You Don’t Need More Time—You Need a New Relationship with It
The Time Scarcity Trap
“I don’t have time.”
These four words have become a common response to opportunities for growth, connection, and self-care. We wear busyness like a badge of honor yet end up depleted, racing a clock that never slows.
Modern life often feels like a time famine: too much to do, not enough time to do it. We seem to be constantly struggling and fighting with time.
But what if our relationship with time isn’t fixed? What if the feeling of “never having enough time” isn’t an immutable reality, but a mindset we can learn to transform?
Not long ago, my calendar was packed with back-to-back training engagements and meetings. It felt impossible to fit anything else in. But I made a choice: even if I only had 15 minutes, I would show up for yoga.
The routine was called ‘You Have Time for This.’ Perfect!
As I moved through the practice, the instructor kept saying: ‘You have time for this. Unhurried. Unrushed. Be right here.’
In that brief window, something shifted. I wasn’t stealing time, I was creating space. The 15 minutes didn’t take time away from my day, they expanded my experience of the time I already had. I felt refreshed, centered, and ready to carry the day with confidence.
The Hidden Cost of Time Scarcity
When we perceive time as scarce, it doesn’t just make us feel busy—it narrows our attention and reduces cognitive bandwidth. We tunnel into the urgent and sacrifice reflection, creativity, and strategic thinking.
Two Ways of Experiencing Time: Chronos vs Kairos
Ancient Greek philosophy offers a powerful lens through two distinct concepts:
Most of us have become trapped in Chronos, constantly measuring time instead of living it. This Chronos-dominated mindset undermines resilience by keeping us in perpetual stress and reactivity.
Most of us sit in one place while our mind wonders elsewhere, reviewing what happened earlier, planning what’s next, or resisting what’s here.
Presence is the opposite: It about choosing to be fully here, paying attention to sensations, emotions, thoughts, within yourself and the people in front of you. No judgment, no pushing away. You simply hold the space for clarity to guide your next right action.
Presence shifts time from something you measure to something you experience. When you are fully present, even short windows feel rich and complete. Instead of racing the clock, you inhabit the moment—turning scarcity into sufficiency.
Simple ways to practise presence:
Awe is that feeling of wonder when you encounter something vast or beautiful. A sunrise, a powerful piece of music, a small human moment that takes your breath away. Brief experiences of awe can make you feel you have more time, reduce impatience, increase willingness to help, and boost life satisfaction. Awe draws us into the present, so time feels abundant rather than scarce.
You don’t need a trip to the Grand Canyon to feel awe. It can be as simple as:
Intentional time buffers are not wasted minutes. They are built-in capacity for high-quality thinking, listening, and decision-making. When calendars are packed end-to-end, everything feels urgent. You lose the freedom to pause, reflect, and respond with intention rather than reaction.
Buffers create breathing room in a Chronos-driven schedule. They turn reactive rushing into intentional pacing.
Ways to introduce buffer time:
The words we use to describe time shape how we experience it.
Repeatedly saying ‘I don’t have time,’ reinforces helplessness and scarcity. Over time, this language trains the brain to see time as an external force that controls us, rather than something we can engage with intentionally.
For leaders, language matters even more. Leaders don’t just experience time scarcity personally, you transmit it. The constant signals of urgency and busyness tell teams that speed matters more than thought, that rest must be earned, and that reflection is a luxury. People respond by rushing, staying silent, and pushing through fatigue.
Reframing time language is not about being positive. It is about restoring agency and aligning choices with what truly matters.
Swap this → for that:
Time will keep moving. The question is: How will you relate to it?
Shift from helpless to intentional. Pause and ask yourself:
· Am I living only in Chronos, or do I make space for Kairos?
· What would shift if I treated time as a relationship, not a race?
The next time you catch yourself saying, “I don’t have time,” reclaim agency by reframing:
“I’m choosing what matters most right now.”
Start with one small choice today—whether it is a moment of presence, a spark of awe, creating buffer time, or using new language about time. Try it. Time is an important line of personal development.
Because the truth is: you have time for this.
Written by:
Linda Tan-Spicer, Lead Development Strategist of ILS
Linda is a seasoned performance strategist with over 20 years of experience helping organisations and individuals thrive. Specialising in mindset work and behavioural change, she creates environments where people can discover their strengths, embrace their potential, and grow in meaningful ways.
Believing in the ripple effect of personal growth, Linda sees every step toward self-improvement as a benefit to teams, organisations, and society. At her core, she’s a coach and facilitator who walks alongside others on their journey to unlock potential, navigate challenges, and cultivate a fulfilling life.