You know those days when you look at your calendar and think, “How did I get here?” Meetings, calls, deadlines, social obligations… and they’re all piled on top of each other like some twisted game of Tetris. You’re running from one thing to the next, but somewhere in all the chaos, you wonder, “Am I living? Or am I just surviving?”

Saying you’re “busy” has become the new “I’m fine.” It’s the perfect cover-up. The excuse to avoid confronting whatever’s lurking under the surface. But here’s the thing, busy is not a personality. It’s a hiding place. And trust me, you do not want to live there.

I mean, think about it: when was the last time you actually paused and thought about what you really want out of your life? Not the stuff you feel like you should do or the things that keep you occupied, but the things that make your heart skip a beat and your mind buzz with excitement. When was the last time you actually felt like you were living with purpose and not just filling space?

Being busy doesn’t make you important. It makes you exhausted.

We tell ourselves we’re too busy for a reason. It’s easier to say “I’m swamped” than admit we’re avoiding something deeper, because maybe we’re scared. Scared of the silence. Scared of the fact that, deep down, we don’t know what the hell we’re doing with our lives. But busy? That’s easy. It’s a mask. It’s the “I’m doing something” comfort zone. But are you really doing something? Or are you just avoiding everything that might require you to get real with yourself?

Truth is, You’re Not as Important as You Think

And I mean that in the most loving way possible. It’s just that we’ve all been taught to believe that the more we fill our lives with meetings, deadlines, and all sorts of “busy” activities, the more valuable we become. As if checking off boxes somehow equals fulfillment. But if you’re so busy that you can’t remember the last time you took a breath, that’s not a life. That’s a hamster wheel.

But here’s the kicker: We’re addicted to it.

Busy is seductive. It gives us something to do when we’re too afraid to sit with ourselves. It makes us feel needed, even when we’re neglecting what actually matters. So we keep going. And we keep saying, “I’m so busy,” like it means something. But the truth is, if you’re constantly busy, you’re missing out on everything else. The slow mornings. The spontaneous adventures. The conversations that actually mean something.

So why do we keep doing this to ourselves?

Because it’s easier than confronting what might be lying just beneath the surface. We’re too busy to notice we’re unhappy. Too busy to wonder if we’re actually moving towards the life we dream about or if we’re just filling time because being still is terrifying.

But here’s what I’ve learned: the moment you stop running around like a chicken with its head cut off and actually breathe, that’s when things get good.

You deserve to live a life that feels intentional, not just busy. And I know, I know…you’re thinking, “But if I stop, if I slow down, what will happen?!” Bestie, nothing’s going to happen except maybe the most amazing thing ever: you’ll start to feel again. You’ll start to remember what truly excites you, what makes you come alive.

It’s time to take off that mask. Stop using your calendar as a shield to avoid what really matters. Start living a life that feels real, not just full. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about how much you’ve done. It’s all about how you’ve lived.