Guy Reams (00:03)
This is day 85, filling in the gaps. Have you ever stopped to truly examine how you're spending your time? If you were to record your activities for several days straight, every meeting, every chore, every moment scrolling through your phone, you might be in for an actual shock. There's actually applications that you can download on your phone that will help you do this.
Like most people, you'd likely discover something very unexpected. Vast pockets of idle time scattered throughout your day. These aren't the intentional breaks we take to recharge, but moments that slip by unnoticed, consumed by distractions or vague indecision. The truth is, most of us vastly underestimate how much time we waste. But here's the exciting part.
Once you become aware of these gaps, you can reclaim them. And when you fill them with purposeful commitments, you unlock an incredible potential to grow, achieve, and transform your life. Identifying the gaps in your day. For years, I assumed that my days were packed to the brim. Between work, family, and other obligations, there couldn't possibly be a spare moment left, right? But when I began tracking my time,
I realized there were plenty of opportunities. 15 minutes waiting for a meeting to start, 20 minutes between errands, the odd stretches of unaccounted time in the evening. These moments weren't meaningless, they were simply overlooked. It's not that these small gaps are inherently bad. We all need time to rest and reflect.
But for many of us, they become default zones of idleness. Time spent scrolling, flipping through channels, staring off into space, or being unsure of what to do next. The power of commitments can transform this time. When you commit to something meaningful,
something aligned with your goals or values, those idle moments can become golden opportunities. Commitments provide a framework to guide your actions. Instead of defaulting to passivity, you can choose to engage with your time with intention. Here's how it works. Think of commitments as tools for filling these gaps. They don't have to be monumental undertakings. In fact, smaller commitments often fit best into those brief windows of time.
For example, one of my current commitments is to relearn and refine my memory palace technique, a skill that improves memory and mental clarity. Today, while waiting for someone to arrive, I found myself with about 15 minutes of free time. Instead of scrolling aimlessly on my phone, I pulled out my notes and started practicing my memory palace. What could have been another wasted quarter of an hour became an opportunity to grow.
That small action reinforced my commitment, improved my skills, and gave me a sense of accomplishment that carried me through the rest of the day. I was able to check the box that I had done that habit today. There are practical tips to reclaim these idle moments. Here are four things that I've come up with. First, track your time. Spend a few days observing how you actually spend your time. Be honest. Be specific.
Where do the gaps occur? What's happening in those moments? Two, define your commitments. Choose commitments that align with your goals and values. Make a list of activities that you can easily work on in short bursts, reading, journaling, practicing a skill, planning for future tasks, things like that. Third, prepare to act.
Keep tools and resources handy to make it easier to engage in your commitments. A book that you have in your bag all the time. A notebook you keep around for ideas. A short exercise routine you can do anywhere. That you can do anywhere and at any moment to take advantage of some free time. Fourth, reflect and adjust. At the end of each day, review how you used your time. Did you successfully turn idle moments into productive ones?
If not, what got in your way? Use these insights to refine your approach. You see, when I'm done with my day and I do my daily recap of how my day went, if I was unable to get to all of my commitments, I'd then have to do them. And sometimes it's really annoying at 10.30 at night to realize you haven't done two of your commitments and you're tired and you want to go to bed.
but you've committed to do them. So then you got to go do them. That is really annoying. You can only do that so many times before you finally start realizing, I need to take advantage of every idle moment in the day to get my commitments done. Small actions will lead to big results.
Reclaiming your idle time isn't about being hyper productive every second of the day. It's about being intentional. When you take the time to align your actions with your commitments,
Even small moments can lead to significant progress. Over time, these little victories accumulate, creating a ripple effect that transform your days and ultimately your life. So the next time you find yourself with a few minutes to spare, ask yourself, how can I honor my kit minutes in this moment? The answer might just change everything and help you transform your life.