If you constantly feel like you're working hard but not making progress, you're not alone. Most professionals and entrepreneurs are overwhelmed by a never-ending list of tasks, messages, meetings, and responsibilities that demand their time and energy.
Being busy has become a badge of honour—but what if all that busyness is holding you back? And I’m tired of hearing it… It goes something like this: “How are you?” “Busy, how about you?”
There’s a big difference between being busy and being effective.
Busy means your calendar is full and your to-do list is endless.
Effective means your efforts are aligned with your goals, and you're moving forward in meaningful ways.
In this post, I’ll walk you through four practical steps to shift from being constantly busy to becoming truly effective, so you can focus on what matters, get more done with less stress, and create real progress in your career or business.
Let’s dive into it!
Without clear priorities, everything feels important and urgent. Are you saying the things that should matter are priorities? But not acting and making them real priorities in your life?
To get focused:
Clarity is the foundation of effectiveness.
If you don’t know what matters most, you’ll keep working on what’s easiest or most immediate, rather than what moves you forward.
Not all tasks are created equal. The 80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle) helps you zero in on what drives results.
Examples:
Protect your time for the things that matter most (I know this is a difficult one, even for me, but it really does matter, especially in today’s fast-paced world).
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Having a clear priority list is one thing—making space for it is another. That’s where time-blocking comes in.
Keep in mind, this timing will look and feel different for everyone. Maybe you have a tough time sitting down for 60 minutes straight, that’s fine, shorten the time and go from there.
This simple shift transforms your day from reactive to intentional. It helps you stop letting other people’s priorities dominate your schedule.
Momentum comes from consistent course correction. A quick weekly check-in helps you stay aligned and stop repeating low-value work.
I have done check-ins consistently for weeks and months on end, and also got off track and not done them. And let me tell you, I feel way more effective and productive each week when doing them.
Ask:
This habit helps you stay effective, not just active. It turns your week into a learning loop—so you get better, faster.
This little task can make a huge difference in your weekly bottom line. Whether that’s earning more money or getting into better shape (or both :)).
Busy feels productive in the moment. But over time, it leads to burnout, scattered progress, and missed opportunities.
The shift to effectiveness starts with intention: deciding what matters, focusing on it consistently, and giving yourself permission to stop doing everything else.
You don’t need to work more hours—you just need to work on the right things. (Reread that one…).
Start small. Protect your time. Reclaim your focus. And most importantly, take back control of how you work and where your energy goes.
Your move: Pick one task this week that truly matters. Schedule time for it. Get it done—and feel the difference.
Chris M Wilson
Chris Wilson is a motivational keynote speaker, aviator, and entrepreneur from Vancouver, BC, Canada. He helps leaders turn change into momentum with speaking, coaching and community.
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