How Do You Stay Productive During ‘Wasted’ Time?

How Do You Stay Productive During ‘Wasted’ Time?

We’re all stuck in places that make us wait. It’s easy to get bored and do nothing, but that time — if planned well — can be used productively. How do you make use of this otherwise “wasted” time?

Photo by Carlos Martinez

Marty Nemko, writing for Psychology Today, suggests figuring out your sponge activities:

Always have a sponge activity at the ready. We spend much time on commuter buses or trains, in supermarket lines, and in waiting rooms. Having something productive to do can help you get more done while making the waiting time go more quickly. Sponge up that time with a book, answering email or doing internet research on your phone, etc. My favourite is this: I always carry a memo pad and when I have to wait and while driving, I often think of a problem I need to grapple with: what to write, how to help a challenging client, even what to do this weekend, and take notes on the memo pad.

What are your sponge activities?

On Time [Psychology Today]


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