“If you really want something, you can make it happen.” – Cher
“I don’t have time.” We’ve probably all said it, but we’ve definitely all heard others say it, a lot. The busy response is a crutch, go-to phrase. I consciously try not to say I don’t have time for something, because let’s be honest… It’s not about having time. It’s about making time! We all have the same amount of time, but we aren’t mindful of how we use our time. In such a hectic world, priorities get lost, and the mundane routine takes over.
I don’t have time to work out.
- It’s an excuse.
- It’s an easy way out.
- How long can you keep saying it?
- Even though I don’t necessarily say I don’t have time to work out, I often wonder to myself how I can fit it into my schedule.
- When I do work it in, I have more energy and feel better, so it begins to get easier.
- It’s easier to keep saying you don’t have time, rather than take the first step to make the change.
I don’t have time to see friends and family.
- I’ve heard people say they don’t have time for their friends or family, usually due to work schedules and what they “need” to fit in each day.
- Stop putting work and your career first. It won’t be worth it later in life.
- Closing off from friends doesn’t help, since ultimately, they are the ones who tend to uplift and make us feel happy and fulfilled.
- Friends and family fill a void your career will not.
- Saying you don’t need friends in your life is just another poor excuse!
I don’t have time to travel.
- Take the time off work. You will regret it, if you never take a trip or weekend away.
- You CAN leave your responsibilities, even if it’s just for a few days.
- You are replaceable, and the company or business will still continue without you for a little while.
- If you don’t have enough vacation time, it may be worth taking a few unpaid days. Never taking time off can lead to illness and being run-down, which means you can’t be productive anyway!
- Don’t have the money? See if you know someone who has a beach house, or rent a budget-friendly Airbnb for a few days. You don’t spend most of your time inside, depending on where you go, so it’s okay if it’s not a top-rated hotel.
I don’t have time to clean the house.
- You don’t have time after working all day. Schedule 10–15 minutes after work, before sitting down, to clean up, dust, or vacuum, a few days during the week. A little each day saves time on the weekend!
- If you don’t know where to start, pick one room or section of the house at a time.
- You aren’t “good” at cleaning. There’s no perfect way. Find a way which works for you and your family. Don’t stress about the whole house. Just focus on keeping things neat and clutter-free throughout the week.
- Maybe you have too many commitments. If you find yourself having some weeks when you are over-committed, try to choose one day — maybe over the weekend — to catch up on several chores in one chunk of time.
I don’t have time to eat healthy.
- If you find meal prepping overwhelming or impossible, simply try to plan lunch ahead of time for one or two days of the week. Small steps will make it feel achievable.
- Planning can be hard, when it comes to eating out or while working full-time. Start with a few swaps you can make throughout the week. If you go out, maybe you can get a side salad, instead of a side of fries, or water instead of soda.
- Finding recipes and shopping for the food to make them is time-consuming. Again, starting slow is key. I pick one or two to start, and it makes me feel like I can do it successfully!
Maybe saying “I don’t have time,” has become a habit, but it’s not too late to break it. It’s a really bad excuse, used when someone asks if you have accomplished something or one you may offer voluntarily, when feeling guilty for not succeeding in sticking with a habit. I’ve struggled with this myself in the last few years, and recently, it took a week I had off from work to refocus my energy and reprioritize what I needed to put first. Time off can work wonders for your mind!