Time Anxiety

The Illusion of Urgency and a Better Way to Live

By: Chris Guillebeau

Narrated by: 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 listeners 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.

©2025 Chris Guillebeau (P)2025 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“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

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.