Time Anxiety: The Illusion of Urgency That’s Stealing Your Joy with Chris Guillebeau

Jan 20, 2026

In this engaging discussion, Chris Guillebeau, a visionary author known for his unconventional life strategies, delves into the concept of time anxiety. He defines it as a psychological barrier and shares how it differs from typical productivity issues. Guillebeau offers practical tips for managing overwhelming schedules, urges self-awareness, and encourages listeners to create personal ‘rules of engagement’ to balance priorities. He highlights the importance of decluttering time and shares insights on gratitude through a reverse bucket list, leading to more intentional living.

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INSIGHT

Two Faces Of Time Anxiety

Time anxiety combines feeling there's never enough day-to-day hours and fearing life is running out.
Recognizing both makes it easier to connect daily choices to meaningful long-term priorities.

ANECDOTE

Research Backed By Personal Experience

Chris researched time anxiety with ~1,500 people and found remarkably common responses.
He also experienced it personally and used that to shape the book's focus.

INSIGHT

Connect Daily Life To Meaning

People gravitate toward either existential anxiety (life running out) or daily overwhelm (not enough hours).
Solving time anxiety requires linking daily routines to meaningful long-term aims and letting go of some things.

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Falling off a goal is normal. Knowing how to get back on track—without shame or drama—is the real skill. I’m hosting a free 60-minute live workshop on Tuesday, January 27 at 7pm ET to teach a simple framework for getting unstuck. Register now for Falling Off is Part of It: The Framework for Getting Back on Track (Without the Drama)!

In this episode, Chris Guillebeau explores time anxiety and the illusion of urgency that is st. aling your joy. He explains the pervasive feeling of never having enough time, discusses the psychological roots of time anxiety, and shares practical strategies for managing competing demands, avoidance, and procrastination. Chris also offers insights on creating personal “rules of engagement,” decluttering schedules, and embracing acceptance, encouraging listeners to cultivate a more intentional, compassionate, and fulfilling relationship with time.

Exciting News!!! Coming in March, 2026, my new book, How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life is now available for pre-orders!

Key Takeaways:

Definition and exploration of time anxiety as a psychological issue.
The distinction between feeling overwhelmed and traditional productivity challenges.
The impact of competing priorities and requests on time management.
The concept of “rules of engagement” for managing daily demands.
Strategies for overcoming avoidance and procrastination.
The importance of self-awareness and intentionality in managing time.
Practical tips for improving time management, such as allowing buffer time for tasks.
The idea of “time decluttering” to create space in schedules.
The role of cognitive distortions in exacerbating time-related stress.
Encouragement to embrace a mindset shift towards a more fulfilling relationship with time.

For full show notes: https://www.oneyoufeed.net/time-anxiety/https://www.oneyoufeed.net/time-anxiety/!

If you enjoyed this episode with Chris Guillebeau, check out:

Chris Guillebeau (Interview from 2014 )

How to Accept Limitations and Make Time for What Counts with Oliver Burkeman

Time Management for Mortals with Oliver Burkeman

Oliver Burkeman on Modern Time Management (2019)

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