What “I Don’t Have Time” Really Means (Time Series, Part 1)

If you’ve ever said, “I don’t have time,” this one’s for you. In this honest and energizing episode, Andrea unpacks the phrase so many midlife women use—and what it’s actually saying about our priorities.

Spoiler: it’s not about the hours in the day. It’s about reclaiming your power and finally putting yourself on your own damn to-do list.

This episode was recorded before Andrea received her breast cancer diagnosis, making this conversation even more personal. The reminder to schedule your own appointments, check in with your body, and stop putting yourself last has never felt more urgent or real. You can read more about that part of her story here:

👉 Read: Where’s My Game Plan? on Substack

🔄 This is Part 1 of a 2-part series on reclaiming your time and energy in midlife. Stay tuned for Part 2, where Andrea walks you through her CEO Method to Time Management: Clarity, Energy, Ownership.

🔑 What You’ll Learn:

• Why “I don’t have time” is often code for deeper mindset blocks

• The real reason women tend to everyone else’s needs before their own

• How to use a Time Audit to create awareness (not guilt) around how you spend your days

• The first step to becoming the CEO of your calendar

• A preview of what’s coming next: the CEO Method to Time Management

📘 Resources & Links:

• 📥 Download the Free Time Audit Exercise – Get clarity on how you're really spending your time.

• 💬 DM Andrea what you’ve been saying you “don’t have time” for: @fullyinformedlifecoaching

• 🚀 Join the Next Chapter Circle Waitlist

🔔 Don’t Miss What’s Next:

Up next is Part 2—Andrea breaks down how to step into the role of CEO of your calendar using her signature CEO Method: Clarity, Energy, Ownership. Subscribe so you don’t miss it.

💖 Enjoyed the Episode?

If this resonated, share the love by rating and reviewing the show: 👉 ratethispodcast.com/thenextchapterher

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to the next chapter podcast.
No shortcuts, no cheat sheets, no abridged versions, just the real deal, honest conversations, expert insights, and practical strategies to help you take the lead in your next chapter.
I'm Andrea Hecht, certified life coach, mom and midlife navigator.

(00:21):
Here to help you find your roadmap back to Joy, the journey of you so you can stop waiting for some day and start living now.
Because midlife isn't the end of your story.
It's your time to take center stage.
Let's go.
Your next chapter starts now.
Today we're talking about one of the most common phrases I hear from women, especially in midlife.

(00:44):
How often do you say, I don't have time.
What if I told you that phrase is actually code for something else? Buckle up because this one might stir something up My group coaching program, the next chapter circle, we're in our rediscovery phase.
It's all about reconnecting with who you are now and not just who you used to be when the kids were little or when your career defined your every move.

(01:09):
One of the biggest wake up calls looking at how you spend your time not how you want to spend it.
Not how you say you should spend it, but how you actually spend it.
That's where the time audit comes in.
It's not about the guilt, it's not about adding more to your plate, it's really about building awareness.

(01:32):
It's about ownership and then honestly, it's really about taking your damn power back.
That's something that so often, so many of us struggle.
We say things like, and I hear it all the time, all the kids' appointments are up to date, but I don't even have my own blood work done yet.
I.
I haven't followed up on my hormone replacement therapy.

(01:54):
Everyone else is taken care of except me.
I don't have time to go to the doctor's office 'cause I'm schlepping the kids all over the place.
I posted on Instagram the other day after finally making my own doctor appointment and the dms flooded in.
I asked women what was the one appointment that they should be scheduling, and so many women said, I really needed that as a reminder.

(02:18):
One also even said that her kids are all up to date on their appointments, but she needs to schedule her own.
And another one said that they haven't even gotten their blood work done in a few years.
It's common.
There's nothing to be ashamed of, this is your reminder to listen up Time really has become this elusive, slippery thing that we feel we're constantly chasing.

(02:42):
We're not really chasing time.
What we're actually chasing and listen up is we're chasing permission, we're chasing our priorities, We're actually chasing against ourselves.
I know this might sting a little bit, but it's gotta be said when you say, I don't have time.
Guess what you're really saying to yourself? That's not a priority right now.

(03:05):
I understand even if you tell me no, Andrea, it really is.
Even if it's something that you deeply care about, it's not showing up in your week, then guess what? It's not your current priority.
I know that can feel kind of hard to hear, but that's where change begins because time, it doesn't actually lie.

(03:26):
Your calendar, your daily rhythm, your open tabs, your to-do list, your plan, those things are really telling the real story.
That's why the time audit is such a powerful tool and an exercise that we used in the next chapter circle.
It doesn't ask how you feel about your time, it shows you where your time is actually going.

(03:49):
It's like holding up a mirror and yeah, sometimes that reflection, it can be uncomfortable.
But it's also incredibly freeing when we know where our time is slipping.
all you have to do is track how you're spending your time for a day or two, just like you would with a food journal.
But it's kind of with your calendar, you jot down what you're actually doing hour by hour.

(04:12):
Again, no judgment, just creating that important awareness that you need.
When you look at it all laid out, then you can really see the patterns that are popping up.
You'll see where your time is being drained, what's truly being prioritized.
Maybe you'll even see a few places where your energy is leaking without you even realizing it.

(04:33):
Hello, social media, and I'm not anti-social media.
I actually count on social media for sharing my message, and so there is some great things about it, but it's just when we're not doing things intentionally.
I'm going to make sure that I link the time audit exercise that we used inside the circle right here in the show notes, so you can actually try it too.

(04:57):
I want you to know that this is just the beginning because once you see the truth about your time, once you see how you're actually spending it.
You actually get to do something about it.
You get to become the CEO of your calendar again.
What I want you to do is stay tuned because the next episode that I will be airing, I'm going to walk you through exactly how to become the CEO of your calendar.

(05:23):
We're going to be diving into the CEO method to time management.
It's not about hustle.
It's really all about owning clarity, energy, and ownership.
So make sure you're following the podcast so you don't miss part two of this series.
If this episode stirred something up, I really would encourage you to join the wait list for the next round of my next chapter circle.

(05:47):
It will be opening up, early spring, and we're doing this type of work together because it really changes lives and it's not something that you have to do alone.
One last thing before you go, I want you to think about what's one thing you've been telling yourself You don't have time for.
DM me.
.33333333I really want to know, then do one small thing today to move it forward, even if it's just a phone call or writing it down because time is yours and it's time to take it back. 64 00:06:18,638.33333333 --> 00:06:19,598.33333333 Love this episode. 65 00:06:19,748.33333333 --> 00:06:22,628.33333333 Make sure to subscribe so you never miss what's next. 66 00:06:23,138.33333333 --> 00:06:27,578.33333333 If today's conversation resonated, please leave a [e-mail] 67 00:06:27,848.33333333 --> 00:06:28,928.33333333 slash the next chapter. 68 00:06:28,928.33333333 --> 00:06:31,778.33333333 Her It helps more women find their roadmap back to Joy. 69 00:06:32,138.33333333 --> 00:06:35,168.33333333 Ready for more support, visit fully informed life.com 70 00:06:35,168.33333333 --> 00:06:36,668.33333333 to learn how we can work together. 71 00:06:36,878.33333333 --> 00:06:39,188.33333333 Until next time, keep writing your next chapter.