Time

Time... it's an interesting thing.  We all get the same amount each day, week, month and year. Yet we never feel like we have enough of it.  We are all  guilty of saying, "I don't have time for that."  or "I haven't had time to get such and such done."  But what are we really saying?  Because we have a finite amount of time, we have to prioritize how we use it.  So I think that when we say we don't have time to go to lunch with a friend, we've really said, "It's not a priority to have lunch with that friend."  It sure changes the message, doesn't it?  Saying I don't have time sounds benign.  Nobody will fault you for that.  But boy, say, "You're not a priority" and see what reaction you get.

I'm not suggesting that you actually say those words; they could damage the friendship & you might not have to worry about having time to go to lunch with them again.  No, what I'm suggesting is that when you say or think, "I don't have time for XYZ", think to yourself , "XYZ isn't a priority."  See if that changes your decision, or causes you to re-prioritize.  It won't always, but I think occasionally it will.