In-between time

Interesting stuff can come up in the nooks and crannies. (Image by Zenbunny)

I always think that I want long, unbroken stretches of the workday to go deep on projects and get everything done that's on the day's to-do list.

But historically, when I have had those long stretches of time, I've squandered them.

It's too much pressure, and I'm not a machine. I can't always sustain my attention long enough to follow through on everything I said I would do.

These days, I have meetings and classes galore — many of them in person after two years of being by myself.

It's great. I'm an extrovert! I'm energized and engaged by connecting with people. My preferred stimulant is not caffeine, but human interaction.

But it means that I finally have to learn to use small bits of time in between things. Otherwise, I will get nothing done besides meetings. All I have right now is small bits of time in between things.

I'm happy to say that I am doing it, friends. I am using my time well to do the really hard things, like booking doctor's appointments, calling the city to find out what's holding up my business license renewal, and writing emails. (Yes, those are the hard things.) What's more, I'm following through even though I'm sharing an office with one of my best friends and it would be fun to just be chatting instead.

Here's how it works:

1. I collect all of the day's tasks in a list.

2. I estimate how long each task will take.

3. In the gap of time between meetings, I choose one or more tasks that will fit into the time I have.

4. I do the tasks, one by one.

5. I take a moment to feel amazing about myself.

I used to feel like it was no use to try to fill that in-between time. But then, my workload wasn't quite as intense as it is at present. If I ignore those gaps now, the day will be over before I'm anywhere near complete.

So now, I'm doing the hard work I don't want to do and recognizing that I have the power to make it disappear. Task by task, I fulfill obligations, follow through on my promises, take care of myself and my loved ones, and become the person I hope to be — in bursts of five to thirty minutes.

It's strange to recognize that procrastination was never a character trait of mine — it was a symptom of immaturity. I believed, on some level, that my most dreaded work would go away, or perhaps that I'd feel more like doing it tomorrow or the next day or next week.

It's easier for me to see now that the thing standing between me and freedom is a twelve-minute affair that can be tackled while listening to a handful of favorite tunes. And when the small stuff gets less scary, the big stuff is more manageable, too: Writing, having hard conversations, making tough choices. If I put it on the list, I'll get to it.

Learning to use the in-between time more effectively has helped me with those long, empty days, too. I know I have no place to hide. I'm willing to do the work even when I don't want to.

I still have days when my energy is low and I can only do the minimum. I still have to deal with unexpected complications sometimes. But increasingly, as a result of practice and focus, I have faith in my own ability to use a spare ten minutes wisely. It may not seem like much, but it is to me.

Do you prefer short work blocks or long ones? How do you use your in-between time?