6 Tips on How to Stop Feeling Like You Are Running Out of Time (and Why)

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Remember when you were younger and had so many plans for what you wanted to achieve at different stages of your life? For example, get your first kiss at 15, a well-paying job at 22, get engaged at 24, have your first kid by age 26, gain financial freedom at 35, and so on.

Have you achieved all that you wanted? Why do you feel like you are running out of time because you haven’t managed to accomplish all the goals you set for yourself?

Time anxiety is a real thing that many people experience, whether because they have set some goals that they are no longer sure of their ability to accomplish or because of society’s expectations.

There are many more reasons you could be feeling like you are running out of time to do certain things or achieve particular life milestones.

Nowadays, there is so much pressure to be a certain way at various ages that even some people as young as 18 feel the pressure to have achieved major goals in life just because it is expected of them.

23-year-olds feel like they are running out of time to move out of their parent’s house and find a well-paying job, and 29-year-olds feel like they should have all their life figured out by the time they turn 30.

But why do we keep putting so much unnecessary pressure on ourselves and letting others dictate what we should have achieved at particular points in our lives?

If you have been feeling like you are running out of time lately, here are some tips on how to stop it and embrace your life as it is.

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How to Stop Feeling Like You Are Running Out of Time

1. Go at your own pace

One of the reasons why you could be feeling like you are running out of time is that you are comparing your achievements with those of other people, and think that yours are inferior to theirs.

It could also be because you are approaching an age when you are expected to have reached some life milestones but haven’t yet, and hence you feel stuck or behind on things.

If you want to learn how to stop feeling like you are running out of time, stop comparing yourself to others. Don’t feel pressured to have the same things someone else has or what you are expected to have just because it is expected of you. This is your life, and only you should have the reins to it.

No one else should have the power to tell you how fast you should be going or when you should achieve your goals. It is time you realized that everybody is in their own time zone. So, yes, your friend got their dream job at 22, but you can also get yours at 35 or 50. And that is okay.

You will be a happier, more satisfied person when you accept that you have a unique path and purpose that only you can fulfill.

To stop feeling like you are running out of time, go at your own pace. No matter how long it takes, you will eventually get to where you want. The other person’s strides might be bigger, or they might have taken a shorter route, but you will still reach your destination.

READ ALSO: 10 Best Things to Do When You Feel Lost in Life

2. Set realistic goals and be flexible with changes

Having high expectations sets you up for failure.

Many people set goals inspired by what they have seen from others or because they are expected to have achieved various things at a particular age, leading to them feeling like time is running out if they haven’t.

When the deadline approaches and they have not yet accomplished what they set out to do, they feel a lot of pressure and anxiety, making attaining the goals even more difficult.

To stop feeling like you are running out of time, learn to set meaningful, realistic goals that set you up for success and happiness in your personal and professional life.

You could even create a vision board to manifest your dream life and to help you stay focused on your goals.

In case things don’t work out the way you hoped, you should be flexible to change your expectations to avoid feeling like you have failed and get your life back on track.

READ ALSO: 7 Things to Do at the Beginning of the Month

3. Reframe your thoughts

Life dissatisfaction and negative thoughts about inadequacy are some of the reasons why you could be feeling like time is running out. And since we manifest what we think and say, if you keep telling yourself that you are running out of time to do something, you will start to believe it and this can cripple your ability to go after it.

The first thing you have to do to stop feeling like you are running out of time is to not allow words like, ‘I don’t have time’ or ‘If I don’t do XX by the time I’m X years old, I will be a failure’ into your mind.

You could also replace these phrases with affirmations for abundance that remind you that you are enough and have enough time to do anything you want. Not only will you develop a positive outlook, but you will also regain control over your life and be content.

Feeling as if life is just passing you by, or like time is running out to do particular things can be overcome by a change in mindset. Instead of focusing on what you have not achieved in life, think of what you have achieved and all the good things in your life right now and be thankful for them.

Practicing gratitude by finding things to be grateful for every day and having an abundance mindset are some of the best ways to stop feeling like you are running out of time.

READ ALSO: 6 Ways to Develop an Abundance Mindset and Get Rid of Scarcity Mindset

4. Be patient

As a teenager, it is easier to achieve many significant goals in a short time, from grades in class to awards in sports. However, this momentum doesn’t always spill over to adulthood for most people. It might take more time to accomplish your goals because they are more meaningful and require more effort.

As you learn how to stop feeling like you are running out of time, you must be more patient with yourself if things do not seem to be working out as fast as you want.

So what if you are turning 30 and haven’t figured your life out yet? There are so many famous people who only became successful after 40.

Even though someone else may have achieved a lot at a young age, that doesn’t mean there is no chance of you accomplishing the same things just because it hasn’t happened yet.

It is never too late to be successful. Who knows, perhaps the reason you haven’t gotten there yet is because better things are in store for you. To stop feeling like you are running out of time, learn to be patient, but at the same time, keep working towards your goals. Trust the process.

READ ALSO: 10 Reasons Why Time Is Important in Life (the Value of Time)

5. Reduce screen time

Using social media platforms too much is another reason why you might be feeling like you are running out of time.

These platforms make people compare themselves unfairly with their age mates and others who seem to be doing much better than they are, resulting in feelings of inadequacy and life dissatisfaction.

Reducing your social media use is one of the most effective ways to stop feeling like you are running out of time.

If you don’t see how others are doing, you can’t compare yourself with them. Instead, you will focus on your priorities, growth, and achievements.

READ ALSO: 10 Reasons Why You Should Mind Your Own Business (and How to)

6. Stop taking life too seriously

Life is not that serious; you should just enjoy the ride.

While success feels good, pursuing it can rob your joy in the present. If you want to stop feeling like time is running out, take a break from work, go out there, and live in the moment.

You should stop taking life too seriously because none of us is getting out alive anyway. Try to find joy in everything, celebrate your small victories, take risks, and have fun on your life’s journey

Ensure you do more of what makes you happy every day instead of wasting your time worrying too much about the future or what others think of you.

Final Thoughts

The feeling that you are running out of time to do particular things is very common, especially as you approach the ages when you are ‘supposed’ to have achieved some of life’s major milestones.

The above tips can help you learn how to stop feeling like you are running out of time and become more satisfied with your life.

You don’t owe anyone anything, so stop putting all that pressure on yourself to try to please others. The only person you owe a full and happy life to is yourself. Do things that make you happy and work towards achieving your goals at your own pace. You are exactly where you are supposed to be!

Do you ever feel like time is running out?

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