What we know about the busy trap
By: Jesse Wilson
Tags: Life Lessons, Life, Productivity, Work, Humor

At some point in our lives, we will come across the person in the workplace who is always too busy to stop and help or even have a chat. This person is constantly rushing to and from meetings, making big important decisions and often saving the company from imminent disaster.

In the domestic setting menial tasks and social engagements are often avoided, sometimes overlooked or cancelled because the person of interest is way, way too busy!

It seems we are all busy these days and for some reason, in our minds, busy people equate to important people! Or at least that is what they would have you think.

But why? How come we are all so busy being busy, surely this can’t be the case all the time? Can it?

Well my friends for some of us we have learned the art of looking busy when really we are not. We have learned how to slack off but at the same time look industrious. We have learned how to promote our self-importance in the eyes of our would be admirers.

So if you fancy a bite at this apple or more importantly want to learn how to spot a busy person, then read on. Below are some tips on how you too can join the legions of, “I can’t do that, I am way too busy”. Follow these tips and you will be next in line for acceptance into the hall of fame of busyness.

Clutter your environment — Have you noticed busy people are often surrounded by lots of things. Their work desk is stacked high with papers, files and all sorts. For the technologically minded their computer desktop has many applications open, always at the same. Well, when you see this be sure to know this is the classic cloak of busyness.

Move with urgency — I have never known a busy person to amble across a room. For some reason, they walk everywhere at an exaggerated pace, almost as if they are putting in the practice for their next race walking competition.

Try it and for added effect try walking across a room carrying a clipboard, a book or notepad. It doesn’t really matter what it is, walk with something in your hand and with urgency and everyone will think you are moving with purpose.

Perfect your concentration stare. Looking intently at something. Sends the message you are locked in deep concentration and thought. I once worked with a guy who would sit upright, with his right hand on his mouse and stare at his computer screen. He would do this for minutes and minutes at a time. I was convinced he was working until one day I looked closely and noticed his computer screen saver was on. Intrigued I took the opportunity to walk past his desk. It was then that I noticed he was staring at his screen with his eyes shut!

So the lesson here is to avoid staring with your eyes shut and remember to disable or increase the duration at which your screen saver comes on.

For a bonus tip, if you are going to stare at something, do it with a frown or your angry looking face. People very rarely want to disturb or talk to angry looking people!

Fill your calendar/schedule— If you are running an electronic or paper calendar/ schedule it doesn’t matter. Book meetings with yourself, dream up titles to pad out that hour here or there for me time. The trick is to reduce your availability but you need to be inventive and use descriptions that people won’t think to question such as personal/ self-development or admin. With a busy schedule, you now have evidence and a ready-made excuse to avoid meetings and social functions.

Respond appropriately — If asked to attend a meeting always default back to your busy schedule which you can now proudly share. If you are feeling assertive offer an alternative time, early in the morning or late evening. The key is to offer a time you know will be inconvenient for the person asking. Somehow this always seems to make a meeting less important.

Use your phone as a weapon— In this day and age, most of us carry a mobile/ cell phone to stay in touch with our business or loved ones. So these strategies come in handy anywhere or anytime you want to cloak your busyness.

Option a) — Take a call. Simply switch your phone off or put it into silent mode and have an imaginary call. Being on the phone is a great way to look busy. To do this you need to be prepared to talk to yourself, so devise a script to make it sound convincing. Make it sound important and concerning and you won’t be interrupted.

Option b) — Stare at your phone and scroll through your apps whilst frowning and pretend you are reading something of great interest. This option perfectly doubles up for the situations when you simply want to avoid any form of social interaction.

Take notes — Remember how in school if you stepped out of line you were given lines to write. Well here is your chance to relive that moment and maybe combine some of the tips above. Clutter your environment with paper, whilst staring angrily and intently at the lines you are writing and I can almost guarantee you won’t be disturbed.

Get busy being busy — Finally, I have saved the best tip to last. It is one that you may have already used yourself or undoubtedly come across because someone has shared this with you.

The tip is to simply go around huffing and occasionally sighing whilst telling everyone how busy you are. When doing this make sure you say things like, “I can’t help because…” or casually slip into conversation, “I would love to do that but…” Tell as many people as you can and do this often enough and soon word will spread about how busy you are.

I would love to share more tips, but right now I am busy being busy and it’s time for me to….