When you read this, Christmas 2021 will be in the books. And while I could write for days about how Christmas snuck up on me, how I did all my shopping in two hours online in one Amazon order, or how end-of-the-year tasks are a grind, I have decided to focus on the future.

I am not one to make New Year’s resolutions. Whether it is losing weight, drinking less or spending more time with family, these broad statements or “resolutions” always seem to fade by the time February rolls around. There’s a good reason why: Mainly, resolutions are rarely specific enough to be measured and what we don’t measure gets lost in the busyness of everyday activities. This is precisely why we use SMART goals in a business setting. Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Relevant. Time-bound. What we measure, we generally achieve.

That being said, I feel it is imperative I set one really nebulous goal — dare I say "resolution"?! — for myself in 2022. I have come to this conclusion after multiple instances of feedback from those around me — colleagues and loved ones.

The goal? Be less “busy.”

There are so many problems with this “goal,” I really don’t know where to begin. What does “busy” mean? How do you measure it? Is it even achievable in today’s world? Let’s tackle each of these one by one and throw in a little research that shows I am not the only one feeling this way.

What does "busy" mean?

For me, being busy has been the norm since I entered the workplace. It is raising four daughters, serving my employer (and the 60,000 pork producers who fund us through the Pork Checkoff) in a demanding role that utilizes the strengths I’ve developed over a 20-year career, supporting my partner as he opens a new business, and being a good friend to those who have shown me grace and friendship throughout the years.

Given this as a normal state, how do I know when I am too busy? I know because I am short with people (especially those I love), I stop doing the things that I know make me a better person (eating right, working out), and I start to have a generally negative view of the world. This state, as I have discovered, is also referred to as burnout. And it is real.

How do you measure “busy”?

It may seem like an over-used, emotional and personal term, but there actually is a lot of science around burnout. A close friend and colleague recently forwarded me a wonderful article about “Time Stress” and how it holds women back in the workplace. The article explores how women are more prone to work-related burnout than men and the possible connection to time stress, which is described by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) as a societal epidemic.

I would venture a guess that each and every person reading this blog has experienced time stress in their life, especially in the last month, as the holidays and year-end processes at work create additional pressures. There is research, however, showing women experience time stress more often than men due to a variety of factors, but mostly rooted in the desire to prove themselves worthy of their roles. We take on additional tasks, both voluntarily and upon request, avoid asking for help so as not to be perceived as a burden, and avoid asking for additional time on a project, even when deadlines are flexible.

So back to the question: How do you measure this? From my experience, I need people to point it out to me. In fact, I rely on my friends and colleagues to tell me I need to slow down. And I have started to listen to them.

Is being less "busy" achievable in today’s world?

The only answer to this is an emphatic YES, because to say "no" would be admitting defeat. Specific steps I am taking in 2022 related to the workplace? 1) Guarding time on my calendar to get work done (and control meeting overload). 2) Asking for more information to prioritize tasks and challenging arbitrary deadlines. 3) Setting clear expectations with those I work with. 4) Delegating work to others and seeing it as an opportunity for others who want to learn, not a burden.

I am also taking some big steps outside the workplace too. 1) More frequent vacations where I am completely unplugged, including my first ever two-week vacation! 2) Protecting time on my calendar for regular workouts and other self-care. 3) Reconnecting with friends, far and near, through coffee dates and phone calls.

So, maybe this year, I am a resolution person. With a little more awareness of what busyness looks like, and help from friends, family and colleagues though, I plan to stick to this one.

Bring on 2022: musings on resolutions

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