Like many—thousands, maybe even millions—of people, I spend countless moments of time wishing I had more time. It wasn’t until I recently read Jason W. Womack’s article Need More Time, Wait Just a Minute, Here it Comes that I realized I already have all the time I need. I just need to use it effectively.
This “extra” time is time I spend waiting in lines, waiting in traffic, waiting for meetings, and otherwise not doing what I expected to be doing at any given time. I tend to spend this time fretting over wasting time. Sometimes I use this time to check emails, write, contact friends, or to check on what I should be doing next. I don’t use it strategically, and according to Womack, if I plan for these extra moments (since some are pretty predictable) I can use these moments more effectively.
At any given time I have a number of things I could be doing. I always have my phone with me, so theoretically, I could use my phone’s notes feature to write a brief piece. But since I’m more productive when I write first in pen, why not make sure I also carry paper with me? During the semester I read and re-read stories, poems, essays and books. If I carried essays with me, I could theoretically grade them in my new found spare time. Record lecture notes during traffic jams; schedule meetings during lulls in conversation calls: the possibilities for effective use of my time are endless and probably timeless too.
The best piece of advice Womack offers is that instead of worrying about wasting my time while waiting, I should stop worrying and be productive. I don’t have problems with being productive. Like many people, I have problems stopping my productivity. My favorite piece of advice comes from one of Womack’s readers who offers not only additional ways to be productive, but the reminder that maybe in this unexpected sliver of time is the time to just be. Be still, be settled: be.
How much time do you spend relaxing—on purpose? If I’m not on vacation, I don’t really plan time to relax.
So, from now on I’m going to at least try to appreciate the stolen moments between destinations when my car seems destined to be still; I’m going to savor the seconds waiting for meetings to start and for thoughts to gather; I’m going to reset my mindset to appreciate the extra moments in my life. How will you spend the extra moments in your day?