Episode 26: Crazy Busy is a Warning Sign, with Judy Dang
Crazy busy isn’t a badge of honor, it’s a warning sign. Danielle and Kristy talk with productivity mentor Judy Dang about the factors that lead us into a frenzied crazy busy state. While it can sometimes be inefficiencies in how we work or mismatched skill sets, it can just a as easily be things like comparison and people pleasing that cause us to say yes to too much. We talk about the mindset shifts and practical tips to help you calm the crazy and settle into a feeling of enoughness.
Key Points from this episode:
2:00 Crazy busy signals a frenzied state of being. Frantic, anxious, a little bit out of control. Like I don't have a choice. There is something about not being in control of our situation.
4:00 When someone says “I'm crazy busy” it's an alarm bell. It’s a signal of inefficiency, people pleasing, trying to do too much at the same time, pressure, comparison with others. For a manager working with a team if the team is crazy busy something is wrong. There is a mismatch in skill set, mismatch in duties, lack of training, lack of skill.
5:30 Especially now, some people are insecure about their job prospects and being laid off. We want to do extra to show we are contributing to the team.
8:30 Reframe your mindset "I am blessed with so many opportunities and choices right now"
9:30: Take an inventory of where you are. What's causing the most stress. Get specific. Then prioritize.
12:15: The symptom of inefficiency is crazy busy. When you are relaxed and calm, your brain is more creative and more innovative. Higher level thinking is possible when you're relaxed.
Try these specific tactics:
Do not keep your email inbox open and visible while you work
Shut down your computer at the end of the day
Remove social media from your phone [commit to trying it for a week]
Set a timer for focused work, 25 or 50 minute sprints [see Pomodoro method]
Make a list of the 6 most important things to do and complete them in order
Resources