We all have downtime: Time when we’re not doing anything or, worse yet, time when it seems like we can’t do anything, or at least anything productive. Some examples: Commuting, waiting in line, sitting on hold on the phone, sitting on an airplane, sitting in an airport waiting for a flight — you get the idea.
If that downtime is more like dead time for you — minutes or even hours out of your life that you’ll never get back — here are some ways to take advantage of it.
- Read. Magazines, books, newspapers. Always have something with you from your to-read list.
- Listen to audio books on an MP3 player. This is great for commutes, whether in a car or on a train, as well as flights.
- Write in a journal. Use the time to catch up, reflect, think on paper.
- Think. Pick a topic that’s been bothering you or a problem that you’re facing. Then use that downtime to concentrate and think through the situation, your choices and possible solutions.
- Clean your desk. When I get stuck on hold in the office I will often put my phone on speaker and will start clearing off my desk, filing papers away and trying to bring the chaos under control.
- Relax. Seriously, really relax. If you’re a busy person, there’s a good chance you don’t do this often enough. So be still, take some deep breaths, and just relax (but if you’re driving, don’t relax too much).
I’m sure there are other things that people do to make better use of their downtime. Please weigh in with suggestions in the comments.
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