When There's Never Enough Time: Creating Space In Your Day

How often do you catch yourself saying, “There’s never enough time” or “I just need more hours in the day”? We all feel it, rushing from one thing to the next, constantly trying to catch up. But what if the problem isn’t time itself? What if the way we use time is what’s making us feel so depleted?

The truth is: you can create more time, not by adding hours, but by shifting how you move through your day.

Release the Time Scarcity Mindset

The belief that there’s “never enough time” creates stress before the day even begins. Mindset is everything, and reminding your brain through mantras or affirmations can change the way you experience the day. Try saying these aloud or in your mind throughout the day to assure your brain that there is plenty of time.

“I have enough time for what truly matters.”

“Time flows at the perfect pace for me today.”

“There is space for everything I need.”

This small shift can turn your attitude about time into something you flow with, rather than fight against.

Identify Your ‘Time Leaks’

Many of us lose time without realizing it. Mindless scrolling, checking emails every 10 minutes, saying yes to things out of obligation. Try tracking your time for one day. Where do your minutes actually go? What small shifts could free up space?

For example:

• Set a timer on social media. iPhone has a setting that will lock social media apps after 15 minutes of use.

• Answer emails in two focused blocks instead of checking intermittently all day.

• Swap out “auto-pilot” activities like looking in the fridge over and over, or lingering in transition periods such as staying in the car checking your phone once you've parked, or laying down in your towel after showering. Swap these mindless minutes for mindful pauses like a short walk, stretching, or deep breaths to stay present and centered throughout the day.

• Before offering help or agreeing to plans, make sure the temporary excitement won't turn to resentment at lost time. It's fulfilling to do less but with more presence.

  
  

Little shifts = big changes in how time feels. You'll be surprised how much space 5 minutes here and there will add to your day.

Shift from ‘Schedule’ to ‘Rhythm’

Rather than trying to control every minute, think of your day like an intentional rhythm. What are your anchor points, the things that ground and guide your day?

For example:

• Morning Anchor: Brewing coffee, a grounding shower, stretching, or breathwork.

• Midday Anchor: A nourishing lunch, a 5-minute movement break, or a reset walk.

• Evening Anchor: A check in with family or friends, preparing clothes or lunch for the next day, slowing down before bed.

  
  

When you build intentional rhythms, time feels more spacious. With a rigid schedule, unpredictable changes feel like the enemy, but especially with a demanding job or kids, they are just part of life. Try focusing on a rhythm instead of set times.

You don’t need more hours in the day, you can learn to change your relationship with time.

✔️ Shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance.

✔️ Notice where your time is leaking and adjust.

✔️ Create breathing space in your schedule.

✔️ Focus on rhythm over rigid schedules.

✔️ Give yourself permission to do less, but with more presence.

Journaling prompt: Think about your relationship with time and how it relates to productivity. How have you been conditioned to equate your personal value with your productivity? What would it feel like to let that go? When was the last time you felt like a human BEING and not a human DOING?

“Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time' is like saying, 'I don't want to.’”  — Lao Tzu