If you’re a female business leader, you’ll know the feeling. The to-do list never ends. You're stretched thin. You’re juggling clients, team, finances, family, mum's taxi, self-care..... and still trying to carve out space for growth.
It's often full on from the moment you wake up - but is it the kind of busy that moves you forward?
Too often, the answer is no.
This is what I call the Busyness Cycle — Busy being Busy, without always creating meaningful progress. It’s one of the biggest challenges I see for many women in business.
The Cost Of The Busyness Cycle for Female Business Leaders
We can kid ourselves that constantly being busy is good. We are often taught from a young age to 'work hard'. We therefore get caught in a cycle of 'doing'.
Thomas Edison once said,"There is no substitute for hard work,"
Whilst there's some truth in that - little will come to you if you just laze on the sofa day after day - working harder doesn't always mean earning more or being happier. In fact, it usually means the opposite.
Whilst there's some truth in that - little will come to you if you just laze on the sofa day after day - working harder doesn't always mean earning more or being happier. In fact, it usually means the opposite.
When you’re caught in the Busyness Cycle, it can feel like you're on a hamster wheel, or living groundhog day. You:
- Spend more time reacting/firefighting than leading
- You're ticking off the to-do list, only to see more get added on again, without getting time for the 'important, not-urgent' stuff
- Get pulled into tasks that others could do - it just seems easier to 'do it yourself'.
- Feel scattered and stressed, overwhelmed with what's on your plate, with little bandwidth left for planning, relationships, or fun
- Delay the bigger decisions and opportunities that could drive real growth
Over time, the cost can be high. Burnout. Missed opportunities. That sinking feeling of running hard, but not getting very far very fast.
Think Differently - About Busyness
The first step is to step back. Ask yourself: Am I working on what matters most, or just what’s in front of me?
Thinking differently means:
- Catching yourself playing the martyr, people-pleasing, being the 'rescuer/fixer', the one that thinks for others, &/or clears up their messes
- Challenging the assumption that you have to do it all, and by yourself
- Reframing “being busy” as a signal to pause and prioritise, rather than as a badge of honour
- Recognising that clarity comes from perspective, not pressure. The more stressed you are, the less clearly you see
- Appreciating the value of time spent planning, and communicating
- Consciously building and sharing understanding around your vision, what you are doing, and why - in business and in life
It’s about creating space to see the bigger picture, shifting your mindset and sense of identity from being a doer to a leader.
"You can do anything, but not everything" is a quote by productivity expert David Allen.
How often do you really consider what you want to spend your time doing? What you can let go of - delete, delegate, or drop - in order to do more of what lights you up, and that matters most.
Do Differently - Practical shifts to break the Busyness Cycle
Fresh thinking then needs bold action. Doing and being differently, is where change really happens.
- SHIFT 1 - PRIORITISE PAUSING TO PLAN
Schedule thinking time first. Take a couple of deep breaths to calm the monkey brain. Then, rather than diving straight into 'doing'. consciously take 5 mins to consider what will make it a productive and fulfilling day.
Shift your thinking from having a To-do list to a "Priorities List". Ask yourself - "What is most important for me to focus on next?"
Trust your instincts- you'll know what needs to be done - even if that is to take five, because you are frazzled and need to rest before pushing on again
If it helps, draw out a simple Eisenhower 4 box Matrix on a piece of paper, to organise your tasks:
1. Urgent + Important - do these first
2. Urgent + non-important - delegate, or block time later in the day to blitz these
3. Non-urgent + Important - these are the game-changers which often get left. Block deep work time in your diary to focus on these, and protect it.
4. Non-urgent + not important - these are the time, attention and energy drains. They can also be addictive - eg: doom scrolling or Netflix binging. Notice and start dropping or minimising them.
A useful question to challenge yourself with, that I use all the time - "If not you then who, If not now then when?"
Doing differently means protecting your clarity and big picture focus daily, before the world claims your energy and attention - SHIFT 2 - TRADE REACTING FOR RESPONDING
Instead of jumping on every email or request, pause and ask: Is this urgent + important, or just loud? Is this the most important thing I can be doing right now?
Instead of having emails, WhatsApp, LinkedIn or open door policy constantly, design response windows so you lead with intention, not reaction. Set times when you will be available each day. And others when you will not and get on with your own priorities, rather than being hijacked by others'.
Even small shifts here can break the Busyness Cycle and bring greater calm, clarity, and momentum. - SHIFT 3 - FLIP FROM "I SHOULD" TO "I CHOOSE TO"
This shift in approach can have a significant impact on your energy, intention and fulfilment. Rather than feeling like you "have to", find the reason why it is important, or question why you are doing something at all.
Building your self-leadership, taking full ownership of your decisions and actions reinforces your self-esteem, lowers guilt and makes your day feel intentional rather than imposed. - SHIFT 4 - THE "CLEAR SPACE COMMITMENT"
Protect 2 hours a week (or 30 mins a day) where you step away from doing and create space to think.
No phone, no laptop, no interruptions.
Use it to check in with your vision, reset priorities, or simply sit and do nothing except breathe.Clarity comes in the space between the noise — and your best ideas will emerge when you stop pushing - SHIFT 5 - The "ONE BOLD MOVE RULE"
Each day, identify one action that will genuinely move you forward — not just keep you busy.
One phone call. One video posted. One system improvement. One task delegated that will free up your time, One opportunity you say yes to, or one you say no to because it doesn't feel aligned to your vision.
The Ripple Effect In Business And Beyond
When you break the Busyness Cycle, you don’t just free up time - you transform the way you feel
• Your decisions become clearer and more confident
• Those around you value your increased focus and attention
• Your team feels empowered and trusted
• Your energy is focused on what matters most, not just firefighting
• And perhaps most importantly, you feel more present in your life beyond business
That’s when clarity, calm, and meaningful momentum follow.
This is where Think Differently, Do Differently becomes more than a phrase — it’s a way of leading and living
Where do you see yourself in the Busyness Cycle - and what’s one shift you could make today?”
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