How to Maximize 5-Minute Slivers of Time

Being successful as a solopreneur has some straightforward rules that will net results if you stick with them. The simple stuff is identifying your most important tasks and allocating blocks of time to work on them.

Unfortunately, life rarely follows the plan.

When your responsibilities have crept up on you, it can cause you to push your goals to the wayside, and then before you know it, weeks or months go by, and you have no progress on your goals.

This stunted progress can cause severe disappointment that causes you to give up quickly.

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Making The Most of Your Minutes

Making the most of small slivers of time is exactly how it sounds.

Take the time you spend in a day scrolling through your phone and turn it into pebblestone steps that get you closer to accomplishing what you want.

These idle time chunks are usually 5 to 15-minute periods that you can leverage to either knock off small tasks on your list or help you plan and prepare in some way for a big, more important project.

Here are some examples of how you can use this time:

If you don’t have time for a full workout then take a brisk walk or do a small exercise session.
If you’re struggling to complete everything on your to-do list, pick the most important task and get as much done as you can.
Don’t have the time to do a big, complicated report? Create an outline and think of some points you want to discuss.
Don’t have time for your full morning routine? Pick one or two essential things that set you up best for the day.

A Small-Time Action Plan For Big-Time Results

Making the most of these small moments is not difficult, and just requires a simple shift in mindset and a willingness to get the maximum you can out of your waking hours. It can be surprising how fast these smaller blocks of time can add up to impactful results in your daily life.

maximize slivers of time | 5 minute slivers of time | slivers of time for work — Making the most of these small moments is not difficult, and just requires a simple shift in mindset.

Using these smaller chunks of time is also a good way to make progress on things that you might be too stressed or tired to get a grip on during the day.

Step 1: Identify Unused Time

First, start by figuring out what blocks of time you have that are used on unproductive activities like scrolling through TikTok. This might be as simple as looking for time spent mindlessly on your phone:

During commutes (especially if you’re using public transport).
Spending an excessive amount of time answering emails.
Waiting for a meeting to start.
During days when you don’t have as much work on.
Time spent waiting for the next class.

The key is seeing where you have 5 or 10-minute blocks that you think won’t be of any use.

Step 2: List Quick Tasks

The idea behind using these small time slots isn’t to chip away at big tasks and projects. That would be discombobulating and most likely turn your mind into a confused mess after a few days.

Make a list of any small tasks that you can complete – here’s some ideas:

Organize your workspace to improve productivity.
Write down your top 3 goals for the day.
Clear out your email inbox or respond to a few pending messages.
Stretch or do a quick workout to boost energy.
Meditate or practice deep breathing for relaxation.
Review and update your to-do list.
Read an article related to your field to stay informed.
Network by sending a LinkedIn connection request or message.
Learn a new word or phrase in a foreign language.
Jot down ideas for a project or brainstorm solutions to a problem.
Plan your meals for the week or write a grocery list.
Listen to a motivational podcast or TED talk.
Tidy up your immediate area, like your desk or kitchen counter.
Reflect on what you’ve accomplished so far and what's next.
Take a refreshing break, as suggested by Fast Company, to recharge mentally.
Research a topic you’re curious about.
Schedule appointments or set reminders for important tasks.
Send a thank-you note or message to someone.
Review your finances or budget.
Do a quick digital detox: step away from screens and enjoy the moment.

Step 3: Prioritize

This step depends more on your needs as an individual. The examples we’ve mentioned aren’t all about squeezing as much as you can out of every single minute in a day (which is almost guaranteed to lead to burnout).

If you’re feeling frazzled, prioritize taking moments to consciously recharge and slow down. Pay attention to your surroundings, watch the birds, or take steady, deep breaths.

Or, think about some task or project that is bothering you or that you want to get done. Can you use your slivers of time to prepare for that project or complete that task in some way?

Step 4: Be Proactive

It’s better to think proactively rather than reactively when it comes to using your dead time. Using these minutes in the day reactively can cause you to become stressed or overwhelmed.

It’s best to have a list of “evergreen” things you can do in these chunks of time – whether that’s a brisk walk, an outline for projects, taking ten minutes to plan your day, or making time to disconnect and recharge.

Review these tasks now and again to align with your goals and schedule.

Final Thoughts on Using Small Slivers of Time

Taking advantage of the small patches of time you have in your day can help you make small but significant steps forward in your goals and is useful for anyone on any life path, solopreneur or not.

Take advantage of these moments throughout the day and see if using some of your idle minutes allows you to get a leg up on your goals and projects.

And if you want more resources on how to maximize your small slivers of time, be sure to check out these blog posts:

Finally, if you want to level up your productivity and time management skills, then watch this free video about the 9 productivity habits you can build at work.