Why Busy Work Feels Safe (But Won’t Save Your Business)

Let’s talk about something that’s probably hit close to home for a lot of us: slow sales. Whether it’s the post-holiday slump, an economic dip, or just the natural ebb and flow of business, slow seasons happen. And when they do, our first instinct is often to shrink.

We tell ourselves things like:
Maybe I should redo my website.
I’ll futz around with that new product idea I’ve been kicking around.
Oh, I know! I should finally clean up my Instagram highlights and rewrite my bio.

Sound familiar?

This “busy work” feels productive. It feels safe. But here’s the hard truth: tinkering with internal projects when sales are slow isn’t going to connect you with the community you serve—or help your revenue bounce back.

And I’m not just pointing fingers here. This is something I struggle with too.

A couple of months ago, I hit a slow patch. Instead of facing the discomfort head-on, I found myself elbow-deep in my kids’ toy bin on a random Tuesday afternoon. Three hours later, I’d successfully reorganized a rainbow of plastic dinosaurs, but my email list hadn’t heard from me in two weeks. 😬

It’s easy to retreat into these tasks. They give us a sense of accomplishment without the vulnerability of putting ourselves out there. Procrastination dressed up as “productivity” can feel like a warm, cozy blanket when business feels uncertain.

But here’s the thing: if you’re not actively connecting with the community you serve, all the well-organized highlights, revamped websites, and toy bins in the world aren’t going to move the needle.

Why Busy Work is a Symptom of Internalized Capitalism

Let’s zoom out for a moment and talk about why so many of us fall into this pattern. It’s not just a random quirk or bad habit—it’s a direct byproduct of internalized capitalism.

Capitalism teaches us that our worth is tied to our productivity. From a young age, we’re conditioned to believe that busy equals valuable. So, when sales slow down, we internalize that as a failure: If I’m not “producing,” I must be falling behind.

Cue the scramble to stay busy, even if the work isn’t meaningful.

We end up prioritizing looking productive—updating our websites, tweaking our systems, rearranging our desks—over doing the messy, relational, and vulnerable work of reaching out to our communities. It feels safer to “fix” things internally than to face the uncertainty of putting ourselves out there.

But here’s the thing: this urge to stay busy isn’t actually helping. In fact, it reinforces the very system that keeps us feeling stuck. When we focus on busy work instead of intentional action, we’re buying into the idea that our value is in what we produce, rather than how we connect and serve.

Stepping out of this pattern is hard because it requires us to unlearn these deeply ingrained beliefs. It asks us to believe that our value as humans and business owners isn’t defined by the number of tasks we check off—but by the relationships we cultivate, the support we provide, and the impact we create.

And let me tell you: that unlearning isn’t just a personal shift. It’s an act of resistance against a system that prioritizes hustle over humanity.

Connection Over Perfection

In my own business, I’ve learned (and re-learned) that outreach and community-building are the lifeblood of an anti-capitalist approach. It’s not about showing up perfectly polished; it’s about showing up, period.

So, when I notice myself falling into the busy work trap, I remind myself of these key questions:

1. Am I prioritizing tasks that connect me with my audience or hiding behind internal work?
2. When was the last time I showed up for my community in a meaningful way?
3. How can I make service the center of my efforts today?

These questions help me shift from perfectionism to action. It’s not about crafting the perfect pitch or writing the “right” email—it’s about being visible and present, even when it feels a little vulnerable.

What to Do When You Catch Yourself Hiding

If you notice yourself hiding behind busy work, here’s what I suggest:

• Reach out to your people. Send an email. Post on Instagram. Share something real and meaningful with your community.
• Offer value. Share a tip, a free resource, or a helpful insight. Let your community know you’re still here and invested in their success.
• Extend an invitation. Whether it’s booking a discovery call, joining a workshop, or trying a new product, remind your audience how they can connect with your work.

And here’s the kicker: you don’t have to do it perfectly. People connect with authenticity, not perfection.

Moving Forward

So, if you’ve been feeling stuck in a slow season, let this be your reminder to step out from behind the “safe” projects and into the world where your community is waiting.

Remember, your people want to hear from you. Not your perfectly polished website or your restructured Instagram highlights—they want the imperfect, real, and messy version of you.

You don’t need to have it all figured out to show up. Just take one small step toward connection today.

If this resonates with you and you’re ready to move beyond busy work and into intentional, values-based action, I’d love to help.

You can book a free 30-minute call with me to learn about my coaching options—or, if video feels a little too intimate right now and you'd like some good ol' fashioned written correspondence back and forth first, fill out a very short application and I’ll get back to you via email.

Let’s skip the busy work and focus on what truly matters: building relationships, serving our communities, and growing businesses that reflect our values.

I can’t wait to connect. 💛