How To Optimise The Tiny Little Fragments Of Free Time That We Have

You have most probably heard of this quotation thatover the world, often get not only good ideas - but
goes something like, "If you want to know the value ofbrilliant ones - when in the shower? Do yourself a
one second, ask the athlete who came in secondfavour. Get a cassette and tape recorder, place it
place; If you want to know the value of one minute,somewhere in your bathroom where water cannot
ask the worker who missed his train to work." I havetouch it, and press 'Record' as you begin to shower.
not the memory nor the space nor the time to quote itMake sure the microphone is sensitive enough to
here fully, but I wish to acknowledge the fact that wedetect your voice while showering. When you get any
do get that occasional amount of precious free time,brilliant ideas (about your business, schoolwork, a song,
ranging from a few seconds to a few minutesa story idea, whatever), just shout it out into the
(depending upon your level of productivity andrecorder. You'll find that your most useful tool is your
efficiency in whatever it is that mostly occupies yournotebook, tape recorder, PDA or other idea-recording
day). While we're waiting for the bus, train or taxi, wedevices. Find those which are portable and convenient
get some free waiting time. Whether we're singing orto carry around, even to the bathroom. You never
cursing as we're trapped in heavy traffic, we get freeknow when a great idea strikes you or when you just
time. When we queue to pay for those Aspirinneed to think on paper (tape or tablet). In the queue?
(Panadol) tablets at the pharmacy, we get free time.Have a conversation with your IRD (idea-recording
Hey, even when we're answering nature's call in thedevice)! If you don't know what to write, record or
bathroom, we get some free time (some people maytype, just write, record or type anything. In the lift? Fish
prefer to spend it reading magazines or practisingout your IRD! This will be more productive than trying
breath-holding exercises)! If the phrase "time is money"to guess who was responsible for the sudden change
is literally true, we'd all be billionaires by age 72; that is, ifof smell in the lift. Waiting for the movie to start while in
we save the time-money in the first place and invest itthe theatre? Take out your IRD! Just make sure to
in what-have-you's and profit from compound interestsstop when the movie begins. Here are some Effective
or other Buffetological what-not's. What is timeQuestions you can apply with regards to optimising
optimisation? It is the best possible use of the time -time: Before you take on the day, you may want to
whatever amount it is - that we have been accorded.ask, "What are the best ways for me to spend the
In other words, time optimisation is the most effectivesmall amounts of free time that I will have for this
use of time, no matter how short or long that durationday?" "How can I best use the large amounts of free
is. You see, there are several ways, an infinite myriadtime that I will have today?" "What are the best, most
of ways, we can spend the time that is given to us.productive, short activities that I can engage in during
The number of ways and what we can do itself arethe free time that I will have today?" "How can I spend
both determined by the length of free time accordedthe little free time I will get today in order to help me
to us. This article concerns tiny little fragments of freemove forward, no matter how little, towards achieving
time. I'm dealing with anywhere from a few seconds tomy targets for the day?" "How can I further exercise
a few minutes. It's usually not productive to battle yourthe faculties of my mind during the short periods of
procrastination problem by getting started on - orfree time that I will get for the day?" "What are the
continuing with - that enterprise you're intending tobest ways I can relax my mind and body during the
accomplish within a window of only a few seconds orshort span of free time I'll have today?" "How can I
minutes. What I mean to say is that you can dofurther optimise the time that I have today than
nothing much in only a few seconds or minutes of freeyesterday?" Then, every night, before you retire, get
time - you can do nothing physical much, that is. Butyour journal, or your IRD, and start asking and
what you can do is some constructive mind work.answering these questions: "How have I best used the
Some thinking. Some reflecting. Some mentalfree time that I've gotten today?" "How has optimising
sharpening. Since thoughts are the seeds of actions;the free time that I've had today contribute to my
actions the seeds of effectiveness, if we positivelyadvancement towards my daily goals?" This is
affect our thoughts, we are actually contributing to theassuming that you have targets, objectives or goals
effectiveness of our actions later, even if but a little bit.for the day in the first place. "How can I further
If you have a few seconds of free time, say, whileoptimise the time that I have tomorrow than today?"
you're waiting for a very resource-intensive computerThink up some more questions of your own. That's the
application to load (especially on a slow system), youbeauty of this Effective Questioning technique. You
can mentally determine what it is you want to do withhave the power and the independence to create your
that application beforehand; that is, if it involves yourown Meta-Questions, rather than be spoon-fed by a
work-related stuff. If you have a window of a few"guru" or motivational "expert" who might not practise
minutes of free time, for instance, while you're in thewhat he's preaching in the first place. Next time, if you
bathroom (under the shower or on the toilet seat), youcatch yourself or your friends saying something along
can do some mental relaxation and focusing exercisesthe lines of, "So much to do, so little time!", stop, and
to un-clutter your thoughts and clear your mind for thatask (aloud or to yourself), "Oh really?" However, you
day. Believe it or not, the bathroom is one of the bestmay need to balance this new habit of time
places to relax yourself both physically and mentallyoptimisation from time to time. If you find that you're
(not spiritually), next to your bed! The key here is tobeing increasingly stressed out by the piles upon piles
find a way - always find a way - to productively andof tasks, things and activities that you have for a day,
fruitfully spend the few seconds or minutes of sparestop and give yourself a breather or two. Even the act
time that we get - no matter how short it is. If you're inof pausing and giving yourself a break is in itself an act
the middle of a mental re-programming routine;of optimising the time that you have. But, like on the
perhaps using affirmations, self-talk, or best,other hand, don't do this (relaxing) too much either!
Meta-Questions, you may find that a brief session ofAmazing! FREE e-Book Reveals How You Can Wipe
self-talk, affirmations or Effective Meta-QuestioningOut All Your Limits & Achieve Your Inherent Unlimited
during that period is very useful. Squeeze that in. DoPotential For Wealth & Success In Only 60 Seconds!
you, like thousands, or perhaps, millions of people all