Note: This article is based on the work of the author Darius Foroux, and it offers 8 tips for making the most of wasted time during the day.
I mean, the few minutes we get as free time, such as the time between ordering a cup of coffee and getting it, the time we sit waiting before the meeting starts, or waiting at the bus stop, and so on, knowing that I used to spend this time browsing social media, but I did not find it useful.
I will answer this question with eight tips that will help you make the most of the little time we usually spend waiting, but before that, you must act on the following advice.
Delete social media apps
I am talking here in general; the presence of social networking applications such as Facebook, Twitter, or news applications on your phone means that you will waste a lot of time browsing them.
Self-control is difficult, especially since most of these applications are easily accessible, yet they do not add any value to your life, and most of the information you get through these applications is false. Therefore, I recommend deleting all applications that do not provide any benefit and only serve as a distraction.
You can install these apps anytime you want on your phone, but the idea of deleting them is to help you break the habit of overusing them.
This is because what you seek is to replace a bad habit with a positive one, and once you get rid of the things that cause you distraction, you will not use them again, and so you have kicked the negative habit, and it remains to replace it with positive habits, and here is how you do it.
Tips to Increase Productivity by Investing Wasted Time
1. Choose your favorite blogs online
I do not recommend relying on anything other than books to obtain information, or at least making books the primary source. When I resort to other sources, I choose specific writers, and this can be done through specific applications that allow everyone to see the writers’ articles and ideas and through which you can access the author's page directly.
The purpose of these applications is not to obtain information in a random manner but instead to read information relevant to your profession or interests. Therefore, I recommend this organized way of selecting information, and you can also use the Pocket application to read information that you have previously saved.
2. Write in your diary
I highly recommend journaling, and I myself persevere in this habit, preferring to do it the traditional way. That is, by using a paper diary, but if I want to use one of the diary applications, I recommend the “Day One” application, which is a simple application that is easy to use. When I have some free time, I write some sentences.
Journaling helps you unload your mental energy, and in addition to that, you create something instead of receiving ideas invented by others.
3. Meet new people
We all leave homes or our offices and see around us strange people who are busy with their phones or something else, but in the end, no matter how strange the person is, they are a human being like you. One of my friends advised me to talk to strangers and said that when you talk to a stranger, you will often find that they are a wonderful person.
who knows? This person may become your friend, a customer asking for services, or perhaps your future partner. It does not take much effort; just start saying hello, and the other party will greet you back, and you will start talking.
4. Entertain yourself
Apply this advice with caution; do not over-entertain yourself, and do not completely ignore your need for some entertainment. Sometimes it is good to relax and watch something interesting on YouTube. Perhaps you like watching funny clips about animals, or perhaps you are searching for a song or a new music clip.
It's also a good idea to relax a bit when you're waiting for the next task to start, but don't waste hours jumping from one video to another, as this habit greatly reduces your productivity.
5. Read a book
I recommend reading a lot; I even keep a book with me wherever I go. When I have 10 minutes or more, I invest them in reading, but I don't recommend it when you have two or three minutes. It is preferable at a time like this to do something else.
6. Respond to emails or other communications
I recommend turning off all notifications on your phone because they distract you at a time when you need to focus most. I have accustomed myself to using the phone only in idle time, and I find that this makes me more focused and productive during the day.
Invest your wasted time answering your friends’ or clients’ messages so you have more time for yourself at the end of the workday.
7. Learn a new language
I'm currently using Duolingo to learn Spanish. I often open the app before dinner and take a lesson or two, and it's a great app for learning languages.
Duolingo stimulates your brain to work, and you get something useful from it at the same time. Studies have shown that learning languages through applications is effective. By using this application, you will be able to take advantage of your wasted time instead of browsing news sites and social media.
8. Take a walk
What do you do when you find that you have some time before starting something? If you are sitting around waiting, I recommend taking a walk instead. No matter where you are, whether it is hot or cold, whether you like the surroundings or not, or however much time you have, you can walk.
In conclusion
The purpose of the previous tips is to do something useful during your time out instead of wasting it, and because you have a purpose for doing these things, they are definitely useful, even if you decide not to do something. Be proactive and stop waiting.
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