Time Constraint is an Illusion

Who else has been feeling like time is a little… crunchy lately?

Like there’s never enough of it.

Like we’re running out of it.

Like we can’t keep up, can’t get it all done, and are somehow always falling behind?

Yep. Been there.

For years, I lived with this low-level (and sometimes high-level) stress around time—believing I was in a constant race against the clock. That changed the day I had a beautiful, game-changing realization:

Time is not the enemy. The way we relate to it is.

Time is neutral.

We each get the same 24 hours in a day.

Roughly the same 4,000 weeks in a lifetime (I highly recommend the book Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman if this resonates: link).

So if time is time… then why do we feel so pressed?

Because many of us are operating from below the line—in a scarcity mindset where there’s never enough... time, energy, money, you name it. When I slip into that mindset, it usually shows up as overwhelm (clue #1 I’m living in my head) or a freeze response where I feel paralyzed and stuck.

But we can shift. We can reframe our relationship with time.

Instead of resistance, what if we created a love fest with time? What if we stopped trying to control it and instead got radically clear on what matters most?

Because let’s be honest—it’s usually not about time.

It’s about prioritization.

And here’s the kicker:

We only ever have this moment.

Not yesterday.

Not tomorrow.

Just now.

So the question becomes:

What are you doing with this moment?

Fretting? Spinning?

Or choosing—intentionally—where to place your focus and energy?

Here’s a practice:

Take a moment and write down three areas of your life where you feel dissatisfied.

Now… pull up your calendar.

Where are those things reflected in how you spend your time?

This exercise is powerful for both life and work. I use it often with clients. In fact, I had a client recently take the Energy Leadership Assessment, and one of her biggest areas of dissatisfaction was health and well-being. But when I asked if she was prioritizing that in her weekly schedule, she snapped, “No! I don’t have time.”

Exactly. That’s the point.

We only get one precious life.

The phrase “life is short” isn’t a cliché—it’s the truth. So what the hell are we doing with it?

(Sorry, not sorry. I feel passionate about this!!)

Because I want you to live a life that’s joyful, full of vitality, meaningful moments, and aligned choices. Not one that’s dictated by stress, urgency, and the illusion of not-enoughness.

Can we change our relationship with time?

Absolutely.

I’ve done it.

And yes, sometimes I slip back into the crunch. But I notice the signs—holding my breath, getting snippy, anxious—and then I pause. I ask: What’s actually most important right now? And just like that, I shift.

You can too.

With love (and time),