It's Not a Priority (And That's Okay)

Years ago, I was listening to a podcast (can't remember which one) and the host said something that stopped me in my tracks.

"Stop saying you're too busy. Say it's not a priority."

It felt harsh at first. Almost rude. But then it clicked.

When I say I'm "too busy" to lift weights, what I really mean is: the gym isn't a priority right now. When I say I'm "too busy" to read non-fiction, I mean fantasy books are winning.

And here's the thing—that's completely fine.

The Problem with "Busy"

"Busy" makes everything feel urgent and chaotic. It suggests I should be doing more, fitting more in, reorganizing my calendar, waking up earlier.

"Busy" implies I'm a victim of my schedule.

But "not a priority"? That's honest. That's ownership.

It means I've looked at what matters most right now and made a choice. Some things make the list. Others don't.

You Can't Prioritize Everything

I learned this the hard way in business. When everything is a priority, nothing is.

The same applies to life.

You can't prioritize your health, your career, your relationships, your hobbies, your side projects, your volunteer work, and your social life all at once. Not really.

Something has to give. And when you pretend it doesn't, you end up half-doing everything and fully doing nothing.

What This Looks Like in Practice

If you worked with me in 2025, you know what my priorities were.

Family was huge. We had a big wedding. Fall marching band season took over our lives in the best way. And of course, keeping up with client projects and staying ahead of our commitments.

Those things got my best energy and time.

But you know what didn't make the cut? The gym. I used to be so into lifting weights. Passionate about it. Then I took basically 15 months off.

Not because I was "too busy." Because it wasn't a priority.

And reading? I crushed 94 books in 2025. But almost all of them were fantasy. Should I read more non-fiction? Probably. Is that happening right now? No.

I also have business projects rolling around in my brain that are so exciting—but they're still just ideas. They haven't made it into the real world yet.

Heading Into 2026

We're about to cross into a new year. And I bet your inbox is already full of advice about how to do more, be more, achieve more.

But what if the real question isn't "What should I add?" but "What actually matters right now?"

For me in 2026, those business projects need to become real. The gym needs to make the cut again. Non-fiction books might edge out a few fantasy novels.

But I'm not pretending I can do everything. Some things will slide. And I'm okay with that.

Try This

Next time you catch yourself saying "I'm too busy for that," pause.

Replace it with "That's not a priority right now."

Say it out loud if you need to.

Notice how it feels different. How it shifts from chaos to choice.

Then ask yourself: What is a priority? What's making the cut?

And just as important: What's not making the cut, and am I okay with that?

Here's What I Know

You're not too busy. You're making choices.

And when you own those choices instead of hiding behind "busy," you get clearer about what you actually care about.

You stop feeling guilty about the things you're not doing. You stop pretending you can do it all.

You focus. You prioritize. You move forward.

So as we head into 2026, pick your priorities. Three, maybe four. Not ten.

And let everything else be what it is: not a priority right now.

That's not failure. That's focus.