Reclaiming Your Time: How to Prioritize Self-Care Over Busyness

Reframing the Narrative Around Being Busy

It can be challenging to go against societal pressures to be busy. While prioritizing self care can enhance productivity it is often seen as detrimental. Being able to balance self care and busyness means redefining what busyness means to you. Here are a few ways to start:

1. Identify What Being Busy Means to You Right Now

Take some time to reflect on the meaning of being busy by either writing it down or noting thoughts that come up around busyness. Many times busyness is associated with success and productivity through social messages and this can impact our own perception. Also ask yourself what it serves that is helpful and ways that it may be harmful.

2. Reframe this Definition to Add in Self Care and Rest

Now add to this narrative to add in self care and rest as a part of the cycle to busyness, noting ways this can impact your well-being. Practice thinking of self care and rest as beneficial, envisioning how it can enrich your days. Also note if your self care is task centered and ways you can slow down to embrace mindfulness as a part of self care.

Value Rest as a Form of Productivity

Rest is important—it’s necessary for creativity, focus, and emotional regulation. Think of it as active restoration.

3. Set Boundaries Around Time and Energy

Practice saying no when needed. Schedule intentional unstructured time. And during that time ask yourself what you need and what will be best for you. This can be a way to protect your evenings or weekends and build in self care. Treat your downtime as sacred—just as important as any meeting or obligation.

4. Embrace Slowing Down

If you start to fear that you’re falling behind, find ways to embrace the joy in slowing down, choosing solitude, or opting out of scheduled activities and tasks.

4. Resist Performative Productivity

Be aware of the trap of needing to "prove" your value by always doing something. It can be self esteem building to balance your motivations through tangible outcomes as well as inherent self worth, that is not reliant on goals.

Self-Care that Counters Busyness Culture

True self-care is making intentional choices that support your wellbeing. Examples include:

• Getting adequate sleep, even if work isn’t “done”

• Taking a full break without multitasking

• Unplugging from screens and social media

• Moving your body gently

• Reflecting, journaling, or meditating to reconnect with yourself

• Spending time doing “nothing” without guilt

Final Thought: You Are Not Your Productivity

The pressure to always be busy can be detrimental to wellbeing. Your value isn’t in what you do—it’s in who you are. Choosing slowness, presence, and rest is an act of self-love and can contribute to self-esteem and decreased stress.