Excellent question, especially now that society views busyness as a cool status symbol, so many of us feel that way. People actually strive for this badge of honor. You already discovered that busyness often doesn't get you ahead.

Your question is Entrepreneurial Time Trap #3 - Constantly "Busy" -- Getting Very Little Done.

What is really happening when this time trap ensnares you? More and more stuff keeps piling on your plate. So you try to squeeze more and more stuff into your already overloaded schedule. That's what traditional time management teaches, resulting in you finding it hard to focus on what "really" needs done. More and more responsibility crowds in on you when this time trap ensnares you. As a result, you continually try to add more tasks to your already overloaded schedule. Unfortunately, traditional time management has taught us to try to keeping "doing" more and more, only leaving you frustrated - not knowing what to focus on.

It's much easier to do all the "stuff" that doesn't require much brainpower or major effort. Who wants to do those other tasks when you feel weighed down? You end up spending way too much time doing nothing but unimportant activities.

For many, they get so overloaded with responsibilities and tasks, they lean toward completing the "stuff" that doesn't require much brainpower or major effort. Many people will "shut down" when they feel weighed down with too much to do, resulting in you spending entirely too much time doing nothing but unimportant activities.

The goal is not "busyness", but effectiveness. 80% of what you do doesn't make a big difference. Ideally, you want to quit doing it or apply less time to those activities.

What causes you to fall into this time trap? There are many reasons, but I'll talk about the most common ones: You don't necessarily want to strive for busyness, but effectiveness. Keep in mind that 80% of what you do doesn't make a significant difference. This means, you are able to quit doing it or apply less time to those activities that occupy so much of your time.

#1 Reason for Ineffective "Busyness" Reason #1 for Ineffective "Busyness"

The fastest, quickest way to end up busy but getting very little done begins with starting your day with an blurred agenda. You start the day thinking you know what needs accomplishing. Unless you clearly write out what you want to accomplish and how, you'll remain at the mercy of everyone else's agenda.

You should rise out of bed knowing what you will accomplish today, but don't wait until tomorrow to start. Make it a point to retrain yourself to form a new habit to grab a piece of paper and write out your agenda for the rest of the day. The quickest way to be busy without getting anything done is start your day with without a clear vision of what needs your attention for the day. Not knowing how to prioritize can leave you thinking you know what needs to be accomplished, but unless you have a clear understanding of your responsibilities for the day and unless you have them written out, you'll remain at the mercy of everyone else's agenda.

At the start of every new day, you should know what you will accomplish. If you don't already write your tasks down, begin today to retrain yourself to form this new habit.

#2 Reason for Ineffective "Busyness" "Reason #2" for Ineffective "Busyness"

Lack of ineffective planning causes "busyness". This reason goes hand in hand with reason number one. I know many people who write their agendas, use a planner, etc. and still fall into Time Trap #3. They follow the traditional time management method suggestion of doing only high priority items.

Elite Success Team members ran into this problem. This group of people clearly defined their goals and knew exactly what they wanted to accomplish over the year. When they completed the "Schedule Your Month for Success" section of the program, many experienced a 50% increase in effective use of their time.

Effective planning is well work the time invested and makes a big difference. It calls for a balance on doing the low priority items without neglecting the high priority ones. That little stuff will pile up more rapidly if you don't plan the time to deal with it.

Any time one does not plan things out effectively, he/she will experience "busyness". You must be very careful if you fall into this category, as many people who write their agendas, use a planner, etc. still fall into Time Trap #3. This individual follows the traditional time management method suggestion, while only tending to high priority items.

This type of person clearly defines his/her goals and knows exactly what needs to be accomplished over the year, delivering a 50% increase in effective use of their time.

Although effective planning requires one to invest time, it is sure to deliver positive results, making a big difference. It brings forth balance between completing the low priority items without neglecting the high priority ones.

#3 Reason for Ineffective Busyness Reason #3 for Ineffective Busyness

The third reason is common and can be referred to as the entrepreneurial curse of doing too many things at once. Our over-creative minds generate one idea after another. What's an idea rich, money poor soloprenuer to do? It's natural to over commit ourselves. A very common reason for ineffective busyness is due to over-commitment...otherwise referred to as the entrepreneurial curse of doing too many things at once. As an entrepreneur, your mind is often on overdrive, generating one idea after another. So What is an idea rich, money poor solopreneur to do? Stay focused on only doing one thing at a time. I'll never forget the one phone call I had with a client. She was busy answering email, working on a project, reading resumes of potential clients, all while talking on the phone. Try to remain focused, tending to one task at a time. I'll never forget a phone call I had with a client who was busy answering email, working on a project, reading resumes of potential clients - all while talking on the phone.

Her complaint...I'm always busy and it takes forever to get anything done. First I told her to stop... my time is too valuable to spend with you if you can't devote 100% attention to a scheduled appointment. She really felt that if she didn't "multi-task", nothing would get done. She complained that she was always busy and she mentioned that it takes her forever to get anything done. I immediately told her to stop - my time is too valuable to spend with you if you can't devote 100% attention to a scheduled appointment. My client felt that if she didn't multi-task, nothing would get done. Weren't you told that "multi-tasking" is a great time management technique? It's merely more of that "squeeze more stuff" mentality into your calendar. Well, there is a right way and a wrong way to "multi-task". Although many believe multi-tasking is a great time management technique, it's merely placing more tasks onto your already busy schedule. There is a right and a wrong way to multitask.

I told her to trust me and work on only one thing at a time. Set a time limit, but during that time, do nothing except that single activity. She was happy to report that she got all of her "stuff" done in less time than it did when trying to do everything at the same time. I advised her to begin working on only one task at a time. Set a time limit if you must, but during that time, give that task your undivided attention. She later reported that by utilizing this method, she ended up accomplishing her tasks in less time than it originally took her when she was trying to do multitask.

If you're tired of always being busy, look at what's causing the "busyness". Use some of the suggestions in today's answer. But if you find you need more help... I encourage you to take an inventory of what's causing the "busyness" in your busy life. Use some of the suggestions in today's answer.

If you find you need additional support, you'll find several programs on the http://www.simpletimemanagement.com designed to teach you how to focus on the 20% that produces the greatest results while working fewer hours. With these programs, you can create an abundance of time plus identify the activities and projects that bring you the greatest return for your time and money.