“A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.”
– Charles Darwin
I was sitting on the couch. It was the afternoon. I still had an hour until I needed to go pick up my daughter from school. And I wasn’t sure what to do with myself.
Nothing needed to be done. The house was clean. Work was finished. I’d already gone to the gym. There was stuff I could do (as always), I just didn’t feel like doing any of it.
But I also didn’t want to just sit on the couch and scroll through social media.
These are the in-between moments of every-day life… the “gap minutes” in our schedule. Some days don’t have any. Some have more than we expect.
And just like all moments, they are precious.
They are pockets of time we can intentionally fill with activities that give us a sense of meaning, purpose, or joy (instead of just scrolling on our phones).
Here are some meaningful ways to utilize these gap minutes…
Learn: Use this time to learn. Read non-fiction, or download a language-learning app like Duolingo or Babbel and spend a few minutes each day learning a new language. Read an article or listen to a podcast on a topic that intrigues you. The Internet has endless resources for learning. And it’s all at your fingertips during these gap minutes.
Be Still: Use your gap minutes to practice stillness. Meditate, do deep-breathing exercises, or simply practice mindfulness. This can help reduce stress and increase your mental clarity. Apps like Headspace or Calm can guide you through quick and easy mindfulness exercises.
Get a New Hobby: These gap minutes can be perfect for simple hobbies. Sketching, knitting, solving puzzles, or playing a musical instrument are all great ways to utilize this time.
Call a Friend: Reach out to a friend or a family member. A quick call or a heartfelt message can help maintain relationships and boost your own mood.