Think back to your last workplace meeting. Chances are, it kicked off with a familiar exchange:
“How are you? Busy?”
“Yeah, flat out! You?”
“Absolutely, it always seems to be that time of year!”
The problem is, it is always that time of year. Despite having more digital tools than ever before, people are feeling more overwhelmed. Juggling full calendars, back-to-back meetings, and endless tasks has become a sign of dedication. Employees who are constantly in motion often receive the most praise.
But here is the thing—being busy and being productive are not the same.
In fact, they are opposites:
• Busyness is reactive; productivity is intentional.
• Busyness values effort; productivity values results.
• Busy people fill time; productive people manage it effectively.
This is the central idea behind our recently published book, Busy Idiots. One of the biggest, but least discussed, workplace problems is that busyness is not just accepted—it is encouraged, even though it leads to inefficiency and burnout.
Before you blame yourself, understand that much of this is outside your control. The average person checks their phone over 85 times a day! Interruptions from emails, messages, and notifications create a constant state of distraction. Instead of making progress on valuable work, people spend their time reacting to whatever pops up next.
This is not an accident. Technology is designed to keep you hooked. Every message, update, and notification triggers a small dopamine boost, making it harder to resist. A quick glance at an email can quickly turn into 30 minutes of scrolling, leaving you feeling busy but accomplishing little. The more this cycle repeats, the harder it is to break free. Many people finish a workday exhausted, but struggle to pinpoint what they truly achieved.
And if it is not your phone hijacking your focus, it might be your manager. Many employees struggle to prioritize their work because their boss thrives on busyness. Studies show that people do not quit jobs—they quit managers. A leader who equates being constantly busy with success, can make it hard to focus on work that actually matters. When work feels like an endless race without a finish line, motivation and performance inevitably decline.
However, employees often have more influence than they realize. Leadership is not just about job titles; it is about setting the tone. The book outlines practical strategies to help you regain control of your time and avoid the cycle of unnecessary busyness. One key approach is to build strong professional connections. Much like in school, where the people you spent time with shaped your experience, the same applies in the workplace. Surrounding yourself with focused and effective colleagues can lead to better opportunities and more fulfilling projects.
Of course, not everyone can choose who they work with. If you are in a small business or a tightly structured team, the ‘Think Clearly, Speak Directly’ framework in the book offers a way to communicate better, handle workplace challenges, and keep your attention on meaningful work without getting dragged into distractions.
Collaboration is also key. No one achieves success alone, yet many teams skip the fundamentals. Projects are launched without clear roles, responsibilities, or expectations. Even worse, teams rarely make time to connect. Work should not feel like a grind. A sense of structure and camaraderie is essential. By the time pressure mounts, it is too late to establish trust. That is why we recommend creating a team agreement—a simple, effective way to set expectations, define responsibilities, and establish shared goals. Getting this right from the start helps avoid frustration and keeps the team moving in the right direction.
Beyond workplace structure, it is also worth considering how personal habits contribute to busyness. Many professionals feel obligated to say yes to every request, fearing they will appear uncommitted if they push back. However, setting boundaries is not about refusing to help—it is about ensuring your efforts are focused on tasks that truly matter. In Busy Idiots, we explore ways to communicate these boundaries effectively so you can protect your time without damaging professional relationships.
Why call it Busy Idiots?
Because we have been there. Earlier in our careers, we confused motion with progress. We filled our time with endless tasks, but achieved little of real value. It was exhausting and unfulfilling. Deep down, you can tell when your work is meaningful and when you are just going through the motions. Busy Idiots is a call to rethink how success is measured. It is not about working harder—it is about working smarter. Being busy is not an achievement, and it does not lead to better outcomes for employees or businesses.
The good news is that change is possible. Small adjustments in focus, priorities, and work habits can lead to better efficiency and job satisfaction. Learning to prioritize, protect your time, and focus on deep, meaningful work can transform not only your productivity but also your overall work experience. The shift from busyness to productivity is within reach—you just have to be willing to make the change.
Busy Idiots is available in bookstores and on Amazon. Learn more at: www.busyidiots.net