Are you overcommitted? Are you constantly running from one thing to the next, not sure when your next chance to sit down will come? Are you reading this on your third cup of coffee or red bull or whatever you stimulate yourself with to get through the day?

What happened to us? Why have we become a culture desperate to be busy? I’m all for being productive (I love it actually) but when did taking a breath or spending time with your family and friends, or simply sleeping 7-8 hours a night become a sign of weakness?

This speed train to burnout is not what we were created for! There’s no manual for life that says “run yourself into the ground, then you will know true happiness.” If anything, the complete opposite is the case.

When the question of “what makes you happy?” is asked to people viewed as successful in life…the wealthy, the famous, etc…the response that comes back more often with genuine happiness is “spending time with the people I love” or “doing things for others.”

This isn’t just an utopian idea; that spending time with loved ones and/or doing things for others (giving of your time, money, etc) makes you happier. Study after study has proven that the chemistry of our brain and body are positively affected by it. (Come on people…it’s science!)

Seriously though, look at your life…what needs to change? Where do you need to cut things back, so you can focus on what’s important?

It won’t be easy to make these kind of changes. Anytime we do something that’s counterculture, we get pushback from others or at least perceive it. Don’t worry about what others are doing…for now. Get yourself straight. Get your time back and redeem it by investing it in the right places. Then you can work on helping others to do the same.

You get one chance at this life. One chance with your spouse. One chance with your kids. Don’t let busyness be a replacement for real relationship, investment, etc.