Are You Really Out of Time | Lao Tzu quotes | Find him on Amazon.
“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.'”
– Lao Tzu
You have probably said it. I know I have – “I don’t have time.”
For the gym, a catch-up with a friend, the book gathering dust on the shelf, or that passion project you swore you’d start.
But is it what we mean? Twenty-four hours are really not enough always?
Is it really about time—or is it about priorities?
Saying “I don’t have time” has become our emotional escape hatch. It sounds reasonable, even noble. But deep down, it’s not always honest. What we are actually saying is:
- “This doesn’t matter enough to me right now.”
- “I’m scared to start and fail.”
- “I’d rather stay comfortable than stretch myself.”
The quote shifts the narrative from lack to choice. It forces you to admit what you prioritize and what you are not. And that is empowering.
Read More: Who Is Stopping You Asks Ayn Rand?
If something truly matters, you will find time — even if it’s just 10 minutes a day. And if you don’t? That’s OK, too. Own the choice.
This doesn’t mean we are lazy or broken; we are often out of sync with what matters to us.
We must reframe how we approach our time to flip this quote into action.
Start here:
- Audit your attention. Spend 2–3 days tracking how you spend your time. No filters. You’ll spot patterns on where your attention goes, and your time follows.
- Rephrase “I don’t have time” to “It’s not a priority.” Try saying it out loud. “I don’t have time to journal.” → “Journaling is not a priority for me right now.” See how honest (and maybe uncomfortable) that feels?
When you stop saying, “I don’t have time,” and start asking, “Why am I not choosing this?”—you take responsibility for your life.
It may sting a little at first. But on the other side is:
- Intentional living overreacting to the urgent.
- Freedom from guilt and self-blame.
- Alignment between what you say matters and what your life actually shows.
Time doesn’t show up. You call it in. Next time you say, “I don’t have time,” pause and ask yourself: are you truly out of time? Rethink your words and express yourself honestly.
