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The Crazy Busy Cure: A productivity book for people with no time for productivity books
UK BUSINESS BOOK AWARDS WINNER 2022 How we spend our time is one of the greatest indicators of how successful we will be. We achieve our goals when we ruthlessly prioritise tasks and people that are important to us.
If we focus our time, energy and attention on the wrong things we will never achieve the success or happiness that we aspire to. The problem is that these wrong things, the low value, low impact tasks that distract us from our priorities, are hard to ignore. They scream out at us all day: digital distractions, other people's urgent demand for 'five minutes' that's never five minutes, the meetings that you shouldn't be in, the pointless email chains, the reports you write that don't get read.
We get a dopamine hit from ticking these tasks off a list. It's got us hooked on crazy busyness. But all we are doing is scratching off a layer of fake work on top of the real, valuable work.
The Crazy Busy Cure is full of intensely practical tips to save people from this addiction and instead become productive again. Jammed with practical productivity solutions to use immediately, the book introduces concepts such as being like lions and chasing antelopes not field mice; Lawn Mower Managers who clear the path not clog it; the PIMP process for prioritisation and the Head Space model for understanding where your time goes.
In this lively read, executive coach and organisational psychologist Zena Everett draws from her many thousands of hours and coaching and speaking to people and organisations about productivity blockers and how to shift them. She advises how to manage other people's work as well as your own and explains how these practices apply to virtual working, including chapters on staying energised and productive when working remotely and influencing on Zoom.
The chapter on neurodiversity also offers productivity hacks for people with learning and thinking differences like dyspraxia and attention deficit disorder.
Read this book and regain your productivity.
If we focus our time, energy and attention on the wrong things we will never achieve the success or happiness that we aspire to. The problem is that these wrong things, the low value, low impact tasks that distract us from our priorities, are hard to ignore. They scream out at us all day: digital distractions, other people's urgent demand for 'five minutes' that's never five minutes, the meetings that you shouldn't be in, the pointless email chains, the reports you write that don't get read.
We get a dopamine hit from ticking these tasks off a list. It's got us hooked on crazy busyness. But all we are doing is scratching off a layer of fake work on top of the real, valuable work.
The Crazy Busy Cure is full of intensely practical tips to save people from this addiction and instead become productive again. Jammed with practical productivity solutions to use immediately, the book introduces concepts such as being like lions and chasing antelopes not field mice; Lawn Mower Managers who clear the path not clog it; the PIMP process for prioritisation and the Head Space model for understanding where your time goes.
In this lively read, executive coach and organisational psychologist Zena Everett draws from her many thousands of hours and coaching and speaking to people and organisations about productivity blockers and how to shift them. She advises how to manage other people's work as well as your own and explains how these practices apply to virtual working, including chapters on staying energised and productive when working remotely and influencing on Zoom.
The chapter on neurodiversity also offers productivity hacks for people with learning and thinking differences like dyspraxia and attention deficit disorder.
Read this book and regain your productivity.
256 pages, Paperback
Published January 3, 2023
29 people are currently reading
1237 people want to read
About the author
Zena Everett
8 books1 followerI am a Leadership Coach and Speaker and I've written three books. Please visit my website if you want to find out more about how I can help you. I send out an article on career and leadership success every month (once only I promise), so you can sign up on there or send me a message and I'll add you to Mailchimp.
There's only one Zena Everett on LinkedIn (last time I looked anyway) so I'm easy to find on there and it would be great to connect. I'm also a LinkedIn Learning Instructor.
I'd love to hear from you, so get in contact on zena@zenaeverett.com. Respectful feedback and new book ideas are always welcome.
I'm based in London and West Cork and whereever my work takes me.
There's only one Zena Everett on LinkedIn (last time I looked anyway) so I'm easy to find on there and it would be great to connect. I'm also a LinkedIn Learning Instructor.
I'd love to hear from you, so get in contact on zena@zenaeverett.com. Respectful feedback and new book ideas are always welcome.
I'm based in London and West Cork and whereever my work takes me.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 10, 2023
I listened to this on audiobook during my workouts because...I'm crazy busy. Yeah, that's it.
Book was okay. I did get some good things - chase antelope, not field mice (as a Leo I should know this already) but I confess: I get so bogged down in the minutiae of my job I forget the big picture sometime.
Get in flow - yes, this is true. It's hard to do, though.
What dinged this down a star was the ranting about work from home. I do it. It works for me. I'm also 56 and tired of dealing with children and their dramas in the office. Who's dating who, who's a right-wing nut job - that was my last job but you get it.
The chapter on working for a narcissistic personality disorder boss was also a previous job. Assbaby BG, please step up to the plate. I wish I had read this chapter when he was emotionally and physically abusing me. You heard that right!
Book was okay. I did get some good things - chase antelope, not field mice (as a Leo I should know this already) but I confess: I get so bogged down in the minutiae of my job I forget the big picture sometime.
Get in flow - yes, this is true. It's hard to do, though.
What dinged this down a star was the ranting about work from home. I do it. It works for me. I'm also 56 and tired of dealing with children and their dramas in the office. Who's dating who, who's a right-wing nut job - that was my last job but you get it.
The chapter on working for a narcissistic personality disorder boss was also a previous job. Assbaby BG, please step up to the plate. I wish I had read this chapter when he was emotionally and physically abusing me. You heard that right!
February 10, 2023
Just the book I needed. ***review coming up***
July 24, 2025
Not bad, but almost all of it is targeted at corporate and big office work. There was hardly anything about productivity itself (didn't get the 'euw' about work from home - it works for a lot of people - but I guess WFH peeps isn't the demographic for this). I was also expecting more about productivity in general, but it's geared to thriving in a corporate setup, and I wish the cover or blurb had mentioned this as it was completely irrelevant for me
December 14, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
September 23, 2021
I bought The Crazy Busy Cure as soon as it came out in July... but I was then ironically too busy to read it! However, I have since dedicated time each day to read a small section and absolutely loved it.
It is brimming with life-changing ideas on how to go from someone who is crazy busy, but not actually productive, to someone who actually has the time to get the job done!
Zena writes with a no-nonsense approach, and simplifies this important time management issue in an easy-to-read dip-in-and-out book that is packed full of information and tips. There are so many practical ideas I can implement immediately! Highly recommend!
It is brimming with life-changing ideas on how to go from someone who is crazy busy, but not actually productive, to someone who actually has the time to get the job done!
Zena writes with a no-nonsense approach, and simplifies this important time management issue in an easy-to-read dip-in-and-out book that is packed full of information and tips. There are so many practical ideas I can implement immediately! Highly recommend!
August 27, 2021
Like most management and/or productivity books, this one excels in telling you what you should or probably do already know - plan your time, use your phone more for calling than apps, don't get distracted, etc.
But I like the easy reading style, the slightly lighthearted and sincere approach that Zena Everett takes here.
It's very up to date covering WfH and the pandemic and offer tips and tools for dealing with those in a professional capacity.
I really enjoyed reading it.
But I like the easy reading style, the slightly lighthearted and sincere approach that Zena Everett takes here.
It's very up to date covering WfH and the pandemic and offer tips and tools for dealing with those in a professional capacity.
I really enjoyed reading it.
March 4, 2022
I won this book through Goodreads. It seems strange for people with no time to read a book. This book may help you find that extra time that you need. It is an easy read and shouldn't take long to read. I could see myself in some of this and will try some of the hints in here. Here's to having more time.
January 12, 2025
The Crazy Busy Cure is a practical guide for individuals overwhelmed by the demands of modern work and life. Zena Everett addresses the “cult of busyness,” where people equate being constantly busy with being productive. She explains how this mindset often leads to burnout, inefficiency, and unfulfilling outcomes. The book offers actionable strategies to help readers prioritize effectively, regain control of their time, and focus on what truly matters.
This book is for everyone!
Read
August 15, 2023Quite helpful
January 11, 2025
Listened as an audiobook.
This was exactly what I needed to hear. Chase antelope, not field mice, block time for flow, spend your time based on your values.
This was exactly what I needed to hear. Chase antelope, not field mice, block time for flow, spend your time based on your values.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews