When I started reading Chris Guillebeau’s book on time anxiety, a powerful realization hit me: I was completely guilty of it. With each page, it felt as though the writer was speaking directly to my soul.

For years, I avoided celebrating my birthday.  I’d ask myself, “What have I even achieved? Is it truly worth celebrating?” I’d go silent, and if someone wished me a happy birthday, I’d feel nervous and anxious all day. Most of my friends didn’t even know when my birthday was, and while those who did always wished me well, they never understood the deep questions it triggered within me.

I come from a family where everything I needed was provided. My dad was one of the best graduating students of his time, with many awards. Whenever I looked at him, I exuded such confidence ; he knew his field inside out, understood himself, and could speak eloquently about his journey. He has a loving family, of which I am a part. My dad always encouraged us but never pushed us beyond our limits. Yet, time anxiety never lets me truly enjoy the process of life.

I started working really early, driven by my own desire. My dad initially didn’t approve, but he quietly watched me teach students math and English. Right after secondary school, I began teaching at a primary school. There was one girl who struggled with speaking, and her aunt wanted me to tutor her so she could attend school, as English was the language of instruction. I felt confident I could teach her, and you know what? She learned English and today she speaks it well. But I noticed that with every achievement, I immediately asked myself, “What next?” This constant focus on the future prevented me from enjoying the present process.

I graduated with a degree in General Medicine, but while I was studying, I also worked as a model and blogger, sold shoes, and collaborated with agencies to help international students travel. I wasn’t lacking anything; my dad made sure I had all I needed. But I never rested. Some might say I was just hardworking, not letting my comfortable family background make me complacent. But knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have done it without truly enjoying the process. I was so fixed on the result that I missed out on the journey. I always had something to do, always a goal; there was no time to relax. I can’t recall a single time in Ukraine when I went out to simply chill without feeling guilty that I could be doing something more “productive” than resting. It took me a long time to understand that resting is a crucial part of the process.  So I kept racing.

My birthdays felt like time ticking away, and anxiety would often sweep me off my feet, leaving me in tears, trying to ease the burden. The more I achieved, the more restless I became; there was always something more. I tell you, at some point, all my focus was solely on the next thing I needed to do. I remember my graduation day with a Master’s degree in Business Administration: all I could think about was starting my PhD. This robbed me of the joy of that significant milestone. I went home consumed by thoughts of the future instead of being joyful and grateful for the step I had just completed. I kept looking forward, even when I hadn’t finished what I was currently doing, which truly robbed me of enjoying and appreciating the process.

Then, the war in Ukraine happened. I left everything behind—my house, which was still being renovated, most of my belongings—taking only a small bag and my big jacket. At one point, I thought maybe this intensity was just a phase, but it was about to change my entire life. Yet, I’ve learned that the war wasn’t supposed to be the incident that cured my time anxiety. I had so much time to change before then, but I had to learn the hard way.

My transformation began when I went to Nigeria and stayed with my parents. I woke up every day without worrying about my house or the next steps. As the war continued, I knew my life had to move in a different direction; there was no rush. I simply told myself I wouldn’t worry, and I didn’t actively seek to do anything. My dad assured me everything I left in Ukraine could be replaced, and my mother echoed his words. I started living life without the self-imposed pressure to achieve.

When I arrived in the UK, I initially didn’t want to make friends; I just stayed indoors. When I got a job as a visiting lecturer to teach nursing courses, I started going out and being productive again. But something fundamental had shifted within me.

The fast-paced UK environment can easily make you lose work-life balance. If you only focus on work and don’t intentionally force that balance, you’ll keep racing. At this point in my life, being in the UK, I was already so exhausted from the racing thoughts of “what next? achieve, achieve, achieve.” I started to break down and cry a lot. It felt like I didn’t understand myself because if I wasn’t doing something, I felt like I wasn’t moving towards my goals, even though I had achieved so much. The stress of constant pushing kept eating at me. Time anxiety didn’t let me enjoy this new phase or even properly process the trauma of the war. At this point, I knew I couldn’t do it alone. I started with prayer, and I learned that if you never appreciate and enjoy the process, you can never truly be fulfilled.

I began to go out for walks, and I noticed the many elderly people in Scotland, often walking slowly, taking their time with each step. Gradually, I started to see life as a process to live and enjoy, because the moment anyone takes their last breath, that’s it. It took time for me to start enjoying the process of life and stop worrying about the next step. That’s when I began traveling even more. I used to visit parks frequently in Ukraine, but when I was seated, my mind would wander instead of being present. Now, I explore many places, and when I’m there, my mind is fully engaged and not drifting away. I enjoy the moment and handle things differently. I see every moment as a blessing, and I intentionally make sure to savor it. I go out to have fun and do the things I love, and you all know taking road trips is one of them. I do it more and appreciate it deeply.

From time to time, time  anxiety still tries to creep in, but it no longer alarms me or steals my joy. I know I’m doing well, I’m fine, and I know I’m still in the process, letting God lead. I took the right steps of asking myself realistic questions, like: “Do you want to keep rushing from one task to another, or do you want to ensure you enjoy this life God has given you?” I choose to enjoy the life God has given me.

Time anxiety is real. It steals your joy, takes away the moments you should cherish, and keeps you focused on what you don’t have instead of appreciating the process. You keep trying to reach for the next thing without taking a breath or a break. Chris Guillebeau’s book talks about the illusion of urgency and a better way to live.  He explains the fear of running out of time, the constant thought of time passing you by, the feeling that there’s something you should be doing but you don’t know what it is, and not feeling in control of your circumstances. He also included research showing this type of worry is a cross-generational fear. Time anxiety is the worry of the past, present, and future —wishing you had done things differently, not knowing what to do right now, and worrying about what will happen in the days and years to come. This is not autism or ADHD.

What is Chris Guillebeau’s “Time Anxiety” All About?

That constant low hum of stress, like you’re always racing against the clock, drowning in deadlines, and just never quite catching up? Well, Chris Guillebeau’s book, ” Time Anxiety,” goes deep into that exact feeling. He doesn’t think it’s just about having too little time in your day; he believes it’s more about the impossible expectations we put on ourselves and the way we misplace our focus.

The main idea of ​​the book is to give us a real solution to all that “deadline dread,” the guilt of not getting everything done, and that never-ending feeling of rushing. This book helps you completely change your relationship with time, moving away from fear and constant reaction and instead stepping into a more purposeful and intentional way of living.

He breaks it down like this:

• Understanding the Worry: He points out that this “time anxiety” is often a fear of falling behind, where your to-do lists and unfinished goals just live rent-free in your head, making you feel totally exhausted. He looks at why simple tasks can suddenly feel like huge, high-stakes challenges.
• Challenging the “Busy” Culture: The book really questions why we’re so obsessed with packing every single second and why we think being constantly busy means we’re successful. He argues that trying to “do it all” is a losing game that just leads to more frustration.
• Shifting Your Time Perspective: Instead of trying to “manage” time (which, let’s be honest, time just keeps on ticking), Chris suggests we focus on managing our energy, our attention, and the choices we make.
• Real-World Tips and Mindset Shifts: He gives us actionable steps to fight that anxiety, like:
  
  • Getting comfortable with unfinished lists: Accepting that you’ll never cross off every single thing and letting go of that urge to “catch up.”
  • Embracing “good enough”: Realizing that not everything needs to be perfect. Sometimes, doing things “poorly” (or just adequately) is exactly what you need to save energy for what truly matters.
  • Rewriting your own “time rules”: We all have these unspoken rules (like “I must answer every email instantly”). He helps us spot them and create new, healthier ones.
  • Calming your nervous system: Simple things like breathing exercises to help you feel less overwhelmed in the moment.
  • Making conscious trade-offs: Thinking about what’s truly important to you and directing your limited energy there.
  • Setting boundaries and saying no: Protecting your time and energy from things that don’t serve your purpose.
  • Focusing on what truly matters: Constantly asking yourself if what you’re doing really counts, especially for the long haul, and being okay with letting go of things that don’t.

In a nutshell, “Time Anxiety” is a powerful nudge to wake up from the “busy trap“ and actually start enjoying your precious time on this planet. It’s about letting go of the constant stress, the need to overdo everything, and truly starting to live a life that’s intentional and joyful, rather than always feeling behind and overwhelmed.

Have you struggled with time anxiety? how did you handle it?