brands.
Taking a rest is so important and as I always say, your audience won’t disappear when you do. If anything, they will disappear if your content looks to forced!
It’s that glass half full option I suppose. We all see busy-life differently so it’s not a negative to say it but I think it’s an interesting concept!
What are your thoughts, I’d love to know!