Anyone can be a time management master, but imagine the ability to ameliorate cancelled meetings, clients, or events. You have a busy life and those spare moments to do you should feel like winning the lottery. The best exhortation isn’t to “get busy” in those moments of spare time, instead be mindful and optimize this time. After studying many highly successful people we have gathered 10 ways to optimize spare time.
1. Go for a walk.
Daily walks or exercise are critical to your health, energy, and mental clarity. Now this doesn’t need to be an intense workout but ensure 6-days per week you have some form of activity in your schedule. Here are a few names of famous successful people who were known to walk vigorously every day: Aristotle, Charles Dickens, Henry David Thoreau, Beethoven, and more here.
2. Strategically allocate the rest of your week.
Caught a quick break at the office and want to optimize spare time? Go through your schedule for the rest of week and have boundaries. As many of have insufficient funds in our schedule for activities like exercise, sleep, and relationships. Allocating time to your personal life overall will make you happier.
3. Take a class and learn something new.
Education shouldn’t be stopped after grade school or college and shouldn’t be restricted to institutions. Incorporating new skills for your resume or learning new aspects about the world that surrounds you is key. A few options are looking for a free course around town, try an online course, or attend a local gathering.
4. Go network.
The best networking events happen outside of corporate hours. Try using an app like Meet up to find events you can attend and step outside your comfort zone. Its great to meet new people and expand your network.
5. Read a book.
Never stop reading. Reading improves vocabulary, semantic comprehension, communication skills, and mental sharpness. Enough said.
6. Generate/brainstorm new ideas.
Recently listening to a Tim Ferris podcast, the magic of mindfulness: complain less, appreciate more, and live a better life. There were many great tips to optimize your life in this but in the following podcast he mentions brainstorming with BJ Novak. They talk about when creating television shows there would be a no-holds-bar brainstorming session where nothing was disregarded. Create a list for a personal and business and come up with 5 – 10 ideas for each. You’ll be guaranteed to find something be
7. Clear Desk and Email.
Eliminate the clutter, trash it, file it, put it in its place. This is oddly satisfying and immediately increases productivity. Completely empty your email inbox as we tend to miss, push back, or even skip things that can be important. BananaTag is a local company we support to help you with your gmail account.
8. Disconnect electronics.
Studies about meditation and taking 10 deep breaths at your desk are rapidly increasing in popularity. 84% of cell phone users claim they count not go a single day with our their device (source). 67% of cell phone owners check their phone for messages, alerts, or calls — even when it isn’t ringing (source).
9. Prepare.
Is a monthly review coming up? Is your biggest client coming in? Do you have an important deadline coming up? You know these questions, there is something you can prepare for and why not use the extra spare time to get ready.
10. Set goals.
Reprioritizing on a regular basis allows you keep trajectory. It is easy to lose focus and resetting and ensuring you are on track is a great thing to do in your spare time. Living without goals is temporarily fun for a short period of time, so ensure you stay focused and are steering your ship in the right direction.
Those who are leaders, visionaries, game changers, and get things done are always on top of their game. Using these tactics to optimize spare time will enable you to increase productivity and lead to happier life.
What is this spare time thing you speak of LOL? I need some of that.
lol! This is just incase you come across it at some point in time Robin, we figure people as busy as us probably won’t know what to do with it 😉
Taking things in Bite sizes, Focusing your energies and Creating a Power Hour…I.e. every productive hour should be used as a power hour with 10 mins of time away from the work station for water, fresh air a toilet break etc! Its great for productivity and optimizing your time!
Absolutely Julie, we couldn’t agree more!
I like the idea of networking in your spare time it is a great idea.
It can be pretty fun too Ana! 🙂
fabulous ideas. I really like brain storming. That’s something i love to do.
And it helps so much doesn’t it Angela? 🙂
In other words be productive
You got it!!
What is spare time? I never seem to have that with three boys.
Haha, this is just in case you ever come across some Tara 😉
Spare time? That is something my husband gets.
Haha well just incase you ever find yourself with some Beth we thought we’d give you some tips 😉
Spare time for me is me time. I do whatever I feel like doing so that I can relieve all the stress from work, chores, etc. These are great ideas as well, thanks!
Awesome Mai! That’s what you should be doing 🙂
i use my spare time to work on my blog but i do try to relax while i write. i love the suggestion of reading since reading is a passion of mine
Awesome Michelle! It’s great to fill up spare time with things you love to do 🙂
This is great spare time hacks, but I use my spare time to create and learn something in new in blog.
That’s a fantastic option Lexie! I do the same 🙂
I love these tips! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
You’re very welcome and we’re glad you enjoyed them!
Great tips! Will incorporate some.
Awesome Claudette! Thanks for reading 🙂
I just cleaned out my inbox the other day, and I feel SO much more on top of things. It’s a great feeling.
Isn’t it amazing what cleaning your inbox can do Liz? I did the same thing with my computer files and I feel way more organized now 🙂
Thank you for this wonderful pointers. I really have this kind of issue in my own. Sometimes I rather sleep with my spare time the when I wake up I felt guilty doing things I should have done.
I hear you on that one! Who doesn’t love a good nap 😉
What a great tips, actually for me, I used my spare time mostly, spend time with my family around mall, and thinking a strategy how can I improve my site.
Those are great ways to spend time Nicole! 🙂
What a great list. I wish I had the spare time to do any of this.
I totally have to do #7 this week..lol! I’m just hoping to accomplish all my goals for 2016.
http://www.gregdemcydias.com
I do my social media marketing on my mobile and sometimes work on my planner to schedule things and set goals during my spare time
This year i have started Hula Hoop classes. It is so much fun and a great workout. I am going to try a bunch of new things this year.
What great ideas!! I’m all about networking events!!! Fun and beneficial
all great ways and you even made me chuckle lol
love it all !!! and all so doable !! Laci
Thank you for reminding me about Meet Up. I can’t believe I had forgotten how useful it is for finding new stuff to do.
Great ways to use time productively instead of wasting it. Thanks
I do not get much spare time with being home daily with two small boys. Going for a walk is normally my first choice followed by learning something new. I had not thought about many of the other ideas posted here.
oh i really like this artictle the other day i was just talking to my sister about how empty and tired i feel all the time. so maybe if i try some of these hacks ill start to feel a bit better