Plan Time to Waste Time

Productivity is all about planning your time so you accomplish more and waste less time. But a lot of what we consider wasted time isn’t really wasted at all. We’re just doing it at the wrong times. Recreation, leisure, entertainment, and just plain idle thought, is not time wasted. We need those in our lives. So instead of fighting them, plan for them.

Social Media

I spend twenty minutes, a few times a day, going through my social media feeds. I’m not wasting time. (Well, yeah, I am a little). I’m marketing, I’m seeking out new and productive followers, I’m researching articles to write and photos to shoot.

Outside of the few seconds I’ll spend watching the latest viral video, this isn’t a waste of time.

So I plan for it. It’s on my to-do list. First thing in the morning, around lunch, late afternoon, and next-to-last thing at night.

This is time scheduled for social media. At any point in the day when I am being ‘productive,’ say, writing this article, I don’t have the temptation to stop and browse my Twitter feed, because I know that time will come soon.

Breaks

You need them. Take them. Plan for them. Don’t wait until you are exhausted and “have to take a break.” That’s like waiting until you are dehydrated to drink water. It’s too late. Plan frequent breaks at varying times. Like I said in this article, plan very short, but frequent breaks all day long. I break one minute in every twenty. I plan five-minute breaks throughout the day. I take a twenty-minute break every two hours.

Then you need to plan one large break at some point. This is a complete break. Get away from work, have some food, relax and get some exercise.

But this is all a waste of time!

No. It’s not.

The time you are not on break will be much more productive and will more than make up for the time off. You know that feeling when you are supercharged and in the zone? How would you like to stay there all day every day? Well, this is how you do it.

Before and After

Before you begin your workday and after you finish your workday, by definition, is outside the workday.

So don’t work. Just stop it.

In the morning, you need to have a routine that takes you from the moment you open your eyes until you step into the office. I have outlined mine in this story. If you get stressed before you even begin work, you lost the day.

At the end of the day, the same thing; develop a routine. I discuss that one here. Clear your desk, your computer, and your mind.

Stop work.

It’s time for fun.

Have some.

After work, like weekends, should be something to look forward to, not just another time to cram in more work. If you didn’t get it done in 40 hours, or 50 or 60, whatever your workweek is, you will not get it done in 10 more. The problem isn’t your time, it’s how you use your time.

There is an old slogan: Work Hard, Play Hard. The problem is, most of us forget that there are two parts. If you plan your breaks, plan your downtime, and plan time to waste time, then your work time will be much more productive.

If you find yourself getting bogged down in your productivity routine; if life feels like a chore, just stop. Reboot. Take a mental health day. Clear your cache.

So, roll up your sleeves and get out there and start wasting time.

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