JUST GIVE ME A FEW MORE MINUTES

Making Every Minute Count: A Life Beyond "Just a Few More Minutes"

We’ve all been there. You tell yourself, “Just a few more minutes.” Just a few more minutes to wrap up that email, scroll through social media, or lie in bed before the chaos of the day begins. Before you know it, those minutes have disappeared faster than your kid’s Halloween candy after bedtime, and what could have been moments of joy, connection, or purpose has faded into a haze of busyness.

But what if we flipped the script? What if we stopped seeing time as something to survive and started treating each minute as a chance to thrive? For working women, especially those balancing careers and motherhood, time feels like both an enemy and a scarce natural resource—like toilet paper in 2020.

So how do we break the cycle of waiting for the right moment and start making each minute count? Let’s dive into some practical (and slightly ridiculous) ways to embrace the time we have and live with intention.

1. Redefine Productivity: Busy Doesn’t Mean You’re Winning at Life

For many of us, productivity is a badge of honor. We check things off the list and feel accomplished. But does that mean we’re actually making our minutes count? Maybe it’s time to redefine productivity—not as a measure of how much we get done, but of how much meaning we bring to our days.

Instead of just “doing,” ask yourself: Am I spending time on what truly matters? If not, congratulations, you have permission to put that half-folded laundry aside and go enjoy a guilt-free snack instead.

2. Be Present: Stop Mentally Meal-Prepping While Someone Talks

One of the biggest reasons we let time slip away is because we’re always thinking ahead. We’re planning, anticipating, and, let’s be honest, stress-eating.

Instead of rushing through dinner like you’re training for a speed-eating contest, be present with your family. Instead of checking your phone during your child’s bedtime routine, soak in the moment (yes, even the 57th question about dinosaurs). These small moments, when fully experienced, add up to a life that’s actually fun.

3. Set Boundaries with Time-Sucks (Ahem, Social Media)

We all have those black holes that drain our time—social media, email, watching “just one more” episode of a show that is now on its fifth season.

Try setting limits: a timer for scrolling, scheduled times to check email, or replacing one episode of reality TV with something more fulfilling—like staring at a wall in silence (because honestly, that might be more relaxing at this point).

4. Embrace Micro-Joys (Yes, That Includes Good Coffee and a Nap)

Many of us wait for the big moments to feel alive—a vacation, a promotion, a moment when the laundry is fully done (spoiler: it never is). But what about the tiny joys in between? A great cup of coffee, a spontaneous dance party in the kitchen, a moment of actual silence in the house—these are the moments that make up a meaningful life.

5. Say Yes to the Right Things (And No to the PTA Bake Sale)

We often overcommit because we don’t want to disappoint others. But every “yes” to something unnecessary is a “no” to something important, like your sanity.

Before committing to something, ask yourself: Do I actually want to do this, or do I just feel obligated? If it’s the latter, congratulations, you now have an automated response: “I’d love to, but I promised my couch I’d spend more time with it.”

6. Prioritize Rest: You’re Not a Machine, and Even Machines Need Charging

Many of us equate rest with laziness. But let’s be real—burnout is way less cute than we think. This is one that hits home hard with me. I love napping. I love relaxing. I love just mindlessly watching a stupid show. My husband never stops being productive. He wakes up and is productive in something every single day. I feel like such a bum sometimes with him home on a Saturday or Sunday. 

Make sleep a priority. Take breaks. Do things that recharge you—reading, meditating, or just lying on the floor dramatically like a 5-year-old who lost their snack. When you rest, you actually function better (and you’re less likely to snap at your loved ones over something ridiculous, like the way they load the dishwasher).

7. Turn Mundane Tasks Into a Party (or at Least Tolerable)

There will always be tasks that feel like drudgery—washing dishes, commuting, folding laundry. But what if you made them less miserable?

Turn dishwashing into a moment of mindfulness. Or better yet, a full-blown karaoke session. Use your commute to listen to an audiobook that makes you laugh. Fold laundry while binge-watching something that makes it almost enjoyable. When we reframe these daily tasks as opportunities instead of burdens, we stop wishing the time away.

8. Connect Deeply, Even in Short Moments (Because Nobody Has Time for Hour-Long Calls)

We often think quality time needs to be long and uninterrupted. But let’s be real—who has time for that? A five-minute laugh with a friend, a quick voice note to your sibling, or a text that says “I love you, but also, did you see this meme?”—these moments build deep connections without requiring a two-hour phone call.

9. Celebrate the Small Wins (Like Remembering Where You Put Your Keys)

Many of us are so focused on big accomplishments that we forget to celebrate the little wins—like getting through the day without Googling “how to fake being an adult.”

Did you move your body today? Did you resist the urge to throw your laptop out the window after your third Zoom call? Did you actually drink enough water? Celebrate that. Because honestly, life is just a series of small wins strung together.

10. Live with the End in Mind (But Like, in a Non-Morbid Way)

It may sound dramatic, but thinking about what you want to remember at the end of your life is a great way to put things into perspective. Do you want to look back and remember a life of checked-off to-do lists and mindless scrolling? Or do you want to remember belly laughs, deep conversations, and dance parties in the kitchen?

When we live with the end in mind, we stop waiting for the “perfect time” and start living now.

Final Thoughts: Your Minutes Are Yours—Use Them Wisely (or at Least Hilariously)

Time is the one thing we can’t get back. But we can decide how we use it.

Instead of saying “just a few more minutes” to things that don’t serve you, start saying “this minute matters.” Whether it’s a moment of rest, a moment of connection, or a moment of pure ridiculous joy, every minute is an opportunity to make your life something you actually want to live.

So take a deep breath. Look around. And ask yourself: How can I make this moment count? (And if the answer is “take a nap,” well, that’s valid too.)