Edited by Rivermore Academy
After work, many people come home feeling exhausted and too tired to do anything, let alone pursuing further education. However, you need to understand that efficiently using spare time is a common habit among successful individuals.
What is 'Fragmented Time'?
Fragmented times refer to the short periods of time that are scattered throughout daily life, which could be just a few minutes or even half an hour. These moments are often overlooked as it may seem that nothing significant can be accomplished during such brief intervals.
However, consider this: if you cherish these fragmented times, those few minutes from these days add up to half an hour, and that half an hour over several days becomes several hours. If you utilize them wisely, the cumulative effect can be astonishing, allowing you to accomplish numerous tasks.
Where do Working Adults Find Fragmented Times?
Throughout history, knowledgeable and successful individuals have been adept at making the most of fragmented times. An ancient Chinese scholar, Dong Yu, famously studied during three specific periods that were considered 'San Yu' due to the inability to work, namely winter, nighttime, and rainy days.
In modern times, working professionals may not have 'San Yu,' but they do have their 'fragmented times'. These fragments are typically the mornings before work, lunch breaks, and the time after work.
The morning before work and the time after work cater respectively to 'morning people' and 'night owls'. For 'morning people', the morning is when their minds are sharpest, making it the 'golden learning time' recommended by various sources. For 'night owls', the evenings are when they are most active, and it may be the best time for them to enhance themselves.
Lunch breaks, which usually last only an hour, may seem too short for learning. However, instead of reading books, you can use this time to chat, learn, and expand your network by engaging in conversations with others. After all, as an old Chinese saying goes, business is often settled at the dining table.
How to Make Use of Fragmented Times?
Consider the time you waste commuting before or after work. If you use public transportation, you have small fragmented times before reaching your destination: it could be as long as 30 minutes to an hour. You can choose to read a book or watch a documentary during this time. Even if it's as short as ten minutes, you can listen to a podcast.
If you finish work and the next day happens to be a weekend, this longer time period becomes an extended 'fragmented time'. Many working adults use weekends to pursue part-time courses, enhancing their skills and increasing their value to society.
Some might argue that weekends are for spending time with family, managing household chores, and relaxation, but that doesn't mean there are no fragmented times. By organizing your time effectively, you can quickly transition from one activity to another, freeing up ample 'fragmented times'.
These fragmented times are sufficient for accomplishing anything.
Not many people can effectively use fragmented times, but if you become aware of them and truly put them to good use, success will be within your reach.
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