Difference between busy and productive in Naija

By Daniel Igbinosun

In Nigeria, being “busy” is almost a badge of honor. You hear it every day:

“Guy, I dey busy!”

“Madam, my schedule tight!”

“Omo, no time!”

But let’s be honest — busy no be the same thing as productive.

Busy: The Illusion of Progress

Busy people have calendars packed like Lagos traffic at rush hour. They jump from one WhatsApp group meeting to another Zoom call, answering emails, attending “urgent” gatherings, and still somehow squeezing in a networking event.

From the outside, it looks impressive. But when you ask, “So, what did you actually get done today?” — the silence is louder than a NEPA blackout.

Busy here in Nigeria, often means: Saying “yes” to every request — from chairing your cousin’s wedding committee to joining that cooperative meeting you did not even apply for

Always rushing, but never finishing — like starting three Jollof pots at once and burning all of them. Confusing motion with movement

Productive: The Power of Focus. Productive people? They look calm. Almost suspiciously calm. They don’t have time for every meeting, and they are not afraid to say “No”. They focus on what actually moves the needle — whether it is closing that deal, completing a proposal, or delivering a project ahead of schedule. Being productive means: Knowing your priorities and sticking to them. Measuring results, not hours worked should be the goal. Protecting your time like it is your last fuel in a scarcity week

So why is the confusion? Part of the problem is cultural. We respect “hustle.” If you are not sweating, multitasking, and constantly in motion, people assume that you are lazy. But the truth? Productivity often happens in silence — deep work, strategic thinking, and focused execution do not always look flashy.

How to Move from Busy to Productive is by defining your goals — Not “be successful,” but specific targets. Kill the meeting madness — Half of them could be emails anyways. Batch your work — Do similar tasks together instead of jumping around. Rest — You can’t pour from an empty bottle. Even generators need cool-off time. Anyone can be busy. But the people who actually make progress — in business, career, or life — are the ones who protect their time, focus their energy, and measure success by output, not effort.  Because at the end of the day, busyness impresses people, but productivity changes your life.

Daniel Igbinosun writes from Makurdi