You might have more time for self-development than you think.
Three days a week, I have a 2-hour commute. I have a 1-hour commute the other days. That’s 8 hours a week, the equivalent of a full work or school day! Instead of listening to sports radio (“gossip for men” according to my wife), I tune in to a number of podcasts and audio books.
I also spend at least an hour-per-day reading. Richard Larson at MIT conducted a study and found the average person will spend two full years worth of time waiting in line. Depressing, I know. To redeem that utter waste of precious life, I read on my phone waiting for an appointment, coffee, gas to fill the car, etc. You’d be surprised how much I get done this way. I also read at least 30 minutes on my iPad before going to sleep.
Without much effort, I intake 8 hours of podcasts when commuting and read about an hour per day. That’s about 15 hours a week…FIFTEEN! Those 15 hours are what keep me fresh in creating ads, writing copy, prepping sermons, and blogging. To output at a good level, I need to intake at very high level. Some tools:
- Downcast – A great podcast app (thanks Michael Hyatt for recommending this). It’s worth every penny. I take notes via voice text into my phone so it’s safe while driving.
- Feedly – a blog reader for my MacBook, iPad, and iPhone. Currently, I scan through about 50 blogs a day.
I don’t consider myself to be very disciplined; I hate changing routines and keeping schedules. I’m not a morning person, either. The key for me hasn’t been in changing my routines, but replacing what I do within those routines.
Imagine having a few hours a week for intake and self-development. Chances are you already might!
Question: Where can you find hidden time for self-development?
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