self-handicapping excuses

productivity blog lifehacker recently posted an article about escaping your self-handicapping excuses (e.g. "I barely slept before that test") and asked for examples. I commented that i frequently use bad traffic as an excuse, because i am in control over when i leave. but how can you plan for a morning that lengthens your commute by 100 minutes? one part of me wants to get rid of excuses, but there are times when no amount of planning is preparation enough. i mean if the reason you were up late the night before the test is your house was struck by lightning and burned down, arent you justified in your excuse?