Making excuses and excusing oneself are two different things. One has honesty at its core and the other is deceptive. One is real and one is pretend.
I value my time and so I should value and respect the time of others, often when I'm thinking only of myself do I get caught up in the world revolving around me syndrome. Your feelings don't get much consideration.
But when someone slights me I act as if the most terrible act was perpetrated upon me and I might even play the victim. There's no value in this behavior and there's no excuse for it.
When I take a few minutes each morning and " pause " to reflect upon the day ahead I have a better chance of not stumbling throughout the day and better yet, not falling flat on my face for lack of balance.
When I know ahead of time what it is I need to do I have a much better chance to be sure of myself and I'm less fearful. It is fear that excuses grow from. Fear births dishonesty and I pretend to be someone I'm not.
When I ask you to "excuse me" what I'm really saying is " pardon me, I made an error and I ask forgiveness" - that's pretty straight forward, simple and allows us to move on quickly with no regrets.
