Being Busy Brings Joy

‘How can I keep myself busy?’

Many people are seeking an answer to this question. Are you one of them?

It’s a meaningful longing.

Time is the most crucial resource we have, and nobody likes to waste their time.

But the truth is that many people catch the habit of either sitting idly or procrastinating. They either feel too lazy to start or find it too challenging to keep themselves busy.

Keeping yourself busy can make you more productive and fulfilled. Various studies have also found that staying busy brings more joy to people than sitting idle.

But people still fail to keep themselves busy. 

Why does this happen?

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

To overcome these hurdles to staying productively busy, we must find focus, motivation, and practical strategies that work for us. 

What are these ways, and how can we follow them?

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 idly or procrastinate.

For most people, being busy is just an idea; in practice, they prefer to rest and remain idle.

They want to keep themselves “safe” from the mental and physical hardships one has to endure when busy.

So, they either avoid work or give up quickly, preventing them from staying busy.

If you genuinely want to stay busy, you must give up sitting idle or procrastinating and recognize the value in staying productive.

So, give up overthinking, make a start, and stay consistent to stay busy.

If you find it challenging to be consistent, break down the task into smaller and simpler parts.

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 them for too long. It will quickly make you feel bored and sleepy.

But when you love doing something, you can explore it, which keeps you genuinely, meaningfully, and productively busy. You can keep doing that activity all day without getting tired.

So, you can choose a work that you are passionate about or a hobby that can help you stay busy.

Bring More Variety

Another way to become extremely busy is to introduce variety by choosing multiple things to do.

You may be passionate about something, but it might still bore you after a while.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to explore multiple activities that interest you. When one thing starts to bore you, you can switch to the other one, hence staying busy.

Remember, variety is the spice of life. It can keep you fresh, hence keeping you invested.

Find A Distraction-Free Environment

The next step to staying busy is to choose a distraction-free environment.

The place you choose to work can be of significant importance.

Choosing an area that is crowded or has a noisy ambiance may distract you, break your rhythm, and prevent you from staying busy.

So, you must choose an environment that is peaceful and personally suitable for you.

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

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

Take Regular Breaks

The next rule for keeping yourself busy is to take regular breaks.

This may seem contradictory, but taking small breaks is essential for maintaining focus and productivity over longer periods.

Regular, timely, and optimal-length breaks prevent burnout and keep you charged and busy. It can help you work for longer durations without feeling fatigued.

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.

The two biggest motivations in life are self-improvement and achieving success. 

Remember them, and it will ensure you do not ever lose steam and stay busy to fulfill all your dreams.

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.

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

So, set time-bound objectives for yourself.

To stay busy, remember to set new objectives when the old ones get fulfilled. If you get fulfilled by your past laurels, you may lose the motivation to set and pursue new ones.

Find A Purpose That Goes Beyond You

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

Working only for yourself and your well-being can feel overwhelming and tedious.

It may keep you from being productively and happily busy in life.

To keep yourself motivated and stay busy, you must choose a higher goal in life. Something that the world needs, but very few people are doing.

It may be something that uplifts society or the people around you, for example, helping the poor or sick, working for the environment, or animal welfare.

These social spaces require a lot of work, which can keep you busy and also bring you inner satisfaction, helping you become a better person.

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 good, but to make it great, you should remember an important caveat.

In trying to be busy, do not forget to stay balanced in life.

Maintain a work-life balance and allocate sufficient time for yourself and your family. Keeping yourself too busy with work can harm your family life and make you feel lonely.

Also, trying to forget a bad memory or a painful past should not be the reason why you want to stay busy, as it might adversely impact you.

Keeping yourself busy is meaningful and helpful only when procrastination wastes a lot of your precious time.

So, be balanced, and keep yourself busy for the right reasons. 

When you are qualitatively and productively busy, it can transform your life very quickly, helping you fulfil all your dreams.