Why “I don’t have time” Is Just An Excuse!

Time is our most precious asset and we are all typically time poor.

Think high workloads and 8 hours to get all the things done for our 5-6 acutely unwell patients.

I hear you – there never seems to be enough time.

I used to believe this was 100% factual until I stopped. And, I did an audit of my time, stopping to realise that I wasn’t effectively utilsing my time.

I used to say things like – I just don’t have enough time to apply for that role.

Or even better – I don’t have enough time to look after myself. I need to give to others before I give to myself.

This resulted in things such as putting on weight-- eating unhealthily. My mental health was also affected. I was living in a reactive state of feeling like I was running against the clock!

Can you relate?

Here’s the thing. Once I learnt that not having enough time was not the issue and that it was how I was organising and using my time, I started to take back control.

Time in the workplace is dictated by others. By our patients and our managers.

However time in your life, is dictated by you!

Therefore the only person to challenge when you don’t have enough time is… you guessed it! YOU!

I don’t have time” is a phrase that is overutilised and massively misunderstood.

It’s actually a safety mechanism of your brain. Your brain is in cognitive dissonance. It has two competing thoughts. One that says – you must do this, make the time and the other thought highlighting how the thing you need to do is not worth it. .

I don’t have time – is your brain trying to keep you safe and comfortable in the right now.

Often the things we put off are the things we MUST do and make TIME for.

For me its been self-care and following my gut.

It is said that whatever you don’t make time for will keep coming back to teach you the same lesson until you make the space and time for it.

Where in your life “ do you not have time” that you need to reconsider?

Speaking of time, listening to my podcast, High Performance Nursing, would be a great use of your time if you want to learn more tips from improving your career to basically learning new stuff. Check it out here.