Being Busy Brings Joy

‘How can I keep myself busy’?

A lot of people are trying to find an answer to this question.

Are you one of them?

It’s a meaningful longing.

Time is the most crucial resource we have.

This is why nobody likes to waste their time sitting idly.

But the truth is that many people catch the habit of either sitting idle or procrastinating.

They either feel too lazy to start or too challenging to continue being busy.

Keeping themselves busy could have made them more productive and fulfilled.

Various studies have also found that staying busy brings more joy to people than sitting idle.

But people fail to keep themselves busy. 

Why does this happen?

Here is an exhaustive list of reasons why you might fail to stay busy.

To overcome these hurdles to staying productively busy we must find focus, motivation, and effective strategies to keep us inspired and engaged. 

What are these ways and how can we do this?

How Can I Keep Myself Busy

Eight rules help you make your life qualitatively busier.

Do Not Tend To Sit Idle Or Procrastinate

The first principle to keep yourself busy is not to sit idle or procrastinate.

For most people, being busy is just an idea; in practice, they want to rest and keep themselves idle.

They want to protect themselves from the mental and physical hardships that they must endure when busy.

So, they either do not get to work or give up too soon.

This prevents them from keeping themselves busy.

Thus, if you genuinely want to keep yourself busy, you should be willing to embrace some hardships and hence give up the tendency to sit idle or procrastinate.

Uncertainties and minor struggles are a part & parcel of being busy.

But with time and effort, these struggles keep settling down.

And a time comes when we can pleasantly be busy.

Find Something That Interests You

The next rule to keep yourself busy is to find something that interests you.

Things that bore you cannot keep you engaged in doing them for too long.

So, if you want to be busy for longer hours doing something, it should interest you to the core.

When you love doing something, you can explore it, which keeps you genuinely, meaningfully, and productively busy.

And the best part is that you don’t even feel fatigued in doing such things.

So, you can remain busy in them for longer hours.

Thus, choose a work that may be your passion or a very dear hobby, and it will keep you truly busy.

Bring More Variety

The next way to get extremely busy is to bring variety by choosing multiple things to do.

Your passion may help you stay busy for a decent amount of time.

But a single activity cannot keep you busy beyond a certain period, irrespective of how much you like doing it.

So, you are bound to get bored of doing it after a point.

It doesn’t mean that you no longer like doing it; it just means that you now need a variety of work to keep you busy.

So, at this point, think of other things that interest you and add them to your list of things that can keep you busy.

When one job starts to bore you, switch to the next one. It will rejuvenate you instantly and give you the strength to stay busy.

Remember, variety is the spice of life. It can refresh you and hence keep you invested.

Find A Distraction-Free Environment

The next thing to do to keep yourself busy is to choose a distraction-free environment to be busy.

The external environment you work in is also of grave importance when you want to keep working or stay busy.

So, choosing an area with a crowded or noisy ambiance won’t let you remain busy productively.

It will keep distracting you and breaking your concentration.

The noise would keep getting to you constantly, which would frustrate you.

Also, people may approach you and disturb you occasionally, preventing you from staying busy.

Thus, choose an environment that is peaceful and personally comfortable for you.

It will help you build focus and generate exciting ideas and insights, which will keep you busy for a longer time.

Usually, the best distraction-free places are your studio at home or your private chamber in your office.

Take Regular Breaks

The next rule to keeping yourself busy is to take regular breaks while you are busy.

This may seem contradictory, but small breaks are essential to stay busy longer.

Regular, timely, and optimal-length breaks prevent burnout and recharge you to keep yourself busy.

However, the timing of the breaks should not be done randomly or through a fixed rule.

They should be taken only when you feel the need to.

Similarly, the timing to resume your work should also be done according to your readiness. 

Taking multiple and consistent breaks is a very important rule when trying to keep yourself busy, and it should not be skipped at any cost.

Be Driven By Self-improvement & Success

The next way to make your life busier is to be driven or motivated by self-improvement and success.

Motivation is crucial for staying busy.

And the two biggest motivations in life are self-improvement and success. 

So, keep reminding yourself of these ultimate goals in life. 

They will ensure you do not lose steam and stay busy to fulfill all your dreams.

The will to keep improving constantly and the longing to achieve success will keep pushing you forward.

Set Clear & Time-Bound Objectives

The next thing to keep in mind to keep yourself busy is to have clear and time-bound objectives.

Time is always a scarce resource when we pursue our objectives.

So, if your objectives are time-bound, it can help you stay busy and accomplish them on time.

So, set time-bound objectives for yourself.

If your time seems adequate, make a slightly tighter schedule, which may be just enough to keep you busy.

You can also break the objective down into smaller, time-bound targets, which will clarify it and help you keep yourself busy.

Find A Purpose That Goes Beyond You

The next rule to get extremely busy is to have a purpose that is beyond self.

Sometimes, when our perspective in life is limited to ourselves, we are not motivated to stay busy.

And even if we do have the motivation, it may get completed very fast.

We may not be able to find something more to keep ourselves busy.

But as soon as we attach a bigger purpose to our lives, we become more excited and committed to fulfilling it.

So, find a higher life purpose, such as uplifting your family, community, state, nation, or the world.

The bigger the responsibility, the more it will keep you busy.

When you find a purpose bigger than yourself, you will finally discover a way to keep yourself busy at will.

Staying Balanced Is Equally Important

Sometimes, asking yourself, ‘How can I keep myself busy?’ becomes essential.

It’s better to be busy than to stay idle and waste time.

To further motivate you, here is a comparison between living a busy life and living an idle life.

Being busy is okay, but you should remember an important caveat here.

In trying to be busy, do not forget to find balance in life.

Maintain work-life balance and give ample time to yourself and your family.

Also, do not try to be too busy to forget or ignore a bad memory or a painful past.

It’s never healthy.

Trying to be busy is meaningful when you waste a lot of time or have a lot of free time.

So, be busy but also find the right work-life balance.

Being busy optimally will give you the necessary time to love and care for yourself.

And this delicate balance will help you make your life feel effortless and extraordinary