Are You Busy or Just Spinning Your Wheels?
- Sonia Brown MBE
- Mar 21
- 6 min read
"Busyness can be a form of laziness. Are you being productive or simply filling your time?" Martha Stewart
We wear "busy" like a badge of honour, but let’s be real—sometimes, it’s just a clever disguise for something deeper. As leaders, entrepreneurs and trailblazers, we juggle a thousand things, constantly moving from one task to the next. But what are we truly accomplishing? Neuroscience tells us that our brains crave dopamine, the "reward chemical," which spikes every time we check something off our to-do list—whether it’s answering emails, attending back-to-back meetings, or scrolling through industry news.
The problem? Not all tasks contribute equally to growth and too often, we mistake activity for achievement.
In reality, excessive busyness can be a form of cognitive overload, reducing our brain’s ability to make strategic decisions. Studies on ‘executive function’—the part of our brain responsible for focus, problem-solving and goal-setting—reveal that when we constantly switch tasks, we activate what neuroscientists call "attention residue." This means that even as we move on to a new task, part of our focus lingers on the previous one, making us less effective overall. Simply put, being busy can keep us in a reactive state, always responding but rarely innovating. Instead of working on our vision, we get caught working in it, spinning our wheels without real traction.
There’s also a deeper emotional layer to this. Sometimes, busyness is a form of avoidance.
When we’re overwhelmed with tasks, we don’t have to confront difficult decisions, uncomfortable truths, or even our own self-doubt. It’s easier to say, “I’m too busy” than to admit we’re afraid to take the next step. Our nervous system, wired for predictability and safety, often seeks refuge in familiar habits, even if those habits aren’t serving us. That’s why high-performing leaders must go beyond managing their time—they must manage their mental energy and align their tasks with a clear, purpose-driven vision.
The real question is: Are we using our time to move forward, or are we simply filling our schedules to feel productive? True leadership isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters most. By applying principles of neuroscience and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), we can break free from the busyness trap; rewire our thought patterns and create meaningful, high-impact results. Imagine leading with intention, making decisions that fuel long-term success and reclaiming time for what truly moves the needle. Now that is powerful leadership.
5 Things We Hide Behind When We Say We're ‘Too Busy’
1️. Perfectionism – We convince ourselves we can’t launch, post, or present unless it’s just right. The truth? Perfect never comes. Progress does. Perfectionism is linked to overactivity in the anterior cingulate cortex, the part of the brain that helps us detect errors. This heightened awareness of mistakes can lead to analysis paralysis, keeping us stuck in endless revisions instead of meaningful action.
2️. People-Pleasing – Overcommitting and saying ‘yes’ to everything? It might be time to set some boundaries and focus on your mission. The ventral striatum, our brain’s reward centre, lights up when we make others happy, reinforcing a cycle of people-pleasing. However, chronic over commitment increases cortisol (the stress hormone), leading to exhaustion and reduced cognitive function.
3️. Avoidance – Deep down, we know what needs to be done, but we fill our schedules with smaller, less meaningful tasks to avoid the bigger (scarier) ones. Our brain’s amygdala, responsible for processing fear, often exaggerates perceived threats, making big tasks feel overwhelming. To cope, we default to task substitution, choosing easier, low-stakes activities that give us a false sense of productivity.
4️. Lack of Prioritisation – Not everything needs to be done right now. Are you making moves, or just making lists? The prefrontal cortex, which manages decision-making and planning, struggles when overloaded with too many tasks. Without clear priorities, we fall into decision fatigue, where our ability to make effective choices deteriorates throughout the day.
5️. Fear of Success – This one’s sneaky. Sometimes, we overload ourselves so we have an excuse for why we’re not stepping into our full power. The brain’s dopaminergic system associates success with increased responsibility, which can trigger subconscious fears of failure or judgment. This leads us to self-sabotage by filling our time with distractions rather than pursuing meaningful progress.
It's Time for a Reality Check
Stepping out of the busyness trap starts with awareness. Too often, we fill our schedules with endless tasks, convincing ourselves that being busy is the same as being productive. But in reality, our subconscious mind may be running old patterns that keep us stuck in a cycle of motion without real progress. Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) teaches us that our thoughts, language and behaviours shape our reality. By asking the right questions, we can uncover hidden beliefs, reframe our mindset and break free from self-imposed limitations.
The key is to recognise the difference between what keeps us occupied and what actually moves us forward. When we operate on autopilot, our brains default to familiar habits, even when those habits aren’t serving us. This is because the brain’s reticular activating system (RAS) filters information based on past experiences and existing thought patterns. If we’ve conditioned ourselves to believe that success requires constant busyness, we’ll unconsciously seek ways to reinforce that belief. The good news? By consciously shifting our focus, we can reprogram our minds for clarity, effectiveness and true impact.
Take a moment to reflect on these questions designed to uncover what’s really holding you back. Write your answers down, be honest with yourself and notice what patterns emerge. Awareness is the first step to transformation—once you see where your time and energy are being misplaced, you can start making intentional shifts toward what truly matters. Your next level of success isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing what matters most.
If you’re ready to step out of the busyness trap, take a moment to reflect on these NLP-based questions designed to uncover what’s really holding you back:
What tasks make you feel "productive" but aren’t actually moving you closer to your biggest goal?
When you say you’re "too busy," what are you avoiding or putting off?
How would your workday look if you only focused on high-impact activities?
What beliefs about success and productivity are keeping you stuck in a cycle of constant motion?
If you could delegate or remove three tasks that drain your energy, what would they be?
Now, take your answers and create an action plan. Identify one thing you can shift today to break free from busyness and step into true effectiveness.
You Can Do This!
Your time is valuable and your vision deserves more than just busywork. Every minute spent on low-impact tasks is a minute taken away from strategic growth, innovation and meaningful progress. Instead of wearing "busy" like a badge of honour, step into a mindset of purpose-driven productivity. When you prioritise what truly moves the needle, you shift from reacting to daily demands to leading with intention. The most successful leaders don’t do everything—they focus on the right things, ensuring that their efforts yield tangible, lasting results.
True leadership is about working smarter, not harder!
Neuroscience shows that when we overload our brains with too many decisions and scattered activities, we deplete cognitive resources, leading to decision fatigue and diminished effectiveness. The prefrontal cortex, which governs executive functions such as strategic thinking and problem-solving, thrives when it operates with clarity and focus.
By streamlining priorities, eliminating distractions and aligning daily actions with a broader vision, leaders cultivate a high-performance mindset that drives meaningful impact. The shift from busyness to effectiveness happens when you take control of your time instead of letting it control you.
Your time is a strategic asset and your vision requires more than just managing tasks—it demands precision, focus and intentional action. High-performance leaders understand that sustainable success isn’t about doing more but about directing energy where it delivers the greatest return. Every decision should align with long-term goals, ensuring that daily activities contribute to measurable progress. This is strategic productivity—identifying and eliminating non-essential tasks while concentrating on what moves your business and leadership forward. The transition from reactive busyness to purposeful leadership starts with recognising where time and energy are best invested.
Now is the time to make a decisive shift. What adjustments will you implement to optimise your time, increase clarity and accelerate growth? Will you delegate operational tasks to free up bandwidth for strategic planning? Will you implement decision-making frameworks to enhance efficiency? Success is built on deliberate action and the most effective leaders are those who consistently refine their approach. What intentional shift will you make today to lead with greater clarity, confidence and impact in your business and career?
Your Leadership, Your Legacy—NBWN Is Here to Elevate Both!
If you’re ready to lead with purpose, maximise your impact, and accelerate your growth, then you need the right support system—one that understands the unique challenges and ambitions of high-performing women like you.
At NBWN, we don’t just offer leadership support—we redefine it. We’ve built a powerful ecosystem designed to empower, equip and elevate women who are ready to move beyond busywork and into true strategic leadership. Why settle for ordinary when you can align with a network that champions excellence, innovation and success?
Let’s talk about your leadership journey. Connect with us today and discover how we can help you turn ambition into achievement, vision into influence and ideas into lasting impact. Because let’s be real—who wouldn’t want to work with the best?
Get in touch and let’s make your leadership legacy unforgettable.
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