We spend a lot of time waiting. We wait for people to meet us at a restaurant. We wait at the dentist’s office. We wait for meetings to start. We wait in line at the store. We wait in traffic. There’s a lot of waiting happening over the course of a year.
Imagine what you could accomplish with that time if you used it well. You could learn a ton of things. You could also accomplish a lot and enjoy more free time at the end of your day.
Put your waiting time to good use with these strategies:
- Make phone calls and answer emails
Your mom would like to hear from you. When did you last call your best friend? Why not get caught up on your phone calls while you’re waiting? There never seems to be enough time to make all the necessary phone calls – business or pleasure.
Of course, making phone calls is easier in the car than responding to emails. Replying to emails can be easier in public than making phone calls. Get caught up on your emails instead of just sitting in the doctor’s office. Make that time count!
- Check up on your virtual assistants
Owing to Covid 19, there is an increased demand in the virtual assistant industry as more organizations move to work remotely. If you often get overwhelmed because of your long task lists while you’re in a queue, you should delegate to a virtual assistant.
When you have a team of VAs, your waiting time can be utilized better by checking up on on-going tasks or sending them new tasks brief. You automatically turn that twenty minutes waiting time into a very productive period by checking up on your remote assistants who’re getting your work done.
- Make plans
Whether you need to make plans for the weekend or a grocery list, you can do some constructive planning while you wait. Successful businesses have been planned with a few spare minutes here and there. Imagine what you could do if you never wasted any of the time you spend waiting.
- Meditate
It can be hard to find time to meditate. Sitting in the examination room while you wait for the doctor is a great time to meditate. It seems like you’ll have at least 20 minutes to yourself. With practice, you can meditate while you stand in line at the store, too!
- Read
Carry a book with you. A tablet reader, or even your phone, can be a great way to read a book or an article. You can learn something new like reading a blog on productivity while you’re just sitting there waiting. Or, you might prefer to read the classics. The choice is yours.
The time will pass whether you’re doing something constructive or not, so you may as well learn something while you wait.
- Listen to something useful
What’s “useful” is up to you. A soothing song, a book on tape, or a lecture on YouTube can all be great ways to use your waiting time. It’s like reading, only less work, and you can close your eyes.
- Relax
Just close your eyes if possible and enjoy a few minutes of peace. You can daydream, focus on your breathing, or enjoy the scenery. Taking a few minutes to unwind can be a big relief.
- Make a friend
Use the time to socialize. You might make a friend or at least have an interesting conversation. You can work on your social skills, too. People engage in much less face-to-face communication today. You can do your part to revive the art of conversation.
- Visualize being successful
Think of this as intentional daydreaming. Imagine yourself accomplishing your goals and focus on how good it feels. Doing this several times a day for just a few minutes adds up! You’ll notice results if you’re consistent.
How much time do you spend waiting in a year? Think about it and take an educated guess. What could you have accomplished with that time? What did you actually do with all that time?
Refuse to give up even a minute of your time to wait. Make the most of your day by utilizing every minute you can.