From Busy to Full: Rethinking Productivity

when we aren’t intentional, “busy” often becomes a trap

“Busy” usually signals overwhelm, stress, or being stretched too thin. It carries urgency, pressure, and depletion.
“Full,” on the other hand, means my time and energy are aligned with my values and goals. There’s rhythm and flow. I feel engaged by everything I’m doing, not drained.
And here’s something else I’ve noticed: when we aren’t intentional, “busy” often becomes a trap. It can keep us moving so fast that we don’t have to slow down and face what’s really going on.
Sometimes “busy” is just avoidance.

“I’m too busy to get to the gym” really means “I don’t want to face the discomfort of starting again.”

“I’m too busy to call that friend” might mean “I’m not ready to sit with what’s happening in that relationship.”

I see this in myself too. As I’ve been growing the B2B side of my business, I’ve caught myself saying I’m “too busy” for cold outreach. The truth? It feels overwhelming and scary.
Instead, I’ll check ten other things off my list that don’t actually move the needle. But when I slow down and send even just two intentional emails, the impact is far greater than all those smaller tasks combined.This is why I often have clients track their energy — noticing where it leaks and where it fills.

productivity isn’t about how many things you check off your list. It’s about the impact of what you’re doing.

For leaders especially, this exercise is eye-opening. As they move into more senior or executive roles, their success depends less on how much they personally “get done” and more on how effectively they focus, delegate, and align their energy with strategy. It also highlights where they may be avoiding. That awareness gives us the chance to go deeper into why they’re avoiding certain things—whether it’s fear, discomfort, or overwhelm—and then create an action plan to help them overcome those obstacles. From there, they can begin to align their energy and time with their bigger goals. And that’s where the shift into productivity happens. Because productivity isn’t about how many things you check off your list. It’s about the impact of what you’re doing. And even if you’re not a senior leader, that’s a powerful reminder for every area of life.

I’ll never forget a group coaching session where I asked: How do you measure productivity?

Most people said it was about how many tasks they checked off their list. Then one participant said something that stopped us all in our tracks: “I measure productivity by the impact of what I’m doing.”

That wisdom reframed everything. To measure impact, you first need clarity on what your goals are. Then you can decide which actions truly matter.

Here’s the distinction I keep coming back to:

Busyness has power over you. Fullness puts you back in the driver’s seat.

So here’s my invitation to you this month:

Notice when you say “busy.”
What might I be avoiding by staying “busy”?
Is my schedule depleting me or filling me up?
Am I actually being productive—or just busy?
What action would create the most impact right now?

When we shift from busy to full, and from checking boxes to creating impact, we create sustainable productivity, fulfillment, and satisfaction—in work and in life.

Learn more about Stephanie Simpson and how she can help you and your team shift their mindset and get more done!