Tuesday, October 16, 2007
15 Ways to Squeeze the Most From 15 Minutes
Scott H Young: "If you’re starved for time, you probably don’t have a few spare hours to do whatever you want. But do you have fifteen minutes? You won’t be able to run a marathon, finish a novel or have a party, but fifteen minutes can go a long way if you know how to use it."
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4 comments:
With all the time management advice that we have been given I still seem to have a hard time with those small times between classes to get anything done. When I am faced with 15 mintunes of freetime I see no point in starting something that I will not get done in the time. So spending that little amount of time on something productive yet small is a way to make myself feel better for not doing anything terrible important in that time. It might seem like a useless amount time, but when put together they make work go quickly because I am able to mark stuff off of my to do list. Even if they are not the most important tasks.
First off I can't take the name Toastmasters seriously. Other than that though....
I always try my best to do everything I can with the 10 minutes between classes. When you really do need to do something, and then you go to do it, you realize how much time 10 minutes really is. It's how long it takes me to walk from my apartment to Purnell, or it can be time to run to the UC to check my mail, or other stupid little school/campus related things.
I do try to do some of the things that he suggests. Reading is one for sure - I go through periods of reading a lot and then reading hardly at all. After this break though, finishing one book and starting another, I think I'll get back into reading in those spare 15 minutes, rather than looking through those same few websites over and over again....
The stress ones are really good - the one I take advantage of most is going for a walk. I love walks. I know a couple of times I've just been randomly stressed and been like - ooo I have 5-10 minutes, I'll take a short walk.
The To-Do lists - sometimes you can just use that 15 minutes to create that list - which will save you tons of time later.
As far as the exercise-y things I try to do those a lot. Even if I know there's something I could be doing - but just for some reason can't do it I'll just decide to do some random weights things or crunches or run up and down the stairs of the apartment building. It just rejuvenates you a little bit and gives you a small burst of energy, plus you feel somewhat accomplished afterwards!
Mmm relationships. Sometimes this is just the perfect thing to do. There are so many friends that I don't talk to on a normal basis just because I'm too busy. but I find when I do take that 15 minutes to talk to someone - especially someone I haven't spoken to in a while - it is always well worth it.
Now some of these things I end up taking further than 15 minutes, which can be fine, but you can also squeeze them into 15 minute gaps and just make your day that much better!
These are amazing ideas, some of the mat least. Fifteen minutes can go by so fast that you realize you just spent the last 15, 20, sometimes 30 minutes doing something silly since 15 minutes can turn into more time than you expected to spend. If only i could bring myself to draw in those 15 minute gaps, or even just using the time to re-read the assignment for my next class or to look over my notes before the big test. I really like the little bits of advice that aim to let people live more productive and healthy lives.
Referring to my other comment, those random 15 or 20 minute blocks of time during the day are the times when I just go over an assignment just to START it. I really find this time useful because I know I don't have to dive in head first. This is also always a great time to just close your eyes and breathe. Sometimes that time is just enough to make you not go crazy.
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