There are always little chunks of time in the day that feel a bit wasted, like when you’re waiting for the bus, hanging around in a client’s office, riding in the taxi or simply standing around.
Those chunks never feel long enough to get started on anything, so we often just twiddle our thumbs, feeling either bored or frustrated.
While I’m definitely an advocate of using 5 minutes here or 10 minutes there to quietly rest and regroup or to visualize or meditate, there are other ways to use those short gaps too.
Action – First, always have some low-priority work or reading with you that you can grab when there’s dead time.
Next, make lists of what you can do with 5, 10 and 15 minutes. For example, in my 5 minute list I have tasks like – file papers and tidy my workspace. In 10 minutes, I can make a phone call or review my to-do list. And in 15 minutes, I can definitely complete a step in a larger project or organize my email inbox.
And finally, use short amounts of time to connect with others. Ask your colleagues how they are, phone your spouse simply to say hello, or write a quick thank you note to one of the many people who undoubtedly deserve your gratitude.