Ever feel like there’s just no time to exercise—between the kids, work, and everything else?

You’re not alone.

This week on the Everyday Glow Show, I’m sharing the real story behind “no time” and why so many of us—especially women—find our plans for movement hijacked by competing demands.

But here’s the thing: it’s not just about time.

“I’m an Overwhelmed Juggler…”

I recently received an email from a woman who took my free Exercise Personality Quiz (if you haven’t taken it yet, you can find it in the show notes).

She told me:
“I’m an overwhelm juggler. I have four kids who all play sports, so my days start early and end with everyone’s training. My husband and I run our own business, I manage the house, get the groceries, and cook all the meals. I just turned 52, and my doctor confirmed I’m in menopause. Life is crazy, to say the least.”

And then she added something that really stuck with me:
“I think I’m actually an aspiring overwhelm juggler… because some days I feel like I’m dropping all the balls.”

Sound familiar?

The Real Reason Behind “No Time”

If you’re nodding along, let me start by saying: you’re not failing. You’re navigating a world that’s designed to pull you away from your own needs.

After working with thousands of women over 20 years, I’ve seen it time and again: what feels like a lack of time is often something deeper.

Here’s what’s really happening:

1. Social Conditioning

We’ve been conditioned to believe our value lies in how much we do for others. Generations of messaging have told us that our worth comes from caring for others, holding everything together, and doing the invisible, unpaid work.

Even when we believe self-care is important, it’s often framed as a way to “show up better for others.” What about showing up better for ourselves?

2. The Pull of Familiar, Urgent Tasks

Our brains love the familiar. And even though we might not enjoy folding laundry or answering emails, these tasks feel urgent, manageable, and give us a sense of control.

Exercise, by contrast, often feels unfamiliar. It can be physically harder, trigger feelings of failure, and feel “optional” compared to the endless list of housework and work tasks.

So even when we know we’ll feel better afterwards, our brain pushes exercise to the bottom of the list.

How to Break the Cycle

Here’s how you can start reclaiming time—and energy—for yourself:

🔸 1. Get honest about what’s really getting in the way.
Is it time, uncertainty about what to do, fear of injury, or something else? Take my free Exercise Personality Quiz to help pinpoint your main obstacle.

🔸 2. Remind yourself why you want this.
Do you want more energy, confidence, mental clarity, or better health? Your reason is valid because it’s yours.

🔸 3. Start with a plan—and halve it.
Look at your week and figure out where you could realistically fit movement in. Then cut it in half. For example, if you want to walk daily, aim for 3 days a week. If you want to strength train 3 times a week, start with 2.

🔸 4. Plan for obstacles.
Family drama, work stress, interruptions—they’re going to happen. Imagine them ahead of time and have a plan B ready. It could be a 10-minute movement break instead of a full workout, or simply saying: “I’ll do it now, because later might not happen.”

The Bottom Line

You’re not failing. You’re navigating a system that rewards busyness and makes it easy to put yourself last.

But with a few mindset shifts and practical steps, you can start reclaiming control—and stop feeling guilty for taking care of yourself, even if it’s just for 10 minutes a day.