The Activist for Activists. Author of Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism and The Happy Activist: Journey the 5-Step Activism Path to Focus Your Passion and Change the World. Teacher, Psychologist, Environmental Activist, Animal Lover.
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Last Updated on January 17, 2025
“I Don’t Have Time” How Busy People Can Change the World
Jennifer sets aside 45 minutes to catch up with her best friend, Diane. Arriving out of breath at the coffee shop, she flops into her chair with a sigh.
Diane has her favorite latte ready for her. Jennifer settles in with her drink and listens as Diane tells her about the latest project she is working on to start a community garden in her neighborhood. “Once we get approval from the owners in writing, we can start marking off the plots. We should be ready to plant in the spring.”
Jennifer is struck by Diane’s joy in her project. “You’ve been working on this for so long, and I’m thrilled that you made it happen. What I don’t understand is how you made this happen. You’re in the same boat as me – a full-time job, kids, hubby. I don’t have time to change the world. How do you?”
If you are overwhelmed with life obligations, you may believe there is no time to change the world. Indeed, your time, resources, and support influence how much change-making can be a part of your life.
Many people believe they should prioritize the other roles in their life over activism. That it doesn’t feel right to take time away from things you want to do, like spend time with your kids and things you must do, like work.
But you can, with some reflection, find a way to make the change you want to see in the world, doing something you love.
[Are you ready to make the difference you wish to see in the world?]
You May Be Busy, But You Can Change The World
Everyone can make a difference. By following a thoughtful path, you can find the right way to make change. One that works for your life. In my activism path, you:
- Focus your passion and find the cause closest to your heart among the myriad of causes.
- Match your skills with the type of activism work that best suits you.
- Find an activism opportunity that works for your life.
- Determine if your social justice work truly makes an impact.
- Stay motivated in your activism for the long-term.
Find Your Passion
In step 1, you imagine your ideal life and world. You examine the roles you play in your life. Most people try to do much more than they can handle. In fact, research shows that we can play more than 5 critical roles well.
How many roles are you trying to play? And are they the right roles for your life?
Serving the world is an honorable role and one that can enrich rather than deplete your life. Consider whether you can get support in other areas so you can make the change you want to see in the world.
Diane followed the activism path to define her role in changing the world. Completing step 1 – imagining her ideal life and ideal world changed how she viewed what is essential. For example, her evenings were spent watching television with her husband and kids. ‘Television-watcher’ was not a role she wanted to play.
One of the keys to changing this was to talk with her family about her wishes. That she’d rather spend time with them in activities that involve interacting with one another. Since she’d like to volunteer to support the environment somehow, she asked for their support. The family agreed to limit TV time to weekends. She was surprised that they also wanted to support her in her volunteer work. With their help, they found ways to free up Diane’s time for activism.
Diane knew that the cause closest to her heart was the environment. With some soul-searching, she focused on a community garden.
Match Your Skills to Your Activism
After finding the cause closest to your heart, try to understand how you can apply your talents to change the world.
The step of understanding your gifts was easy for Diane. She already knew her cause was environmentalism. People stopped by her small garden to comment on its beauty and bounty.
Since the yards in her community are small, neighbors couldn’t tend extensive gardens, especially if they kept any lawn at all. One day, while walking her dog, she passed by a plot of land that had sat unused for years, and that’s when the idea of a community garden struck her. She could make a place for people to grow organic fruits and vegetables. It could be a gathering place for neighbors, with a place for kids to garden, too. Diane could talk with neighbors about reducing their lawn and increasing the neighborhood’s biodiversity and native plants.
Find The Right Opportunity For You
Planning a community garden is a big project, and Diane knew that before she started. But she was clear about what skills she wanted to contribute and how it would be necessary to get help from others. Gardening and teaching others about the environment are joyful and help her wind down at the end of the day. Her kids can join her and garden or play.
But she recruited others with different gifts to help with tasks where she lacked skills. This allowed her to focus her time on what she loves. One neighbor, an attorney, agreed to interact with the owners and the city. Diane decided to pay a garden designer to create a site plan. Finally, she canvassed the neighborhood for volunteers to develop the garden with her.
Diane chose to recruit help for her community garden. And there are many ways you can contribute to your cause if you don’t have time.
Motivation and Rewards
Rather than assuming activism will add stress to your life, consider how getting involved in a cause may make you feel less overwhelmed.
Doing good, even in small doses, has been shown to improve mental and physical health. You can perform your other life roles with more joy.
Diane’s happiness about the garden was clear to Jennifer. She mused to Diane, “I miss the days when I used to volunteer for Planned Parenthood. It made a difference for women, and honestly, it made me feel useful. But I quit because I was so busy with other things in my life.”
Diane smiled. “Let’s get you back to making a difference for women in a way that works for a busy person like you.”
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