We all like to feel special and there’s one really easy way we like to do it. We convince ourselves that we’re ‘too busy’ to do stuff.
It’s such a good one – we feel important, we feel like we’re needed and we don’t feel guilty that we’re not doing what we set out to do. Plus it’s just so easy to believe: ‘I’m busy and I’m not going to the gym everyday’ so easily becomes ‘I’m not going to the gym everyday because I’m busy’.
It’s so easy to make a link that, in reality, doesn’t exist.
There are busy people who go to the gym everyday. There are busy people who read for 30 minutes everyday. There are busy people who make healthy, delicious food to take to work. There are busy people writing blog posts, seeing their friends and family, taking their dog for a walk. And a lot of these people are just as busy as you. The only difference is that these people make time.
You’re busy – you’re not just going to find a spare hour floating around. No one is successful because they find time.
You have to make it.
Why we say we’re ‘too busy’
I think when we use the ‘too busy’ excuse there is usually one of three things going on:
- There is some other reason you’re putting it off (maybe you’re scared of failing or you’re waiting until you’re able to do it ‘perfectly’)
- It’s just not that important at the moment (and that’s ok)
- You’re saying it to someone else to cover up the fact you don’t want to do something (this is a whole other issue as long as you don’t actually believe the excuse)
And you really have to be honest with yourself to figure out which one it is.
I’d been using the ‘too busy’ excuse with this blog for the last 2 months. I had myself convinced I was too busy to post something even when I knew I was no busier than I have been in the past. But the real problem is actually that I put so much pressure on myself to be ‘perfect’ and to write good posts that I put it off when I feel like I can’t live up to my expectations. And I use the ‘too busy’ excuse.
If you’ve read this blog before you’d know that this isn’t a new problem.
But over the last few weeks I’ve been making the time to write everyday (some of it good, some of it super shit) to help get over this problem. I definitely won’t be posting all of it, but I’ve started to build up a bank of blog posts and, with the help of post scheduling, will have a new post up on the blog every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
I am not too busy. And neither are you.
It’s all a matter of priorities and figuring out what’s really going on.
What do you think?
Do you ever use this excuse? Do you really think you’re too busy to do the things you’ve been putting off?
Don’t forget that comments are always welcome and appreciated – I’d LOVE to hear what you have to say!
Sam xx
This is such a common saying.
Sure, we must say ‘no’ to things, but it should be because we’re saying ‘yes’ to something else that has more value.
Hey Leilani,
Thanks so much for your comment – I love it! We all have 24 hours everyday and it’s up to us to spend our time on the things that are important.
Sam xx
I have this problem all of the time and am just recently learning that properly prioritizing can be a big help.
Hey Samantha,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Figuring out what your priorities are and being honest about it is so important. It’s ok if something really isn’t a priority that you feel ‘should be’ – as long as you know what is and isn’t truly important to you.
Sam xx
Love it, girl! I firmly believe that when we really want to do something, we make the time to do it. When people say they are too busy to do something or spend time with someone, it really isn’t because they’re too busy but because that’s not one of their priorities. I can totally relate to the too much pressure thing/trying to make each post perfect. I always remember what Leonie Dawson says, “Just hit publish!” and that helps. In my case, it’s not that I can’t make time for my blog, it’s that other things have my attention and for the time being, I’m ok with that. Sometimes breaks are a good thing and relishing the moment is what it is important. This was a brilliant post and I loved it! <3
Hey Alex,
Thanks so much for your lovely comment! I agree with everything you say – it is all a matter of priorities and being honest with yourself about whether something actually is a priority or not. All the power to you for acknowledging that you just need a break for a bit! 🙂 And thanks for the tip from Leonie, I know it’ll really help!
Sam xx
Lovely post Sam! You always know when I need a little motivation, or when I need to approach a situation from a different angle. I’ve been putting a few things off due to my “busy schedule” and it’s time I stop avoiding them! Sending big smiles from Vancouver 🙂 xo
Hey Lauren,
Thanks so much for your comment – I’m so happy to hear this came at the right time for you! I’ve been doing it heaps lately and I’m so glad I’ve finally started to pull myself up on it.
Sam xx
Oh girl! Sometimes, when I have to juggle two or more time sensitive things at once, I use this wrong concept to a dramatically stressful degree, so that I end up accomplishing less than normal.
Lovely post!
Hi Lisa,
Thanks so much for your comment, I really appreciate it! We’re all really busy and it can be hard to judggle things but I think once we’re clear on what’s important it’s easier to make time for the things that are and to stop spending time on the things that aren’t. And to stop lying to ourselves that the reason we’re not doing things is because we’re ‘too busy’.
And I totally agree – it can often lead to doing less than normal instead of more!
Sam xx
I absolutely adore this post! I believe a lot of it is down to your own thoughts, this even applies to being happy. Yes there are days when you have good reason to be in a bad mood, but whether you continue to spend the entire day like that is entirely your choice. The same applies to things that have happened you in the past, you can sit and mope about it and never amount to anything, or pick up the pieces and make the most out of a bad situation. I find it difficult to get up every evening after work from the sofa to walk the dogs – but when I do I don’t have that voice nagging at me and the guilt of them not being walked for a day. I really thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
sara
xx
Hi Sara,
Thanks so much for your lovely comment! I agree 100% about mindset – the way we think about things determines so, so much. The hardest part of exercising is often getting started (as you said, it can be so hard to get off the couch when it’s so comfy) so I find the easiest way is to just force myself to start (and I usually tell myself that if I don’t feel like it 10 minutes in I can stop). It’s all about mindset!
Sam xx
I keep telling myself I don’t have time to workout. I loved to exercise and after I stopped it’s so hard to get going again. This post has come at a good time because I’m going to try to put some effort into exercising again.
carolinebogush.blogspot.com
Hey Caroline,
I’m exactly the same, especially with exercise, so I can totally relate. I often find it hard to make the time for exercise when I get really busy with study because I feel like I have no time to do anything but lately I’ve been going during the middle of the day because I realised that this is the time of day I’m least productive. I think it’s really good to be flexible but to also try to have a routine for when you’re going to go so it can just start to become a habit. Good luck!
Sam xx
Keeping my comment on this short and sweet, two quotes I refer to a lot are: “You always have time for the things you prioritize” and “It’s not about having time, it’s about making time.”
Great post here!
Hey,
Thanks so much for sharing those quotes! I was actually just listening to an interview with Tony Robbins and your quotes totally relate to it – he said ‘if you don’t have 10 minutes to do something you don’t have a life’ and I think that’s pretty true. Every has 10 minutes and there is something seriously wrong if your priorities if you don’t haha
Sam xx
I have used this excuse. It’s easy to say, but we can make time for things that are important to us!
Thanks for your comment, I totally agree!!
Sam xx
I very recently created my blog, but I am so scared to actually write something. I fear that someone I know will find out about it, which is why my name and face aren’t even on it. You basically checked all the thoughts that are going through my head since I started. Especially the “who cares about what I say?” “I have nothing to say” and “People will laugh at me”. I’m basically drowning in self-doubt, at the moment but this post has definitely aided my self-confidence a little. Thanks! (Let’s hope I really get around to continue writing..)