I don’t have any time to do that.
I haven’t got time for that.
I’ve run out of time.
Do you say those sorts of things often, make those sorts of excuses?
Some time back, someone suggested to me that instead of saying “I haven’t got time”, substitute the phrase “That’s not something I want to make time for at the moment.” (Or “That’s not a priority for me at the moment.”)
It’s quite an amazing way of reframing the way you look at things. It really forces you to be honest.
I try to remember to think about things in this way when someone asks me to do something or an opportunity comes up. Do I want to MAKE time to do it? Or is it not something I want to make time for at the moment? (If not, why not?)
I need to ask this of myself some days. Is this “lack of time” just an excuse?
(I’m not referring to those days when things conspire against you and all your best laid plans are completely waylaid by an emergency or problem that needs to be resolved. On those days it is possible to run out of time to complete all your tasks that day, or you have to stay (up) late to do them, but the point is, they still do get done – because they have to be, because they are important, they are a priority.)
This post says it well, too: Get your priorities straight!
I really don’t want to let myself get away with making stupid excuses for myself. I say this, thinking about people I know for whom time did run out – my Dad, and Mum-in-law, for instance, who both died of cancer. They weren’t expecting their time to be cut short, and it was. When they died I said to myself: use your time wisely, Con. It’s important remind myself of this, again.
What do I want to make time for?