Haven’t you ever wished you could do that? To somehow add one little chunk of time to your crazy-busy day so you could take a step towards your goals and dreams?
It’s more than wishful thinking. It’s absolutely possible. No one gets more than 24 hours in a day, but we can re-claim the random pieces of time that disappear without our realizing it.
I took a hard look at my daily schedule and realized that what I plan to do and what I actually do are often not the same thing. I found several places where time evaporates if I’m not careful. Things like:
- Surfing the Web without a specific goal
- Checking social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.) incessantly
- Watching television programs I’m not really interested in
- Checking the phone, text, or email every two minutes
I’m sure you could add your own time warps to that list.
I’ve found that one of the best ways to reclaim that time is with a kitchen timer or alarm clock. Tell yourself you have exactly 20 minutes to get something done. Maybe it’s a step toward your dreams. And maybe it’s a small task that will free up time to pursue your dream later that day.
So, what can you do with a mere 20 minutes?
- Write a paragraph or two
- Sketch a new project
- Edit a page
- Read a chapter of an inspirational book
- Return a couple emails
- Pay a few bills online
- Send a thank you note
- Clean out a drawer
- Write in your journal
- Fold laundry
- Meditate or read a devotion
- Start a collage
- Take a walk
- Visualize the solution to a problem
- Power nap (a trick I learned in college)
Ironically, in our busy world, waiting is one of the biggest time-stealers. According to Ask.com, “On average a person spends an estimated 45 to 62 minutes waiting everyday, which is about 4.2% of an average life time.”
That’s time we can use. I’ve learned to keep a “go bag” stocked with paper and pen, printouts of my latest project, my calendar, IPAD, inspirational books and note cards so I can reclaim waiting time.
So where is time vanishing from your day? How can you reclaim it to take steps towards your dreams?
The Conversation
Great suggestions! I let time slip away by tracking my books too many times a day. That is really a time waster.
For those waiting times, I read on my Kindle.
I’m feeling antsy just commenting on your logical blog, because I’ve already spent too much time on line this morning! Yikes.
Thanks, Lynne. And I know that antsy feeling, too. But I so appreciate you “wasting” time to stop by!
I found I discovered tonnes more free time when my husband bought me a new fancy phone. I can never find it and answer the call within the 4 rings time crunch so I never speak to anyone. There again, later, at the end of the day when they’ve all piled up I end up having to do a lot of catch up. Maybe I’ll have to find the time to figure out how it works……
That’s one way to solve the problem! LOL! You made me laugh, Maddy! Thanks for sharing…
What a great and timely post. I’ve had a major problem with this lately so I’ve decided to try to take an internet vacation for a week after my tour is over. There is just too much static in my life and I desperately need some time to finish my WIP.
I think we all need an internet vacation every once in a while, Lisa. Good for you in recognizing the need–and doing something about it!!
Happy writing
I love this! Great suggestions for making good use of your time. I need it, since I’m training for the new Olympic Sport of ‘Fritting’.
Thanks, Ruth! ‘Fritting’ is an Olympic sport now, huh? Who knew?
I’m forever in training for the bite-your-tongue gold medal event. Some years I do better than others…sigh.
Hope the ideas helped your training program!