10 Pockets of Time You Can Reclaim

Several people have asked me how I manage to read one book every week. I’m sure some of them think I don’t work! What I do is use every pocket of time I can find in the course of the day. These pockets of time can also be used to write short notes to people, make a quick call to someone, or do anything you want to do but can’t seem to make time for.

Here are pockets of time that you can reclaim if you want:

1. While waiting: The moment you have to wait for anything, whip that book out and start reading. You may manage only half a page but the halves add up. Usually you’ll manage quite a few pages while waiting.

2. Commuting to and from work: I’m sure you’ve seen people reading on a bus or train. Even if you commute by car, audio books are easily available today.

3. Television commercials: You don’t really need to watch those commercials on TV. They’re all aimed at getting you to buy something you don’t need (or you would have bought it already, right?)

4. Eating alone: You don’t have to be alone. Books have been some of my best lunchtime companions over the years. They’re clever, funny, and don’t argue.

5. Boiling water or cooking: I find it amusing to watch people watching a kettle or pot. Use a timer and free yourself to read or do something else for a few minutes.

6. Downloading webpages: Staring at the computer screen isn’t going to make that page load any faster. Since there’s nothing to read on the screen for a few seconds, read a few sentences of your book instead.

7. In the toilet: Okay, use some discretion here. It may not always be appropriate but if it’s clean and you’re there for some time, go ahead. Imagine the reading you’ll get done over a lifetime!

8. Attending meetings: Get there slightly early and read a little while waiting for the rest, and skim a few sentences during lulls when people are getting organised and there’s no real discussion going on.

9. During exercise: Audio books are the way to go here. Download these into your mp3 player and you’ll be amazed how quickly the time flies. Exercising will be less of a chore, and you’ll be brawnier and brainier.

10. Before sleeping: The few minutes you take to fall asleep can be used to read instead of staring at the ceiling. Plus your brain remembers best what you put into it during the 45 minutes before you sleep.

Use these pockets of time in your day, and you’ll be amazed at how much time you actually have. It’s been said that you can get a whole university education just reading one hour a day for five years. You can also write a novel in that same time period. And you don’t even have to give up any of what you’re doing now. You just have to reclaim those lost minutes.

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5 Responses to “10 Pockets of Time You Can Reclaim”

  1. RetiredAt47
    October 31st, 2008 @ 5:32 am

    This is a great list of ways to use bits of extra time, for reading or otherwise. I would probably find it difficult to read a book in such small time increments, because my train of thought would be broken so often that I’d have to keep re-reading parts where I left off. But I hate sitting idle, and normally will read mail, write notes, or knit when I have a few spare minutes. What you are really doing is being efficient with your time.

    RetiredAt47s last blog post..Making Lemonade out of a Stock Market Full of Lemons

  2. Daphne
    October 31st, 2008 @ 8:04 am

    Hey RetiredAt47,

    Yes you don’t have to use the time to read, but can do practically anything you want to. And yes occasionally I only have time for a sentence or two and do have to read it again, but more often than not I get in more reading than I thought I would, and am glad that I grabbed those minutes. I’m glad to find someone who still knits – I used to do that and cross-stitching too, and gosh those require lots of time!

  3. Vincent
    October 31st, 2008 @ 11:53 am

    Hi Daphne,

    I personally use point number 1,2 and 10. I find that so many people just idle and waste their time away when they are commuting. Reading books during that particular time would definitely put the time into good use.

    Cheers
    Vincent
    Personal Development Blogger

    Vincents last blog post..Do You Give Up Easily?

  4. Carnival of Postive Thinking
    November 3rd, 2008 @ 2:41 am

    [...] presents 10 Pockets of Time You Can Reclaim posted at Joyful Days, saying, “Use pockets of time in the course of the day to read, write [...]

  5. 25 Ways to Live 25 Hours a Day | Marc and Angel Hack Life
    March 3rd, 2009 @ 3:59 pm

    [...] Be productive while you wait. – “The moment you have to wait for anything, whip that book out and start reading.  Usually you’ll manage quite a few pages while waiting.  Use these pockets of time in your day, and you’ll be amazed at how much time you actually have.  It’s been said that you can get a whole university education just reading one hour a day for five years.  You just have to reclaim those lost minutes.” – via Joyful Days [...]

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