Do You Buffer?

Buffering is a tricky way our brain distracts us with “busy work” or other activity – especially when it serves a purpose and is necessary – when we’re supposed to be working on an important task. When we’re buffering, we’re hiding.

We tend to unconsciously buffer when we’re avoiding a thought, idea, action, or the heaviness of a situation.

→ The first step is to be AWARE of it. Once you’re aware of it, you’ll see it EVERYWHERE.

𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 & 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐄 𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋. (𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐲!)

𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧):

Family Commitments

When you find yourself buffering, ask yourself, “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘕𝘖𝘛 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸?” or “𝘖𝘰𝘱𝘴. 𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘹𝘺𝘻. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥?” You’ll be AMAZED (perhaps also a bit horrified?) at the answers your Brain provides!

Since I work from home, opportunities abound for me to buffer rather than tackling the new things that will propel my business further.

Why do 𝙄 buffer? I don’t like doing New Things, feeling unsure, or being “bad” at something. Thus, I get inspired to do laundry, housework, or administrative work that doesn’t actually propel my business further.

I believe our Enneagram is helpful in discovering how we Buffer. I am an Enneagram 3, and LOVE to feel productive. So, I’ll Buffer by doing things that make me feel productive. Enneagram 2s have said they buffer by doing things for others. Enneagram 7s buffer by doing something fun.

Book Recommendation: “At Your Best” by Carey Nieuwhof – he talks about doing the most important tasks in your most productive time. (Green Zone)