Time Anxiety

The Illusion of Urgency and a Better Way to Live

De: Chris Guillebeau

Narrado por: Chris Guillebeau

A powerful antidote to deadline dread, time guilt, and chronic rushing—from the New York Times bestselling author of The $100 Startup

In a world obsessed with squeezing the most out of every moment, the fear of falling behind can trap us in a paralyzing stress cycle. Incomplete to-do lists, unanswered emails, and unmet life goals haunt our thoughts, leaving us overstimulated and exhausted.

In Time Anxiety, Chris Guillebeau, author of the popular newsletter A Year of Mental Health, reveals that this pervasive sense of time scarcity stems not from a lack of hours in the day but from unrealistic expectations and misaligned priorities. Weaving together eye-opening research on time perception, executive functioning challenges, and the psychological roots of avoidance, he offers a bold path for redefining our relationship with the clock.

The first step is to build a tolerance for incomplete to-do lists and the inevitability of disappointing people, abandoning the goal of "catching up.” We have to set our own limits because no one else will. From there, Guillebeau guides readers through a process of:

• Identifying cognitive distortions that make routine tasks feel high-stakes, regulating the nervous system through grounding techniques and breathwork, and embracing the goal of “good enough”
• Uncovering the unwritten "time rules" that govern our days (“I return phone calls within an hour” or “I reply to every email the same day, without exception”) and creating new rules that better serve us

• Weighing the trade-offs between competing values and priorities so we can invest our finite energy wisely, operating out of an empowered rather than a fear-based state

Ultimately, Time Anxiety is a call to wake up from the trance of busyness and reclaim our most precious resource. By breaking the habits of overstressing, overdoing, and underliving, we can start savoring our limited time on earth.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A wealth of insanely useful advice, from the practical to the psychological, for breaking free from time anxiety, slowing down, and living on purpose.”—Cal Newport, New York Times bestselling author of Slow Productivity and Deep Work

“Our relationship with time is one of the most important aspects of our lives. In Time Anxiety, Chris Guillebeau brilliantly investigates why it is so persistently vexing, offering concrete steps to deal with common challenges like deadline dread and chronic rushing while reassuring us that, amid all our angst, there is indeed time for a life well-lived. An invaluable, insightful book.”—Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author of Life in Five Senses and The Happiness Project

“Finally! A time management book that won’t just help you run your day, but actually enjoy it!”—Chris Bailey, bestselling author of Hyperfocus

“A must-read . . . With his signature blend of practical wisdom and relatable anecdotes, Guillebeau tackles the universal struggle and stress of feeling like we’re running out of time.”—Matt Abrahams, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business and bestselling author of Think Faster, Talk Smarter

“A refreshingly honest and practical guide for anyone who feels overwhelmed by time. Guillebeau deftly weaves research, personal experience, and actionable strategies to help readers move from anxiety to purposeful living.”—Ben Meer, founder of System Sunday

“In Time Anxiety, Chris Guillebeau dismantles the myth of urgency and presents a refreshingly human approach to reclaiming our time—not by cramming in more tasks, but by embracing the power of letting go. Thoughtful, practical, and deeply relatable, this book shifts our focus from relentless productivity to intentional living.”—Nir Eyal, author of Indistractable

Spot on.

Never even heard of the term time anxiety before but this book was spot on for those of us that are rushing 24/7. For goal oriented people with never enough time it’s a great read.

A liberating gift to any reader

Possibly the most relatable and relevant book I've ever read. How can such a powerful concept go unnamed for so long? As both a therapist, and a human who grapples with time anxiety, I found myself feeling as though there isn't a person out there who wouldn’t benefit from reading this powerful book. Chris does a beautiful job of combining both personal and relatable accounts, with practicality, in a format that allows the reader to immediately begin to implement new tools, challenge long standing defenses and engage more fully in their life. Five Stars!

Worth the time

Very much enjoyed this book. Good advice and comforting to have a name for the feeling so many have. I’ll be listening for a second time soon!

Exactly what I needed to hear

I loved this book! It has such great advice. I have long struggled with feeling paralyzed and limited by time - this book is so relatable and helpful to break the cycle.

Exactly what I needed in a season of persistent overwhelm

Chris Guillebeau is one of the very few nonfiction (mostly) authors I come back to again and again—not just for his insight, but for how he delivers it. His books are personal, yet never self-centered. I deeply appreciate how he weaves in the voices and stories of others, writing us—as readers—not only into his own journey but into the journeys of so many wonderful people whose experiences and courage helped shape his ideas.

His writing never leaves that heavy aftertaste of pressure that so many nonfiction books do. Instead of feeling like I haven’t done enough or need to add more, achieve more, or integrate yet another practice into my already full day, I walk away from his work feeling lighter, more grounded, and more connected—not just to myself, but to so many others navigating this complex life.

Time Anxiety is no exception. I listened to it in one go, and it felt like exactly what I needed in a season of persistent overwhelm. It’s funny, touching, deeply human—and a beautiful invitation to slow down, reflect, and breathe in a world that constantly tells us to perform, hustle, and self-judge.

As a long-time fan, this is my favorite of his yet.

Thank you, Chris Guillebeau, for making me feel seen and reminding me that we are never alone in the questions we carry. Thank you for this time together.

Amazing and right on time 👌

Thank you Chris, for this gift. I’m so glad you spoke about your new book at Cal Newport podcast you’ve been to recently. Very grateful to you for sharing ideas, practices and most importantly your honest life experiences. I’m going to buy this book in print for me and all my friends and family.

Rewriting Your Relationship with Time

What I like about this book is that it's not another edition in the growing titles about "managing" time. Instead, it’s about rethinking your relationship with it. Chris unpacks the restless feeling many of us have, that there’s never enough time, and helps you reframe it with clarity and intention. It’s a fast and thoughtful listen, offering a nice balance of personal stories and actionable insights. If you’ve ever felt behind, rushed, or stuck in the “someday” trap, this book offers a grounded, compassionate way forward. Definitely something I’ll be revisiting given how accessible Chris has made the ideas

Practical guidance for productivity

I have enjoyed many of this author’s books as well as his podcast. Chris gives practical advice. It is worth listening to more than once.

No need to finish everything … great tip

Love the author and all the tips . It definitely opened my mind to be more aware of my own time anxiety and how to deal with it .Great listen !

a different way to look at your time and life

Not a time management book, more on how you want to live your life with practical ideas and exercises. Chris did a great job narrating.