Tag: Time Management

Do you often find yourself lying on the couch or in bed, watching episode after episode of a captivating Series? Yes, this might be a good way to relax after a hard day/week’s work. But there’s a whole other kind of relaxation that I would recommend to you, though.

I call it Wasting Time Well.

But, what is “wasting” time exactly? Some people might define it as any time spent doing work that’s not productive, either personally or professionally. However you define it, it’s time to redefine it. Because wasting time is good for the brain and can help lower stress levels and boost creative thinking.

How do you know you’ve wasted time well? My answer: It doesn’t stop you from doing all the things you have committed yourself to getting done in a day.

Here are some tips to wasting time well and still being productive.

1. Learn something meaningful to you: Learn things that are important in your daily life, or enhance your hobbies. For instance, if you’re a good cook, read and try a new recipe. If you like a weekend drive, check for exciting or interesting events going on in the area.

2. Social media housekeeping: Think of it as online filing – go through your Facebook, remove old and embarrassing photos and delete any ‘friends’ you have not spoken to for ages. Update your Twitter/Instagram timeline, but don’t spend too much time there or get immersed in the distractions.

3. Exercise your mind in a relaxing way: This is especially helpful if you are working on something physical. A mental puzzle or brain twister might be a great way to relax and still build up yourself mentally.

4. Plan for a vacation: Planning a party, a vacation, an event will help you feel excited as you look forward to something special. It also helps in improving your work-life balance thereby making you more productive at work.

What other tips do you have to add? How do you waste time well?

“There is no one giant step that does it. It’s a lot of little steps.” – Peter A. Cohen

Sometimes, we just want to do many things all at once: give extra time to your family, take a business course, learn how to swim, or read one book a week. We build such a high castles of desires, and then it seems we just are not making progress at any one.

There are a few tips I think you would find helpful in making that progress you really want to see.

1. Do not rush. Keep calm, and draw a plan. You cannot do all those many things you want to do in one day.

2. Consistency. Give a little time to each activity every day. That way, you are making measurable progress. It could be as little as fifteen minutes, and as much as five hours.

3. There is no balance, but a scale of priorities. When people say things like someone is able to balance work and marriage, though I understand what they are trying to say, but that is not entirely true. Where is the balance when your spouse is sick, and you have an important business trip to make? At that point, you choose what really matters to you.

4. Technically, while you are busy attending your friend’s wedding, you might be missing an important business opportunity; while taking a part-time course, you are missing out on some family time, and while reading that book, you could have been sleeping or watching a movie.

5. Making Time: There is no phase in your life when you would ever “ have time”; you “make time.” If it is important, you have to create time for it.

In essence, always know what is important at every point in time, but never be so caught up in life’s motions that you forget to live.

Have a lovely new week!