Did you know that the average adult spends 5.4 hours on their phone every day? Getting the most out of your day in today's fast-paced society is not always easy, but there are a few ways to get the most out of your time to free you up to do more of what you really want to do.
I could always do more myself. My average time spent on my phone so far this week was 4.10 hours, but half of that time has been spent on my Scribd app, which I use to read e-books. This is one of the ways that if you want to fit reading into your day, it might benefit you to actually use your phone. Apps like Scribd carry several new and old titles for a subscription fee of 9.99 a month. But if you read a lot, it's worth it. A lot of times, I can't carry a hard copy book with me, and it's just more convenient to have my phone on me, so I consider using up time on my phone to read as using time wisely. This way I hit my goal of reading daily.
Having goals of what you want to do every day definitely helps you prioritize your time. I know that it's important to me to read and write every day. So having the Scribd app helps me accomplish reading, and getting up early before my 16-month-old wakes up allows me the space to write. I only have 30 minutes to an hour to write this blog before he wakes every day, but at least it's something. If I don't write in the morning, I then have to wait until night when he goes to bed. So, having a time and place for what you want to accomplish helps maximize your time as well.
Awaking with a sense of purpose will motivate you to avoid procrastinating whatever you need to do. Sometimes what you need to do isn't necessarily what you want to do. We may need to make necessary phone calls, pay annoying bills, get an oil changed, etc., but I found that when I make a list of what I want accomplished for that day, it forces me to avoid putting it off.
This same idea goes for work. Whenever I have a free period teaching, I think of whatever needs to get done first - making copies, grading, planning, phone calls - and then I use each minute accordingly. That way, when I get home I don't have to do it.
It's human nature to want to procrastinate. And the harder task we have in front of us, the easier it becomes to do so. We do need to allow ourselves down time, which is why when Sean goes to bed, I take that time to just spend with my wife every day. It doesn't matter what we do, as long as we spend time with each other. I consider that just as important as reading or writing or spending time with Sean. We all need balance in life. Life can't be all work and no play. But we should be aware of what is keeping us from accomplishing what we want to.
I know that I probably spend too much time on social media and the Internet, even if I have improved my time there over the years. I bet I could fit more reading or writing into those minutes, but I feel like I'm doing pretty good so far.
I hope these tips have helped you realize what you can do to help you get the most out your time.