Have you ever had one of those unicorn days where everything goes right and you somehow end up with (gasp!) time to spare? Probably not often — but when it happens? Pure gold.
I recently had a Tuesday that certainly didn’t start out so beautifully, but it astonished me. But by 1:30pm, I’d wrapped my biggest project, and we were ready for presentation the next morning. By 5pm, I’d hit a real stride. By 7:30, I’d knocked out two more major tasks, connected with three clients, and solved a sticky problem for one of them. And by 9? Gas tank filled, groceries bought, dinner acquired, and four important texts sent.
I’m not just bragging (okay, maybe a little). It was a surprisingly epic day — one that reminded me how good it feels to finish. And oddly enough, that momentum left me not drained, but energized.
Free time, schmee time. Now what?
So what do you do when you’re ahead of the game? If you’ve got a bonus couple of hours, do you keep going, or kick back with your throwback binge of Newhart (because Bob still rules)?
Here’s the real trick: whatever you choose, choose it on purpose.
That tiny moment of intention — deciding to cross one more thing off the list or to consciously rest — can make a world of difference. Even a small win can fuel your fire. (Cheesy but true.) And sometimes, you just need to stop.
In fact, productivity experts agree (at least this one and these guys): resting well is part of working well. Whether that’s a nap, a walk, a quiet meal, a few rows of crochet, or a tiny but satisfying gaming binge — the key is doing what actually restores you. Your cat may have opinions, as well. (Derf certainly does.)
Building self-awareness
That’s the magic. Consciously taking stock and then choosing how to spend your time makes even “doing nothing” feel nourishing. (Shout-out to Italy for il dolce far niente, aka “the sweetness of doing nothing.”)
On my banner day, I managed both: some big wins and some earned downtime. The result? Satisfaction. (And possibly a little smugness. I’ll try to keep it off your shoes.) Not every choice was conscious, but the result was so good that I’ll certainly try to find it again.
So next time you find yourself with time to spare, rare as that is, ask yourself:
What would feel most rewarding right now? For today and tomorrow?
Go get ’em.
Or don’t. Your call.