Become Truly Productive by Avoiding the False Hustle and Bustle Trap
Real productivity comes down to doing what matters; work that affects our tasks. When you feel like you’ve had a stressful day with nothing to show, you fall prey to “false hustle and bustle.”
The term false fuss originated in baseball and is still widely used in sports today. For example, the outfielder who runs from the dugout into the right field seems to be in a hurry. But when a player runs up to the ball to play, it becomes clear that he was having a false fuss. They don’t put work where it matters. Fast Company’s Jeff Archibald suggests that false hustle and bustle can be part of anyone’s workday:
False fuss is when you waste your energy on tasks that ultimately don’t help you achieve your goals.
Think about all the hours of work you have spent and try to determine what has actually been done. Maybe you need to work early just to waste extra time browsing the web. Maybe you went to the store and bought some home cleaning products but came home and crashed on the couch. Or maybe you are answering email for email, assuming you are doing work only to be in critical condition by the end of the day. Think about the moments when you are falsely fussing and turn them into real fuss. If you want to run out of the dugout into the field, that’s fine, but be prepared to play the game as soon as you go outside.
False Bustle: How Employment Reduces Productivity | Fast Company