People Make Time for What is Important to Them (but Sometimes They Can’t)

I have received, and if we’re being honest, I’ve given so much reductive advice in my lifetime. It’s easy to do, and on the surface, that advice seems to make sense. But it doesn’t take into account all the factors it needs to. If you’ve ever heard people make time for what is important to them, then you know why that’s shitty advice.

That isn’t to say that maybe that phrase hasn’t helped you focus. When I was younger, it worked for me. But it’s worth noting that the only thing I had to clear from my schedule to make time for what was important to me (writing) was partying. And even then, I didn’t take it off the docket completely.

So, if you found this post from a Google search or you’re a long time reader who is struggling to make time for all the things, I’m glad you’re here. Let’s talk about why this advice is terrible and why sometimes people can’t make time for what is important to them.

Why We Think People Make Time for What is Important to Them

If you believe that time is simply a math equation, then you can believe people make time for what is important to them. It’s all a matter of taking one hour and doing what you want with it rather than wasting it, right?

On the surface, that makes sense. And yes, sometimes it’s the truth. Sometimes writing your life into existence is as simple as picking a time block in your planner, penciling something in, and working on it.

If you’ve been spending your time on something that isn’t important, it definitely makes more sense to focus on spending your time on something that is important. And if you’re the type to have one thing that’s important to you, this advice is good.

So if you want to make art but you find you spend all your time watching Netflix or looking into your phone, it’s time for a switch. Sure, it will be difficult to build up the habit, and you shouldn’t expect to be able to work on your art for hours on end at first. But overall, cutting back on Netflix/phone time will make space for art.

But what if you want to make time for what’s important to you, but you can’t drop the stuff that’s taking up your time? This is…