You don’t need several hours to do something meaningful with your time. You just need 15 minutes.
Often, we put off working on our tasks or big goals because we’re under the impression that we need to block off hours or entire days to work on them.
- We don’t work on that novel because we’re waiting for a week-long writer’s retreat.
- We don’t clean up the house because we have too many things to do.
- We don’t exercise because we don’t have a full hour.
The truth of the matter is that you don’t need huge chunks of time to get things done. You’d be surprised by how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes.
In fact, do you ever notice that on those days when you have an entire afternoon free, you end up feeling overwhelmed?
We talk ourselves out of working on our creative projects or hobbies because we feel pressured to do something productive. Or we procrastinate on our work because our inner critic rears its ugly head and intimidates us.
But when you only have 15 minutes to spare, you can't procrastinate or go online or make excuses. When your time is limited, you’re more likely to harness your focus and concentration. This little time pressure is like a mind trick that will motivate you to get started and finish the task.
And free time isn’t just for being productive and efficient. If you’re having a hectic or stressful day, a 15-minute break can be incredibly restorative. A short break can do wonders for clearing your mind and renewing your energy.
Tips for maximizing your 15 minutes:
- Use a timer to keep you focused and on task.
- Turn off your WiFi or silence your phone to reduce distractions.
- Don’t aim for perfection. The idea is to complete the task and then polish your work later on.
- Make a list of tasks, chores, activities you’ve been dragging your heels on. The next time you have a small block of time available, knock something off your list.
Ahead, you’ll find ideas for how to make the most out of 15 minutes.
Read a book you actually want to read. If you have 15 minutes to spare, don’t reach for your phone. Read a book instead. And don’t feel pressured to read the buzzy book or a classic. Go for the beach read or the gossipy tell–all. When you read books for your own pleasure, you'll get so much more out of it.
Take a walk around the block. Having a stressful day at work? Going outside and getting your body moving for 15 minutes will make you feel like a new person.
Do a writing sprint. Struggling with procrastination or writer’s block? A writing sprint will motivate you to get to work. Use a timer and write as much as you can in 15 minutes. You won’t have time to fixate on typos or obsess over crafting the perfect sentence. Use the time to write and then focus on editing later.
Plan your schedule for the week. With 15 minutes, you can add deadlines, meetings, and appointments to your weekly calendar; identify your personal and professional priorities; and define your intention for the week so that you can work more mindfully. You can also write things down on post-its so that you have a visual reminder of what to do.
Reflect on your previous week. In order to ensure that you’re always improving and making progress, it’s essential that you take the time to reflect. What did you like doing? What made you happy? What challenges did you face? And how would you address them the next time around? A weekly reflection will set you up for success the following week.
Do a quick exercise routine. We all have those busy weeks when we don’t have any time to squeeze in a workout. But you can still get a good, heart pumping workout in just 15 minutes. Go for a quick run, do an HIIT workout video, do some light stretches, or put on some music and dance around in your room. A 15 minute exercise routine will get the blood flowing and give you a boost of feel-good endorphins.
Make a list of things you noticed. Take out your journal and jot down the things you noticed about your day. Interesting characters at your local coffee shop. Fun outfits you noticed on your walk. Birds and creatures. Taking the time to notice the little things will make you appreciate the world around you.
Make yourself a nourishing breakfast. For those of you who tend to skip the most important meal of the day, use your 15 minutes to prepare a healthy breakfast. Avocado toast. Oatmeal with sliced almonds and berries. Yogurt with fruit and granola.
Clean/declutter a zone in your home. Do a cleaning sprint and devote 15 minutes to one zone or area. Tidy your bookshelves, organize your drawers, wipe the surfaces in your dining room/kitchen, or throw out expired food from the fridge. Even just making your bed and picking up the clothes off the floor can transform your bedroom and make it look put together.
Update your budget. Finances can be stressful for a lot of people. If you find yourself procrastinating on your budget or taxes, then use the limited amount of time you have to give some urgency to your task. You won’t have time to procrastinate or worry so you’ll feel compelled to just focus on updating your budget.
Write a card to a loved one. There’s nothing like sending some good old fashioned snail mail to let someone know how much you care. Taking a moment to write a message of thanks or wish them a happy birthday or just let them know you’re thinking of them, will definitely brighten your recipient’s day.
Do nothing. Stare off into space, gaze out a window, look at the sky. Sometimes, doing nothing at all, especially after you’ve been so productive all day, can be the best thing for you. Give yourself permission to daydream and relax.
Written by JiJi Lee
