Win back time for what matters most to you
Datum: 2026-06-30 08:26
One day, something changes in your work, and you suddenly have less to do (at first). A project you have spent a lot of time on comes to an end, your role is reshaped so that one of your responsibilities disappears, an engagement in a workgroup ends, or an improvement in your structure helps you save time by getting tasks done more efficiently.
Tasks that have repeatedly been on your to-do list disappear, and with them all the working hours you used to spend on them. Suddenly, you have a few extra hours every week at your disposal.
For you who prefer listening to reading, this post is also available as an episode of the ""Done!"" podcast:
For more of the same or for something special?
Perhaps you want to use them to get more time for the general swirl of tasks so you do not feel so stressed, but another option I think you should consider is dedicating them to something you have not had enough time for yet.
It might be taking time off, if you have been working too much. Or it could be a long-term work task that is important, but has rarely felt urgent enough to prioritize. Now is your chance!
Dedicated development time
A while ago, I sold my share of a speaker agency here in Sweden that I ran together with some speaker colleagues and stepped away from that business. The work of building the agency since its launch in 2020 has taken many brave hours every week. When I sold, that time was freed up.
I decided to use it to develop new products and services instead of letting it be consumed by all the small tasks of everyday work. I therefore added those four hours as four recurring calendar bookings labeled “🔨Development work” at the times each week that suit me best. I decided that I am never allowed to remove them, but I may move them, though only within the current week. It quickly felt very satisfying to finally bring ideas to life that have been neglected for far too long.
Do this
- Think about what you would like to devote the freed-up time to if you got a few extra hours every week. What do you wish you had more time for? What is always hanging over you because you never have time for it? What would it mean a lot both for the organization and for yourself if you had more hours to dedicate to it?
- If you have not freed up any hours right now, make a note for yourself about what you would spend them on the next time it happens. For example, you could create a to-do task without a due date that says something like “When recurring work disappears, spend the saved hours on …”. Each week, when you quickly skim through all your tasks, you will be reminded of the decision you made today.
- One day, you will have freed up time and can act on the task (perhaps that day is today?). Then do whatever you need to ensure the time goes toward what you have been longing for, for example, by booking it into your calendar, just as I have done.
Steady steps forward
If you take the opportunity to dedicate newly gained time to something that has lacked attention for a long time, you will more than ever before manage to get done everything you want your time to be enough for. Instead of walking around feeling that you “should” be doing that thing there is never time for, you can enjoy the genuine rush that comes from making concrete progress on exactly that thing.
What do you do?
When you suddenly have extra time available, what do you want to devote it to? Write to me and tell me. Maybe I can get ideas for what I want to dedicate time to the next time my set of work tasks changes.
(Not exactly sure how your time is used and divided on your different tasks and projects? Here is how to find out what you spend your time on!)
There is more!
If you want more tips on how to create good structure at work, there are many ways to get that from me - in podcasts, videos, books, talks and other formats.
Share:
