{"id":36943,"date":"2016-12-26T23:16:46","date_gmt":"2016-12-27T07:16:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?page_id=36943"},"modified":"2016-12-26T23:24:27","modified_gmt":"2016-12-27T07:24:27","slug":"how-to-be-less-busy-in-life","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/how-to-be-less-busy-in-life\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Be Less Busy in Life"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"eric
Hanoi, 2016 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

Most of us always complain that we are always too busy. We all strive to have more leisure, relaxation, and peace in our lives. But why do we always let others barge into our free time, and allow ourselves to fall into the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153busy trap?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d How can we learn how to play offense\u00e2\u20ac\u201d and protect our precious free time?<\/p>\n

Do less<\/h2>\n

For some strange reason, we believe that by being more busy, we will be more happy.<\/p>\n

In reality, I think we all want to do less<\/em> of stuff we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like doing, and more<\/em> of what we want to truly do.<\/p>\n

It is hard for us to find more time to do what we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re passionate about. It is hard for us to find more time to make photos. It is hard for us to prioritize our creative work. No matter how hard we try, it is very hard to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153add\u00e2\u20ac\u009d free time to our lives.<\/p>\n

The easier thing to do: subtract superfluous and unnecessary activities from our lives<\/strong>. In order to be less busy, do less.<\/p>\n

What are the pointless social obligations you can graciously say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153no\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to (in a nice way?) What are the time-wasting apps on your phone that you can uninstall? What are the distracting websites and blogs you can block from your browser? What are the passive forms of entertainment that you can subtract from your life\u00e2\u20ac\u201d to focus on being a maker, not a taker<\/strong>?<\/p>\n

Learn how to deflect<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Portrait by Josh White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I know it first hand\u00e2\u20ac\u201d I cannot say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153no.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d It is because I am a people pleaser. I put the needs of others before myself.<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve found a more effective way to say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153no\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is to deflect. When someone asks you to do something you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to do, or when they invite you to some social event that you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to go \u00e2\u20ac\u201d use strategic delay to your advantage.<\/p>\n

For example, instead of saying a flat-out \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcno\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 to someone\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s face\u00e2\u20ac\u201d learn how to say things like:<\/p>\n