Do you ever feel like your time is slipping through your fingers? As a busy professional, it can often seem like you’re being pulled in a million directions. Work demands, taking care of the kids, managing your household, and maybe even running a side hustle—it’s enough to leave anyone feeling overwhelmed. But here’s the thing: despite how chaotic life feels, you’re in control of your time. Yes, you heard that right. Let me explain.
A Revelation That Changed Everything
Recently, I stumbled upon a powerful idea from productivity guru Ali Abdaal. He said, “At any given moment, you are doing what you most want to be doing.” Initially, I was skeptical. Could this really be true? But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how empowering this perspective is. It’s not about blaming yourself for being busy; it’s about acknowledging that your time is yours to allocate. This small mindset shift transformed how I view my daily schedule—and it can do the same for you.
The Magic of 10 Minutes
You might think, “But I don’t have time for myself!” Trust me, I’ve been there. That’s when I came up with a simple challenge: wake up just 10 minutes earlier than usual. Those 10 minutes are exclusively for you—not for work, not for chores, not for anyone else. Use this time to invest in your personal development. Read a book. Take an online course (shameless plug: Ascent Academy offers fantastic career development courses). Just 10 minutes, Monday through Saturday.
Here’s the magic: by the end of the week, you’ll have created an extra hour for yourself. Do this for an entire year, and you’ve magically found 52 hours. Imagine what you could accomplish in that time!
Extend the Magic at Night
Now, let’s take it a step further. Stay up just 10 minutes later before heading to bed. Use this time to read 10 pages of a good book. By the end of the week, you’ll have read 60 pages. Over the course of a month, you’ll finish 2-3 books. And if you keep this up for a year? That’s 24 books.
Think about it: what kind of transformation could you experience by consuming that much knowledge and inspiration in just one year? All from spending 10 extra minutes at the start and end of your day.
Adding It All Up
When you combine these small actions—waking up 10 minutes earlier and going to bed 10 minutes later—you’re creating 104 additional hours in a year. That’s the equivalent of 4 full days or 9 active days if you’re awake 12 hours a day. What could you do with 9 extra days? Learn a new skill? Start a side hustle? Or simply relax and recharge?
The Key to Time Mastery
Here’s the truth: time management isn’t about finding big blocks of uninterrupted time. Those are rare and precious. Instead, it’s about reclaiming the small moments that add up to something significant. The secret is consistency—10 minutes every day, compounded over weeks and months, creates extraordinary results.
Your Turn
Are you ready to take back control of your time? Start small. Wake up 10 minutes earlier tomorrow. Use those minutes to focus on yourself. Trust me, this isn’t just another productivity hack—it’s a lifestyle change that will leave you feeling empowered and accomplished.
Oh, and before you go, if you’re looking for a way to supercharge your personal development journey, check out Ascent Academy. Our career development courses are designed to help you excel in today’s competitive job market. The link is in the description (or at careerpoint.co.ke/Ascent).
If this resonated with you, share it with a friend who might also be feeling overwhelmed. Let’s spread the message that we’re all in control of our time—and our lives.
Until next time, keep owning your time!