I’m not big on excuses in general, and probably my least favorite of all the ones I hear in everyday life is some variation of “I didn’t get it done because I was too busy.”
I don’t always say it in response, but what I always think when people say were just too strapped for time to complete whatever task they were charged with is, “the whole world is busy.”
Meaning, most everyone who is leading a productive life is facing roughly the same time constraints as the next person. There are obviously exceptions — the single mom working two jobs, or the full-time college student who is also putting in 30 hours a week at a place of employment — who are probably busier than average, but most adults with a typical load of adult-type responsibilities are in roughly the same boat when it comes to being busy.
Some of those people manage to get everything done, and some don’t. The keys are being ambitious and organized and also realistic and able to prioritize. No one can do everything, so just don’t commit to things that are at all optional if you aren’t willing to make them happen somehow.
Even the most on-the-ball person, of course, hits snags. When that happens, the key response is communication, as early as possible. “Hey, I am really sorry but I may be late with whatever because some things arose beyond my control.”
Bottom line, saying you’re too busy just doesn’t really cut it — particularly because you’re likely saying it to someone who is just as busy if not busier than you are.
