“I Don’t Have Time!” — And Other Lies My Inner Saboteur Tells Me
A reminder that stillness isn't laziness. It's wisdom.
This morning, I woke up to a thought that felt urgent and real:
“I don’t have time.”
It was going to be a busy day in the middle of a busy week. I told myself I didn’t even have fifteen minutes to pause.
No time to breathe, be still, clear my mind, or step into some morning sunlight.
These are things I know help me. Things that anchor me. And yet, there was that voice—the inner saboteur—trying to convince me otherwise.
“You’re wasting time just sitting there.”
“You have more important things to do.”
“You’re being unproductive.”
Sound familiar?
Maybe your inner saboteur whispers instead of shouts. Maybe it sounds like reason or responsibility. But either way, its message is the same:
You don’t have time to care for yourself.
But here’s the truth I had to remind myself of:
If I’m walking into a demanding day, that fifteen minutes of stillness, breath, and sunlight isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Stress Isn’t Just in Your Head
We talk about stress like it’s a mindset. But it’s also deeply physiological.
Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system—our “fight or flight” mode. It dumps hormones into the body. It tightens the chest, shortens the breath, clouds the mind.
This response is necessary in short bursts.
But when we live there? When we stay stuck in high alert? That’s when it wears us down.
And no, I’m not saying stress is the enemy. Stress can sharpen us. It can stretch and grow us. The real question is:
How much stress are we carrying?
How often are we in it?
And how do we recover?
The answer begins with regulation—the intentional practice of shifting ourselves out of fight-or-flight and back into calm, clarity, presence.
What I Chose Instead
This morning, I chose to do the thing that “busy” was trying to steal from me.
I gave myself fifteen minutes.
☀️ Sunlight
🧘🏽 Stillness
🌬️ Deep, slow breathing
I stepped out of stress mode and into something gentler. I anchored myself.
And it made all the difference.
Now, throughout the day, I’ll keep checking in.
Sometimes with ten seconds.
Sometimes with a full minute.
Whatever I can give—I’ll give it.
Because self-regulation isn’t a one-and-done. It’s a rhythm.
A Note for You (and Me)
If your inner saboteur is screaming that you “don’t have time,” start small.
📍 Just one minute.
That’s it. Then build from there.
Your stillness is not laziness.
Your breath is not wasted.
Your presence is not a luxury.
You’re not doing “nothing.”
You’re doing something profoundly wise:
You’re taking care of your nervous system. You’re protecting your peace.
And trust me, the to-do list can wait a minute.
🧠 What’s Your Saboteur Saying?
I’d love to hear from you:
What stories do you tell yourself about time, rest, or productivity?
What helps you self-regulate in the middle of chaos?
What’s one small practice you return to—even on your busiest days?
Hit reply or leave a comment.
Let’s breathe together for a minute today. ✨