You don't get a medal for being busy.

There’s no gold star for saying “yes” to everything.

There’s no badge of honor for overworking yourself.

You don’t get a medal for being busy.

A few years ago, I was talking to my dad at his house in Florida.

I remember it vividly: we were sitting in the backyard. Perfect weather. Kids were finally in bed. Time to relax.

We started talking about my life and I was busy like usual. I was working my butt off trying to grow my company, organizing Women’s Entrepreneurship Week, buying a condo, and who knows what else.

Then we started talking about all of the work he did when I was growing up.

The man had 3 jobs. He was an air traffic controller, a very involved member of NATCA (the controller’s union), and the mayor of the city we lived in. I’m tired just thinking about it.

He said that now, in retirement, he doesn’t miss those busy days.

And if there was one trait of his that he wishes I didn’t get, it’s the tendency to work myself to the bone.

He did it most of his life, and there I was doing it, too.

I think often about where this high-strung, overachiever mentality comes from.

Do we have something to prove? To others, to ourselves?

Is it a reputation thing?

Do we thrive under pressure?

Or do we really like being busy?

Of all the lessons I’ve learned during this pandemic, one of my biggest takeaways is that life is pretty great when you slow down.

When you have fewer commitments.

When you take a moment to yourself.

When you actually say no.

TBH, I wouldn’t have done it myself. I was forced to slow down. We were all forced to slow down.

And now, 18 months into COVID, many of us have worked ourselves right back into that *busy* place.

I know it’s hard to say no.

It’s hard to watch others succeed in ways that you could, too, if you only had more time, or fewer responsibilities.

For many, it’s hard to even sit on the couch without our brains thinking, “I should be doing something productive.” (It is for me.)

I have to constantly remind myself of this, and figured you could probably use the message, too:

There is no honor in being busy.

Take some time for yourself this week.