You hear it all the time: “I don’t have time to learn,” and of course you’ve experienced the feeling yourself often enough. But with a few simple habit changes and the concept of habit stacking, you can create small spaces of freedom even in your busy day. Even if you only invest five minutes a day, that adds up to 30 hours of study time in a year. A considerable amount, especially when you don’t really have any time. Especially for the start, it should definitely be a topic that you enjoy.
Here are some suggestions on how to use your daily routine to learn more:
- Morning routine: read two pages in an inspiring book in the morning while having your first coffee. Maybe it will turn into a few more pages?
- Learn on the go: use the time during your drive to work or other long trips to listen to podcasts or audiobooks. It’s a great way to use otherwise unproductive commute time for relevant knowledge content.
- Use your lunch break as a study break: maybe you can read 2 pages in your book during your lunch break. Or you could combine a lunchtime walk with a podcast or audiobook. This way, you not only get extra exercise, but also inspiring impulses.
- Learning while exercising: You can also listen to podcasts and audio books while jogging or in the gym. This not only strengthens your muscles, but also your brain.
- Use waiting times effectively: The computer starts slowly or you are waiting for an update? Use this free time as learning time.
- Read before bed: Read two more pages when you go to bed. If you get tired and fall asleep, that’s good too, because sleep is important for learning.
To turn these routines into habits to gain extra study time on a regular basis:
- Small goals: Start with reading 1-2 pages of reading or invest 5 minutes per day. The barrier to entry should be low to facilitate the start of a new habit.
- Regularity: repetition and consistency is key to establishing a habit. Make the new learning routine a regular part of one’s daily routine.
- Habit-stacking: Leverage the concept of habit stacking by tying learning to everyday activities. For example, whenever you have a cup of coffee, you can pick up your book and read two pages. This way, after enough repetition, drinking coffee automatically reminds the person of his new learning habit.
- Visual cues: place the book where you want to use it. Put it next to your coffee maker if you want to read while drinking coffee, or in front of your keyboard if you want to read two pages when you start your computer. This way, you automatically remember your new routine.
- Reward: Consider a small reward that you receive once you have repeated your new routine 20 times. This can provide additional motivation to keep at it and thus reinforce the habit.
- Habit tracker: Install a habit tracker app on one’s smartphone to remind oneself to learn regularly. These apps send notifications and help keep track of his progress.
It’s important to give your brain regular downtime. Don’t overload it with too much information and take enough time to reflect. So try not to fill every free minute with the consumption of learning content. If you really want to learn, you will find time to learn. With a few simple habit changes and the use of daily routines, you can make progress even with little time. Use the tips mentioned and find your personal way to establish regular study time.