Turning Small Moments Into Big Learning and Unlocking More Knowledge in Less Time

What if we could turn the small, everyday moments of our day into opportunities for learning? 

Whether it’s during a commute, while cooking, or even while waiting for an appointment, these pockets of time often go unused. 

But with a little bit of intentionality, they could become powerful moments of growth. 

What would that mean for your future? 

Instead of struggling to find extra hours to read, could we be making more of the time we already have? 

It's the last day of February, and I've been slowly but surely working on my own personal book goal for the year. 

So far, I've completed 10 audio books, and it’s been an interesting journey of learning, adjusting habits, and finding new ways to engage with the content.

Click here to add your recommendations to my list of books!

What’s Working:

• Listening at Faster Speeds: I’ve found that listening to audiobooks at a faster speed, like 1.4 speed sometimes faster, helps me absorb more information in a shorter time. It works well, especially when I’m trying to maximize my time.
  

• Using Small Moments: I’ve been able to carve out time for books during the small moments of the day—whether I’m driving, walking, getting ready, etc. These little gaps in time add up, and I’ve surprised myself at how much I can fit in.
  

• Time Management: Listening to audiobooks during my drive or while doing mundane tasks has definitely required me to be more intentional with my time. It’s helping me squeeze in knowledge while I go about my day.
  

Challenges & Insights:

• Mind Wandering: I’ve learned that my mind loves to wander. There’s no telling how many times I had to hit the rewind button because I lost focus and didn’t know what the book was talking about so had to relisten. That happened a lot!
  

• Short Attention Span: This piggy backs on the first challenge as I’m becoming more aware of how short my attention span can be. I drift off to other thoughts or distractions. It’s requiring me to improve my ability to refocus and has been a great exercise in strengthening my attention span.
  

• It’s Not Just About Dedication: I don’t always sit down for hours at a time to read or listen. Honestly, it's been about using those small pockets of time throughout the day, and consistency is key.
  

• Taking Notes: I don’t always take notes, but when something really stands out, I do jot it down. It’s rewarding to look back at those moments of clarity and inspiration.
  

What I’ve Learned:

• More Opportunity for Growth Than I Realized: I've discovered that there’s a lot more potential for growth and learning within my normal schedule than I realized. By taking advantage of these small moments, I’m unlocking powerful opportunities for personal development over time. It’s amazing how much can be accomplished with just a bit of intentionality.
  

• Disagreement Is a Good Thing: I haven’t agreed with everything I’ve listened to, and I think that’s amazing! It’s opened my mind to new perspectives, and challenges my own thinking. Even if I don’t end up agreeing with the author, it can encourage me to question things that I wouldn’t necessarily have questioned.  
  

• I’ve Missed Some Things: By listening to so many great books, I realize I’ve probably missed out on a few things too. I don’t listen to a lot of music in the car, or spend as much time in silence, and I haven’t been “goofing off” as much. However, I believe the investment I’ve made over the last 9 weeks has very much been worth the trade off. I’m okay with missing those moments for the sake of growth.
  

Will I Keep Going?

Absolutely!

I’m committed to finishing this year strong and continuing to using more “spare” moments as opportunities to learn. 

I’d love for you to join me on this journey. If you have any book recommendations or suggestions for audiobooks, I’m all ears. 

Katie, thank you for your book recommendations! I’ve already finished one of them. 

Let’s keep this momentum going!

So, drop a comment on your own reading and growth goals for this year. How are you making time for it?