We all have so much to do, but so little time. At work, there are endless email queues, texts and calls, plus interruptions and unexpected issues awaiting you. At home, personal chores mercilessly pile up. Sadly, there is no single Big Solution for tackling the tasks that take over, no miraculous way to suspend time and space. But there is a strategy!
Don’t think big, think small. Sneak up on looming undertakings and bring them down to size in 10-minute increments. If you need convincing, calculate the total of a year’s daily efforts (hint: think average work week or completing a certification course).
Move. Take a 10-minute walk, even indoors. Move briskly and cover up to 1000 steps or stroll for half that amount. Pump your arms, increase the benefits. Have a lengthy phone call to make? Walk as you talk.
File. Whether organizing piles of paper or electronic files, you might be surprised at how much you can clear in only ten minutes.
Read. No time to read? Depending on your speed and the subject, you can cover between ten and twelve pages in 10-minute turns. A few books a year is better than none.
Relax. Set a timer and sit. Shut your eyes, breathe deeply and chill. It’s good to take breaks. If this feels uncomfortable, it’s a sign that relaxing is foreign to your body, and it would help to do more of it.
Write. If you need to compose a memo or report, take ten minutes to make notes or organize your thoughts before tackling the whole. It only took ten minutes to draft most of this article.
Attend. Give someone you care about a full ten minutes of attention and see how it feels.
Time is yours for the taking. Chew on this small bite idea and give it a chance to make a big difference for you, just as it has for me.
