3 Strategies to Help You Stop Using Time as an Excuse

Do you struggle with not having enough time?

Does it seem like you can never get all your work done, or find enough time for your family, or do the other things that you need and want to do?

Or maybe you feel like time has passed you by and that you are too old to create new goals or pursue a dream.

Let’s dive into how to stop using time as an excuse, so you can finally accomplish your goals.

Do you feel like time is your enemy?

One of the most common excuses I hear from clients as to why they have not and cannot accomplish a goal is because of time. It’s too late. Time is not on my side. If only I had a few more hours in the day.

Has it ever occurred to you that we are all working with the same amount of time each day? Yep, you have 24 hours in your day just like I have 24 hours in my day. This also means that you have the same amount of time as Oprah, Beyoncé, your boss, and even that super productive co-worker. Now what you do, or don’t do, with your 24 hours is all up to you.

So, let’s set the record straight here and now, TIME is not your enemy. Today I have a few strategies to help you stop using time as an excuse.

#1 Prioritize

Determine what is most important to you and spend your time there first. Often we operate in reverse order. We fill our schedules with nonessential events, activities, meetings and yes, sometimes even people, that leave us distracted and empty.

We allow our time to get sucked up, so much so that we don’t have the time or energy to focus on the essential tasks and activities. So, what happens then? We put things off or abandon them all together, and nothing gets done. Then you complain about not having enough time.

You have to prioritize and handle the important stuff first.

#2 Plan

 Use a planner, app or some other scheduling mechanism to plan out your day and track your activities. You can better maximize your time and your day when you have clarity and a plan.

Make a checklist and check it off as you get things done.

Planning your day can give you back control of your time so that you don’t feel so helpless and out of control.

#3 Determine the Root Cause

 You can blame time all you want for preventing you from accomplishing your goals, but the hard truth is that you are responsible for you!

Examine the real reason you haven’t gone back to school or written that book.

Why haven’t you switched careers or started that business?

When you put off things that are good for you or have the potential to change your life, there may be some fear or self-confidence issues that we need to deal with.

Using time as an excuse can become a crutch or an unconscious habit. It can also be a cover for something you really don’t want to do or believe that you can’t do.

Using time as an excuse can also be a sign of guilt. The guilt you feel for not completing something sooner or for not pursuing a dream. And our dreams can sit on the backburner so long that we convince ourselves that time is our enemy. We begin to feel like time has somehow passed us by. But remember, time is not your enemy. It’s never too late to live your dreams and accomplish your goals!

I hope that you learned something that you can use to make some positive changes in your life. If you’ve enjoyed reading this, please be sure to like it and leave your comments below.

Do share this with others who have put their goals and dreams on the backburner and are using time as an excuse to continue to play small!

I would love to hear you. Let me know how you put these strategies to use in your life.

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