Is Being Busy the Same as Being Productive?

I used to believe that being busy all day meant I was working hard.. I have come to understand that being busy and being productive are not the same thing at all.

You can work for eight hours. Still not finish the things that truly matter. Looking at emails going to meetings responding to messages and doing jobs can fill up the whole day. By the end of the day you might feel exhausted. That doesn’t always mean you did something meaningful.

For me productivity is about what you accomplish, not just how much stuff you do. I mean, finishing one important task where you give it your full attention is often way more valuable than doing ten small tasks that do not really have a clear purpose.

I also believe that taking breaks is a part of being productive. The thing is, we are beings, not machines and working all the time does not always give us better results. Sometimes taking a break can really help productivity because it gives us a chance to come back with more energy and focus on productivity.

So I do not think that being busy automatically means you are being productive with your time. Being busy just fills up your time whereas being productive, with your time moves productivity forward and helps you achieve your goals with productivity.