Having read Glynnis Whitwer’s Taming The To Do List, I was curious how this book would be a fresh take on that. In fact, this book is far deeper than that. In essence, it focuses on the balance we strive to strike between work and rest and how that affects our perception of our self-worth. Her interrogation of where our self-worth originates (SPOILER ALERT: it’s not work) and how to re-orientate ourselves when we have defined ourselves by our work is the starting point of the book. I enjoyed the journey Glynnis takes the reader on, she delves into the purpose of work, it’s importance in our lives but also the importance of rest and white space. I found her conditions of unhealthy busyness useful parameters to weigh my own work up against.

As a CRPS sufferer, rest, work and self-worth are entwined with hope and wellness. I can work more, contribute more and so feel alive when I’m well and it’s addictive. Rest is generally associated with illnesses and exhaustion or a lack of energy. Dangerous perceptions if I don’t counter them with truths tucked into this book and throughout the Bible. Valuing rest as much as work has taken me a long time and this was a great reminder of why it’s essential to a peaceful life!

My favourite lines include:

“You can imagine when your identity is wrapped up in what you do, you will always seek to do more.”

“When I refer to work in this book, I want to clarify that I’m referring to whatever responsibilities God has given us. For some this will mean caring for a home, raising children, leading a ministry, athletics, teaching or being employed. There are so many ways we work.”

“God definitely modeled active and attentive effort when He created the world.”

“Work at its finest offers us the same blessings. We are able to use our God-given design, and we experience the pleasure of being given responsibility.”

“He wants us to trust Him. Trust Him with our daily needs. Trust Him to open doors of opportunity. Trust Him to define our identity.”

“Spiritual rest is a deep sense of confidence that no matter what comes our way, God is still on the throne, He has not forgotten us, and He is working on our behalf.”

“I’ve discovered four conditions of unhealthy busyness: being busy without boundaries, being a busybody, doing work I’m not called to do, and focusing on busywork over my best work.”

“Just as white space adds beauty to any piece of art, the printed page, a website or ad, white space in our lives serves a similar benefit.”

“This is why I don’t judge the Israelites, not do I judge anyone who has been through abuse. It’s really hard to trust when your trust has been betrayed. To trust again takes a depth of bravery few have.”

“What can only I do?”

“What has God entrusted to me?”

“Am I a good steward of what I already have?”

“What passion (or dream) has God put in my heart?”

“What has God asked me to do that I haven’t done yet?”
I found the book gave me clarity and insights into the work/rest balance, reaffirmed the importance of focusing on my life patterns and highlighted biblical passages to refer back to – five out of five on the en-JOY-meant scale, I really recommend this one!

How many of us are busy from sunup to sundown? Work, school, family, friends, church, sports, hobbies, and the myriad other things that occupy us seem to take over our time. The culture always pushes for more, busyness included. When will it stop? Or if not stop, how do we handle the it without becoming overwhelmed?

Doing Busy Better: Enjoying God's Gifts of Work and Rest is a self-help book by Glynis Whitwer. It is a book suggestions, verses, and the author's experiences on how to better manage our time to the glory of God, to the betterment of ourselves and those around us, and without becoming overwhelmed. They weren't so much a list of tips or instructions so much as encouragement and suggestions of how to change our focus and habits to glorify God and do what really matters. It's hard to explain, exactly. It wasn't a guilt trip or another to-do list. It was more of applicable encouragement, relatable stories, and verses.

Doing Busy Better was a very helpful book for me. I am really busy, despite everything. The author's descriptions of being in college and feeling overwhelmed, procrastinating, and feeling guilty describes my current experience exactly. It's so easy to be caught up with the things we "should do," want to do, or can't say no to. The book was helpful and enlightening. Now, the implementing part is going to be a little more challenging than reading the book ... More on that later.

Doing Busy Better is a helpful and encouraging book. I recommend it to the other busy people, Christian or not.

I received a complementary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book. Glynnis Whitwer is very real and open about her struggles with overcommitment and not slowing down to what is really important. I can relate to her on many levels. I really connected with what she said about volunteering for every project and that when we do that, we may deprive someone else that learning experience. Guilty! I also loved what she said about giving others the impression of being too busy to care. It can be so easy to focus on the to-do lists but ignore what is really important, such as relationships with others and God. I loved how she spoke truth with love and with much encouragement. I always enjoy Glynnis’s words of wisdom.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I received this book from Revell in exchange for a review.

We think we need to be busy. We get over committed. That was Whitwer's life. But then she realized Jesus invites us to an easy burden and a light yoke. She undertook a journey to find a healthy, guilt-free approach to work and rest. She shares her journey with us.

Whitwer looks at a number of areas as to why we are so busy. She helps us identify our unhealthy inner desires and how we might associate our self-esteem with our accomplishments. She writes about the blessing of work – and the lies about work. I appreciated her section on the benefits of rest, including rest for the spirit and the soul. She got to the bottom of the issue when she wrote about getting our heart right.

I really appreciated her insights. I found out that true rest starts in our hearts and souls. I really needed to be reminded that rest is not earned but is a gift and a command from God. (That insight bounced up against my deeply ingrained Dutch work ethic.) I was impressed with the teaching about how keeping the Sabbath was essential in breaking the slave mentality of the Israelites as well as an act of trusting God. Whitwer has good ideas to help us know when to quit too.

I realize in reading this book that we have enough time to do what God wants us to do. That means spending time with God to find out what it is. That means realizing where God has put us, identifying our responsibilities, understanding our abilities, and more. Whitwer gives good direction in those areas.

I recommend this book to wives and moms as that is the focus of the author. This is not a time management book with lots of practical ideas about productivity, although there are a few. This is a book through which readers can process their ideas about work and rest. Readers will need to come up with an effective way to implement the truths in this book as there are no discussion questions nor journal prompts. (You will be able to download a study guide at the author's website with proof of purchase.)

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.