You don’t find time to train—you make it. This isn’t just gym advice; it’s a fundamental shift in mindset. It’s about taking ownership of your priorities and treating your goals as non-negotiable appointments you schedule, not hopes you stumble upon.
Share Image Quote:The core message is about proactive prioritization. It means your goals, like training, aren’t found in spare moments; they are carved out through deliberate choice and action.
Look, I’ve seen this with so many people. They say “I’ll train when I have time,” and guess what? That time never magically appears. Life is always going to be busy. The real secret, and this is what Michael Matthews nails, is that you have to make the time. You treat that 45-minute workout like a crucial business meeting you can’t miss. You put it in your calendar, you defend that time slot, and you build your life around your priorities, not the other way around. It’s a shift from being passive to being in active control.
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3669) |
| Category | Personal Development (698) |
| Topics | discipline (252), time management (8) |
| Literary Style | concise (408), directive (29) |
| Emotion / Mood | determined (116), motivating (311) |
| Overall Quote Score | 76 (131) |
This quote comes straight from Michael Matthews’s highly influential fitness book, Bigger Leaner Stronger, which was first published in the United States back in 2012. You sometimes see this sentiment floating around unattributed, but the specific phrasing is his.
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Michael Matthews (111) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Bigger Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Male Body (56) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3669) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Michael Matthews writes straightforward, evidence-based fitness books and leads Legion Athletics, a supplement and education company. He connects with readers through the Muscle for Life podcast and hundreds of articles on training, nutrition, and healthy habits. He champions simple programming, high-protein diets, progressive overload, and sustainable fat loss. The Michael Matthews book list includes Bigger Leaner Stronger, Thinner Leaner Stronger, Muscle for Life, Beyond Bigger Leaner Stronger, and The Shredded Chef. He continues refining his methods using new research and feedback from thousands of readers and clients.
| Official Website
| Quotation | You don’t find time to train—you make it |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2012; ISBN: 9781938895302; Last edition: 2021 (4th Edition); Number of pages: 480. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 7: Time and Training, Approximate page from 2021 Edition |
In the book, this isn’t just a throwaway line. It’s the bedrock of the entire philosophy. Matthews uses it to combat the number one excuse he hears for not getting in shape: “I don’t have the time.” He frames fitness not as a hobby, but as a mandatory part of a successful, high-performance life.
This is so versatile. I use this principle all the time.
It’s for anyone who has a goal that keeps getting pushed aside by the “tyranny of the urgent.”
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Theme | Advice (652) |
| Audiences | athletes (279), coaches (1277), professionals (752), students (3112), trainers (231) |
| Usage Context/Scenario | discipline talks (9), fitness programs (22), motivational speeches (345), productivity workshops (13), time management sessions (7) |
Question: Isn’t this just about time management?
Answer: It’s deeper than that. Time management is a skill, but “making time” is a mindset. It’s about the level of commitment you have. You manage things you have to do; you make time for things you must do.
Question: What if I genuinely have no free time?
Answer: This is the exact excuse the quote dismantles. You don’t have a 30-minute block? Okay, can you make 15 minutes? Can you break it into two 15-minute sessions? It’s about re-evaluating your current time expenditures—like scrolling on your phone—and consciously re-allocating that time to your goal. You always have the same 24 hours as everyone else; it’s about choice.
Question: Can this apply to things other than fitness?
Answer: Absolutely. This is a universal principle for any meaningful pursuit. Learning a language, building a business, mastering an instrument… you name it. You will never “find” the time. You have to make it.
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