How I Stopped Confusing Being Busy With Being Productive
About five years ago, I hit a wall. My weeks were packed with work – shows, sessions, teaching, workshops… you name it. For a while I truly loved the grind, but eventually I started to feel like a hamster spinning endlessly on a wheel. I was moving constantly but going nowhere.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine burning out doing the thing I love more than anything.
But I did.
Eventually, the lack of sleep, poor eating habits, and constant stress caught up with me. I realized something had to change.
That moment, deciding to use my time more intentionally, was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
If you’re looking to become more productive (not just busier), here are a few lessons I’ve learned along the way. I hope they help you as much as they’ve helped me.
Busy vs. Productive
This was a huge revelation for me:
Being busy and being productive are not the same thing.
It wasn’t unusual for me to play three to five shows on a weekend, teach during the day, and pack my weekdays with more of the same. I never took a day off. When friends asked how I’d been, I’d enthusiastically tell them how insanely busy I was, like it was something to brag about.
The truth is that I was running myself into the ground. Eventually, I burned out completely.
If you’re wondering whether burnout is real, trust me – it absolutely is, and it took me years to fully recover.
The Most Expensive Word in Music
For years, the word that quietly dictated my career was “yes.”
Yes to another gig.
Yes to another rehearsal.
Yes to another teaching commitment.
Yes to work that paid less than it should have because I was afraid there wouldn’t be anything else.
Every yes felt responsible. In reality, many of them were expensive. Every low-paying job consumed time that could have been spent writing, practicing, recording, resting, or pursuing opportunities that aligned with the career I actually wanted.
Eventually I realized something that changed everything:
Every time you say yes to the wrong opportunity, you’re saying no to the right one.
Learning to say no wasn’t about becoming lazy or difficult. It was about becoming intentional.
Busy = saying yes to everything without considering whether it’s worthwhile.
Productive = setting goals and only saying yes to what moves you toward them.
Set Goals and Stick to Them
My first goal in this process was simple:
Do less work for more money.
I felt guilty even thinking it. I come from a long line of hardworking people, and asking for “less work” felt selfish… maybe even lazy.
But I eventually realized there’s nothing wrong with wanting a better, more sustainable life. The problem wasn’t working hard – it was working hard without direction.
I love the saying: “When we lose our why, we lose our way”.
Whenever I start drifting, I re-read my goals, and it instantly reconnects me to my purpose.
And here’s a simple filter that changed everything for me:
Whenever a new opportunity comes in, ask yourself:
Does this help move me toward my goals?
If the answer is no…
Don’t do it.
Make Time for Creative & Personal Development
These days, I have a morning routine between 9–10 a.m. that includes some combination of yoga, Qi Gong, meditation, journaling, reading, and music practice. It sounds like a lot for one hour, but after some trial and error, I’ve found a rhythm that truly works.
In my old life, I practiced for hours every day. Now I’ve learned that short, focused bursts, even just five or ten minutes, are far more effective.
This routine has been transformative. It’s improved my musicianship, my mental clarity, and my overall mood in ways I never expected.
If you’re a songwriter, maybe try speed writing each morning. If you’ve wanted to start meditating, carve out five minutes…and if the thought of getting started feels too overwhelming, start even smaller.
But start.
Just begin, somewhere, anywhere…and keep going.
Over time, small habits compound into big change.
You’ll see.
Get Off the Devices
I set specific times to check emails and social media and avoid my phone for the rest of the day. Every morning with a cup of tea, I check emails and messages. Then again in the early evening, I do one final pass. At night, instead of scrolling endlessly, I leave my phone in the living room and take a book to bed. This tiny choice has cleared so much mental clutter, and I sleep better than I have in years.
The biggest surprise wasn’t how much less time I spent on my phone, it was how much more present I became. I found myself reaching for an instrument instead of Instagram, listening to music more intentionally, and noticing ideas that might otherwise have been lost in the endless scroll. Creativity has a funny way of returning when you give it a little room to breathe.
Final Thoughts
I hope these reflections help you find more clarity, balance, and purpose in your own creative life. If you have tips of your own, I’d love to hear them…drop them in the comments below.
And remember:
Your time is valuable.
Your energy is valuable.
You are valuable.
