--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try…" description: "\"“Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/005/laura-vanderkam-32288_busy_instead-of-saying-i-don-t-have-time-try_800294.jpg" --- # Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not… ![“Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. But other things are harder. Try it: “I’m not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it’s not a…” quote by Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/005/laura-vanderkam-32288_busy_instead-of-saying-i-don-t-have-time-try_800294.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/005/laura-vanderkam-32288_busy_instead-of-saying-i-don-t-have-time-try_800294.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/005/laura-vanderkam-32288_busy_instead-of-saying-i-don-t-have-time-try_800294.jpg) > ““Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. But other things are harder. Try it: “I’m not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it’s not a priority.” “I don’t go to the doctor because my health is not a priority.” If these phrases don’t sit well, that’s the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently.”” [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reframe “no time” as “not a priority” to reveal choices and shift behavior. **In simple terms:** Time is a choice, not a lack. Key Takeaway Prioritize consciously. Themes time management mindset priorities Mood reflective motivational Type self‑help practical When to use this quote - daily tasks - health appointments - career decisions Key Concepts behavioral economics self‑regulation Questions to Reflect On - Which low‑priority tasks can you drop? - How does labeling affect motivation? A Different Perspective Changing language may feel uncomfortable and require habit change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [He that is choice of his time will be choice of his company, and choice of his actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/he-that-is-choice-of-his-time-will-be-choice-of-his-company-and/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [You can spend your time, waste your time, or invest your time. It's your choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-williams/you-can-spend-your-time-waste-your-time-or-invest-your-time-it-s-your/) [Craig Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-williams/) > [We cannot fully understand the relations of time and choice until we are beyond both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/we-cannot-fully-understand-the-relations-of-time-and-choice-until-we/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [My family obviously takes up a lot of my time and that's by choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-olsen/my-family-obviously-takes-up-a-lot-of-my-time-and-that-s-by-choice/) [Greg Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-olsen/) > [The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance. The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-chief-beauty-about-time-is-that-you-cannot-waste-it-in-advance/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [Your past is not your potential. In any hour you can choose to liberate the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/your-past-is-not-your-potential-in-any-hour-you-can-choose-to/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) > [I'd like to be more decisive. I can take an hour to choose between two brands of washing powder in the supermarket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/i-d-like-to-be-more-decisive-i-can-take-an-hour-to-choose-between-two/) [Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/) > [You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/you-can-turn-over-a-new-leaf-every-hour-if-you-choose/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [When I'm tired and therefore indecisive, it can take half an hour to choose the book I am going to have with me while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-spufford/when-i-m-tired-and-therefore-indecisive-it-can-take-half-an-hour-to/) [Francis Spufford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-spufford/) > [ Instead saying 'LOL' I'm gonna say 'SALTS' \[ smiled a little then stopped \] Its more truthful ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-saying-lol-i-m-gonna-say-salts-smiled-a-little-then-stopped/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want people to surprise themselves. 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Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [ “If he \[Pound\] is not careful he will take to meaning what he says instead of saying what he means.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/if-he-pound-is-not-careful-he-will-take-to-meaning-what-he-says/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [What he means by this is that instead of saying you'll "try", you need to "do". And as we let our light shine, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/what-he-means-by-this-is-that-instead-of-saying-you-ll-try-you-need/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## More by Laura Vanderkam > [“You have one energy resource that is used for all kinds of acts for self-control. That includes not just resisting food temptations, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/you-have-one-energy-resource-that-is-used-for-all-kinds-of-acts-for/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“You need to hit Monday ready to go ... To do that, you need weekends that rejuvenate you, rather than exhaust or disappoint you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/you-need-to-hit-monday-ready-to-go-to-do-that-you-need-weekends-that/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“you can choose how to spend your 168 hours, and you have more time than you think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/you-can-choose-how-to-spend-your-168-hours-and-you-have-more-time/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“Even if you don’t have kids at home, morning time can be great for nurturing your relationship with your spouse, other family members, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/even-if-you-don-t-have-kids-at-home-morning-time-can-be-great-for/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast),”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/what-the-most-successful-people-do-before-breakfast/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“the force of the water drop that hollows the stone. 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Each hour you log can be a source of joy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/if-you-choose-your-life-s-work-well-something-bewitching-can-happen/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“When it comes to time, the perfect is a disarmingly subversive enemy of the good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/when-it-comes-to-time-the-perfect-is-a-disarmingly-subversive-enemy/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“What the most successful people know about weekends is that life cannot happen only in the future. It cannot wait for some day when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/what-the-most-successful-people-know-about-weekends-is-that-life/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“This is what happens when you treat your 168 hours as a blank slate. This is what happens when you fill them up only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/this-is-what-happens-when-you-treat-your-168-hours-as-a-blank-slate/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) [Explore all 12 Laura Vanderkam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) ## More Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) Victoria Derbyshire > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) The Shawshank Redemption Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. But other things are harder. Try it: “I’m not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it’s not a priority.” “I don’t go to the doctor because my health is not a priority.” If these phrases don’t sit well, that’s the point. 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