In my to do my every day this month, a thought occurred to me. Is there enough time in each day? And if not, how can more time be created?
Here’s the math, by the minute:
Setting aside sleep and focusing on waking hours, that’s 218 minutes, or 3.63 hours. For simplicity, let’s say 3.5 hours.
Like most people, my schedule doesn’t have many open hours in it. So how will this work? By doubling up on activities. Not so I’m multitasking, , but by combining activities that naturally go together.
Think of it as a “” – something satisfying 2 needs simultaneously. Or in , as a “stacked win.”
Morning pages and problem solving. One of the natural outcomes of morning pages, according to their inventor , is a way to solve problems. If I’m facing a challenging at work or home, writing about it longhand often leads to solutions. And morning pages can be a way to sketch out my next blog post.
Power posing and meditating. Despite the hype about meditating, it hasn’t grabbed me. Yet. While there’s a meditative quality to walking, doing yoga and paddle boarding, it hasn’t been an overt practice in my life. Until I started my 2-minute power poses, thanks to . During that time I can focus on my breathing and clear my mind.
Reading and news. Working in corporate communications and now in marketing, it’s imperative to stay on top of the news. My 15-minute can count toward my reading time. Of course, it’s more enjoyable to read for 30 minutes at the end of the day, but on busier days, reading is already in the plan.
This weekend I stocked up on books, thanks to . Recent releases that caught my eye: , and .
And I always have my Kindle app, especially handy if I’m waiting for an appointment or to pick up a family member. Right now it’s and revisiting .
Treadmill time and reading. Cardio time walking on the treadmill is also great reading time. There’s catching up with longer-form news and articles via iPad and in print. And there are plenty of books on my iPad (see item above).
Exercising and socializing. My husband is my paddle boarding buddy. We not only enjoy the time together, but we also look forward to gliding across the water and being in nature (thanks to for highlighting the benefits of anticipating weekend activities). And a friend has begun to meet me for a Sunday morning yoga class, brightening both of our days.
Blogging and learning. This blog is . It began with a focus on the future of corporate communications. As my career pivoted into marketing, it’s became a way to , especially in the area of marketing analytics. So time spent on my blog is often time spent learning about the latest in my current field. This hack comes from and her .
Recharging and moving. This includes things like walking meetings, or walking during lunch. It’s hard to beat getting out in nature for fresh air and sunshine. And I often find that walking during the day can help me solve problems I’ve been wrestling with. Other ways to recharge during a short lunch break – a few minutes with my Spanish app, listening to a podcast or meeting a colleague.
Commuting and learning. Driving to and from the office can take 50 to 90 minutes a day. That’s a big chunk of time. How can it better be used? Here are 3 – listening to TED talks, listening to Spanish radio stations and listening to podcasts, especially on data analytics.
And here I’m especially grateful to work for a company that connects us to our world, everywhere we live, work and play (note: opinions expressed in this blog are ). That puts me a third of the way on today’s list of what I’m grateful for.