My Nikon D7000, takes around what feels like 1-3 seconds to take its picture of what i'm shooting.?

Posting an image when this issue happens would allow us to look at the EXIF data which might shed some light on your issue.

If you have extra processing steps enabled like Auto Distortion Control and/or High ISO Noise Reduction (NR), this might cause delays. See page 205 in your manual.

You might want to try another memory card in case your present memory card is buggered. Or, try formatting the memory card in the camera (warning, formatting the memory card will delete all the images on the card) and see if that helps.

I've seen Nikon cameras get really slow with wrong type of memory card (MMC). Be sure your memory card is some variety of SD. MMC will sort of function in a Nikon body, but things get really slow.

No idea what the problem is - just a couple of thoughts;

Is the self timer on?

Are you trying to autofocus in low light/poor contrast?

Have you switched AF mode to continuous?

Check to make certain you do not have the camera set to Self-Timer... that's what it seems like. On the top left side of your camera, on the dial just below the Mode Dial (for M, A, S, P, Auto, etc) there is a thin dial called the Release Mode Dial... you'll see that it has an "S," "Cl," "Ch," "Q," and a tiny "clock" icon for timer; make certain that this dial is set to "S" or "Cl" or "Ch" and see what happens.

Turn off the exposure delay mode, that's for on a tripod without a remote and causes the symptom you describe. Maybe you are using a slow memory card, always buy fast memory cards (Class 10 or better).