Making excuses about not doing something in your life? Feel you don’t have the time in your life? Simple steps to stop the excuses in your life.
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Mentioned on Ep 121: Making excuses about not doing something in your life? Feel you don’t have the time in your life? Simple steps to stop the excuses in your life.
Welcome back to The Burnout Doctor Podcast, I’m your host Dr. Jessica Louie. We are talking about how to stop making excuses in life. Thank you for sharing your action steps from our last episode on the 3 biggest lessons burnout taught me. Many of you are taking action by using our complimentary Burnout Starter Kit – don’t forget to download yours today! We all write our own stories in our lives and homes. Let’s all bring joy into home and joy into work.
Have you ever said to yourself: But…I don’t want to do that!
I know I’ve heard that saying in my heard over the years. For example, when I’ve tried different exercise and fitness classes, I’ll say I don’t want to go more than two days a week. I don’t have time for that. From driving to the studio, parking, getting to class 5-10 minutes early, taking the class, driving home and showering, it’s just too much time. It’s not worth it.
Then 2020 hit and I invested in an at-home rowing machine called the Hydrow. If you’ve never heard of it, you can see photos and a review of it on my PetiteStyleScript blog post.
I decided to STOP MAKING EXCUSES about moving my body. I set a goal to get to my first 100,000 meters. I did it in the first two months. How did I stop making excuses?
I set a goal to sit down on the rowing machine 4 times a week. Each time at the end of my work day. How did I make it easier? I changed into my workout clothing at the end of my work day, put on my sneakers and sat down. Once I did changed into my fitness clothing and sat down, there was no going back. I’ve hit each of my fitness goals since then the past year with my next goal of reaching 1 million meters before July 1st. I’m on track to hit this goal the first week of June.
Why do we Make Excuses?
Often times we make excuses because we do not know how to own our time, we have a fear of failure, we are uncomfortable with uncertainty, or we blame or compare ourselves to others.
Have you ever said this statement? I don’t have time for that.
What if we switched the language to: It’s not a priority right now.
When we give an excuse, I don’t have time to exercise. We will switch the language to, exercising is not a priority right now. Then think about how you feel about this statement.
I don’t have time to declutter my closet. Decluttering my closet is not a priority right now.
I don’t have time to address my burnout. Getting help for my burnout and stress are not a priority right now.
Have you made an excuse because you have a fear of failing at it right now?
I don’t have time to start my own small business or my own side hustle. A fear of failing can paralyze us. Having a growth mindset will help with this excuse – go back and listen to episode 118 to dive deeper into this topic.
Have you made an excuse because you feel uncomfortable and uncertain about the future?
I’ll wait to pay down my debt until later. I’ll wait to donate that item I never use in case I need it. Yes, change can be uncomfortable. The future can be uncertain. Moving forward can better serve you. Maybe it’s time to surround yourself with others who dropped the excuses and are going debt-free or clutter free? I know it has helped me tremendously to be surrounded by people and bloggers who are debt-free and pursuing financial independence.
Have you made an excuse because you blame others or compare yourself to others?
In some ways this goes back to fear of failure. When we make an excuse to not even try something or work on something because someone else is doing it better or has already done it. Stop the comparison syndrome and get up and share the value that the world needs from you.
When I lean towards making an excuse, I pause and think about how my future self will either thank me or scold me for my decision. Will Jessica 2 weeks from now be thankful I did this action or scold me for making an excuse? For example, will Jessica 2 weeks from now be grateful I write and recorded 4 podcast episodes today? If I make an excuse not to follow through and record these 4 podcast episodes, what will Jessica 2 weeks from now do? Will she be angry scrambling to write and record a podcast or will she produce no content that week and disappoint her listeners? Your future self will thank you when you stop making excuses.
In my Joy at Work Course, you can get even more advice and action steps to stop making excuses and own your life.
Make sure you’re following along on our YouTube channel (youtube.com/drjessicalouie) as well with new videos going live every Saturday!
Make sure you’re implementing and taking action by implementing our Burnout Starter Kit and investing in yourself with our VIP 1:1 coaching or 1-hour strategy calls.
Until next time, spark joy my friends!
Tl;dr:: Making excuses about not doing something in your life? Feel you don’t have the time in your life? Simple steps to stop the excuses in your life.
Note, my views are my own and are not associated or representative of my employer(s).
This podcast is for educational purposes only and not medical advice.