Fear and the Art of the Excuse

“I don’t have time” is a great excuse. It can be used as an easy justification for a number of things.

You can avoid things you have to do, or what you want to do.

When it comes to creating content in any form, it can also be used as an escape from what’s truly haunting us.

You can avoid that uncomfortable fear of the unknown; of criticism; of that weird feeling like you are a fraud, not good enough, or knowledgeable enough. You may ask the question: “Who am I to do what I want to do rather than what is expected of me?”

Why Am I Making Excuses

The more appropriate question to ask is: “Why am I making excuses?”

Every time I search for the answer to this question, it always comes down to fear. Fear of staring into the void of the unknown, of not having any clear indication that whatever it is will even work out. Or you don’t see an immediate validation of your efforts which leads you to think: what’s the point?

It can be debilitating or exciting. How you choose to look at the paths forward can make a big difference between staying comfortable (or frustrated) where you are or taking a step forward.

The Quest for More Time

Now, if you honestly don’t have time, then by all means say “I don’t have time.” We have busy lives. The issue then becomes how you can make some time for things you may want to do that current obligations keep you from doing.

An example would be to do an objective and granular audit of your time each day. There is usually an hour (maybe two) that can be trimmed from some activities that you can allocate to doing something you have been putting off.

Whatever the case may be, it comes down to a practice of self-awareness. Being aware of why you are making excuses or being acutely aware of how you spend your time.

A Note on Extreme Cases

I have to add a note here: This post is meaningless if you are experiencing overwhelm or burnout. Those situations drain every last bit of your mental and physical energy. Saying, “I don’t have time” is appropriate. This is an entirely different situation that isn’t to be taken lightly and requires rest and help.

When it comes to excuses, there is no excuse to ignore your mental health.