Sadly, there seems to be a distinct lack of free time in the modern world. For example, I’m lucky these days if I get more than two consecutive hours in the morning or the evening to do whatever I please without some deadline for work, school, or some other important event.
So, today, I want to briefly reflect on a few things that I think can help make the rest of our days a lot more effective by taking advantage of free time when we do manage to get a little while to do what we want to do.
Take Care of your Physical Health
We can’t outrun the fact that, at the end of the day, the human body is a machine that runs on calories, water, and sleep. If you get some time for yourself, my first piece of advice is to take stock of what your body needs to keep running as effectively as possible.
Since I’m on my feet a lot and have chronic foot issues, one of the things I do first, thanks to my wonderful partner who gifted me a massage gun recently, is to use that on my feet and legs. Going through the day, I’ve found that not having sore feet has made a big difference in my productivity and mood.
Rest!
The modern world is awash with things to do. Work. Family. School. Job. Side Hustle. Social Media. Shopping. Sometimes, it can all be a bit much if I’m honest. When you get the time, one great option is to purposefully, mindfully, do not do one thing for about ten to fifteen minutes.
If you’re anything like me or my students, the first time you do this will feel like you are wasting time, and it might even be a little unnerving. That’s okay. But, if you take, say, fifteen minutes to enjoy your coffee as the sun rises, you might see, over time, that your stress levels begin to drop dramatically.
Try New things
If both your body and mind are feeling good, then think about trying something new. The other day, for example, I took the time to use my apartment building’s pool for the first time in over a year.
Human beings crave novelty, so being able to engage with that is a good thing to keep you interested in and engaged with your life more broadly.
Plan
I have never, in my life, regretted the time that I spend planning. If I get a moment at the end of a work day, I take the time to write down a detailed list of things that need to get done the next day, and I’ll even pack my work bag and iron my clothes if I get the chance. This gives me the opportunity to get ready for the day in a way that doesn’t add much stress, but does allow me the time to be a little less hectic in the following morning.
I hope a few of these things help you. If we’re conscious about it, I think it’s possible to claw back a little more free time and make our lives better in the process.