Limitless Monday – Power of Spare Time

Limitless Monday – The Power of Spare Time

My father used to tell me, “Be careful what you wish for.”

One thing I often wished for is to have more time on my hands.

The day I was packed off to jail that wish was fulfilled.

One of the many things I noticed when incarcerated was how people chose to spend their time.

Some attempted to sleep through their sentences.

Others occupied their time consuming drugs and watching countless hours of lowbrow TV.

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A few got jobs: cooking, cleaning, and librarian duties.

One or two manically exercised, read, or played chess.

While an inmate’s liberty is compromised, they still have the choice of what they do with their time, although their options are restricted somewhat.

The two distinct choices are be productive or act like a bum.

Remembering the words of my father, I decided to make the most of my time, realizing that it was unlikely that I would ever have the same opportunity again.

I figured that dedicating an hour a day to each endeavor I tackled would yield significant progress. The only obstacle to success would be my own lack of discipline.

Here are a few skills or endeavors I decided to pursue:

Learn the Russian alphabet

Learn basic Spanish

Become proficient at headstands

Write a book

As far as my goal to write a book, I worked on the basis that a few pages every day would result in a complete book within 3 months.

The same approach applies to other skills too. Say for example you want to count to 100 in Spanish, learn basic Chinese, perform a spinning back kick, do 10 pull-ups, or dance tango, all you have to do is set aside a few minutes every day to practice. Within a week you will notice a difference and within a month you will be looking for a new challenge.

It’s a great way to push yourself, continue flourishing, and impress your friends. Remember that scene from Limitless, where Bradley Cooper’s character shocks his ex-girlfriend by suddenly speaking fluent Italian while ordering dinner at a high-end restaurant? In that moment, she realizes just how much she underestimated him.

Now it’s your turn. Surprise the world. More importantly, surprise yourself.

Happy Monday!

Banner Image: Time. Image Credit – Aron Visuals