BY ERICA GUSTAFSON, OPINION EDITOR
A college or university experience is not supposed to be a walk in the park. I learned that the hard way walking in as a shy and nervous freshman. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I wasn’t quite sure if I would find my place as a Bonnie or not. Low and behold, I am a senior now, and I feel like I’m up to my neck in clubs, organizations, internships and coursework.
The thing that keeps running through my mind is if I am busy or productive. It may seem very insignificant to most people to think about this, but I honestly question it.
These two concepts are very related to one another, but they represent different mindsets and ideas.
In looking for other ideas based on this, I discovered a 2019 article for MD Management Group about “The Subtle Difference Between Busy and Productive.”
In the article, Tyler DeVries dives straight into the multiple differences between busy and productive that focus on how each are seen through the individual. He brings up three main differences that really grabbed my attention.
“Busy is frantic, while productive is focused,” “busy is careless, while productive is attentive,” and “busy is fueled by perfectionism, while productive is fueled by purpose.”
This was the first time I have ever heard any of these comparisons between the two. I would have to say, for the most part, I agree. Every time someone says that they are productive, I don’t really question how long it took them to get the work done. My first thought goes straight to what was it that you did, and how did you do it.
DeVries explores this idea by stating that, “Busy is more concerned with the pace of the work than of the quality. It measures percent-complete but at the cost of accuracy. Productive is present in the moment. It is attentive to detail and gets it done right the first time. It innovates to find efficiencies without ever sacrificing quality.”
The ironic aspect of this all is that most people are drawn towards being a busy person instead of productive.
DeVries addresses this by saying, “We’re reluctant to admit it, but deep down, many of us are addicted to the adrenaline rush of busy. Busy can make us feel important and feed our ego.”
People tend to get so involved in how busy they are, they get flustered. They don’t know how to organize their thoughts, and they sometimes struggle to prioritize the things they need to accomplish.
Above all of this, being busy and productive are just a part of life.
A LinkedIn Expert, Anzel Botha, wrote a 2021 article on LinkedIn about “The Difference Between Busy and Productive.”
Botha wrote, “Being busy means working hard, but being productive also means working hard. When you run out of time, ask yourself what your priorities are.”
It is not easy transitioning from a busy to a productive life, but that does not mean it can’t be done. Each person individually can evaluate their own actions to justify if it is time for them to make a change or not.
I know that I will take a look at my work in the coming future to see if I lean towards being busy or productive.
