The Myth of No Time
How to get clear on your priorities and create intentions for your day
“You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day – unless you’re too busy; then you should sit for an hour.” – Zen Proverb
“I don’t have time to ___________” (whatever that thing you always say you want to do) is something we tell ourselves often.
It’s not true. You do have the time.
You have the same amount of time as everyone else.
It’s a matter of priority. You will always have time for the priorities in your life. You will make time for whatever means the most to you.
If you want to move forward and reach your goals, then it’s important to be honest with yourself. When you say you don’t have time to do the things you think you want to do (i.e., exercise, meet a friend for lunch, indulge in a hobby, plan a trip, etc.), what you’re really saying is that you aren’t prioritizing those things.
You’re not prioritizing yourself.
We’ve all been socialized to believe that “busy” is best. It’s a badge of honour to say “I’m so busy”. When someone asks you what you’ve been doing lately, or you’re finally getting around to responding to a friend’s message from a week ago, you may find yourself responding “I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch but I’ve been so busy”.
Are you really that busy or is that a story that you’ve gotten in the habit of telling yourself?
I invite you to take a few moments to get our your journal and do the following exercise:
Keep track of how you spend your time every day for a week. Write down everything you do (including time spent scrolling through your phone on social media and watching T.V.)
Highlight the things that you absolutely had to do and then highlight (in a different colour) the things you think you had to do that you enjoyed.
Highlight the things you did that you didn’t enjoy but you believe you have to do them (or you think someone expects you to do them).
Highlight the things you did that you wanted to do.
What do you notice?
If you’ve highlighted more things that you wanted to do, then way to go! Like most of us, though, I suspect your list is filled with things you think you “have to” do.
The first step in creating a better relationship with time is to acknowledge that you are in control of what you do with it.
Even if you have some “musts” (i.e., a 9-5 work schedule to follow), your priorities for the remaining hours in your day may be more flexible than you think.
The key is to be intentional in how you spend your time. For example, do you plan your time watching T.V. ahead to include only those shows that inspire you, or do you flip it on mindlessly in the evenings without any thought? How many times do you check messages or go on Facebook/Instagram during the day just for something to do or because you’re afraid of missing out?
The next time you find yourself saying “I don’t have time”, really ask yourself if that’s true. Maybe the real answer is you don’t want to, and that’s okay. Be honest with yourself (and others) and say that. However, if you’re neglecting your own self-care (i.e., not exercising when you planned to), then it’s important to be aware of your decision and ask yourself why you’re not making yourself a priority. You’ll be more likely to work through your own objections if you’re being honest with yourself.
Journal Exercise: Creating a Daily Intention
Creating a daily habit that supports you in being more intentional with your time is key. Each morning, write the following in your journal:
My intention for today is to ____________ so I will ________________.
You can also write from your future self. Envision that it’s already happened and pretend you’re writing in the evening:
I’m so happy now that I _________________.
Finally, I’ll leave you with a mantra to take with you on your journey (you can also write this in your journal):
Take some deep breaths and repeat to yourself every day:
“There is always enough time”.
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I’d love to hear from you so please send any comments or questions to me at sharon@sharonashtonmindfulyoga.com. Feel free to share this email with anyone else who may be interested.
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