How I Tackle Big Dreams in Tiny Time Blocks
Let me tell you something about “free time.” It’s a myth. I’m a mom. A caregiver. A creative entrepreneur with coffee that’s gone cold more times than I can count. Around here, there’s always someone who needs something, laundry that somehow multiplies like rabbits, and about three dozen open tabs in my brain at all times.
So no, I don’t have hours of uninterrupted focus or a quiet home office with a sign that says “Genius at Work.” What I do have? A timer—and a little trick I like to call the 20-Minute Hustle. It’s my favorite approach to time management for caregivers (and other beautifully chaotic humans).
Why I Started Using a Timer
I didn’t invent the idea, but I definitely made it mine. At first, it was out of survival. I had too much to do and not nearly enough time or mental energy to do it all. I kept waiting for the “right moment” to focus—and it just wasn’t coming.
So one day, I set a 20-minute timer. That’s it. Just 20 minutes. I told myself: You don’t have to finish the whole thing—just start.
And to my surprise? I got stuff done. Not all of it. But enough to feel proud. Enough to build momentum. Enough to realize that maybe I could do this life and build a business at the same time.
What You Can Actually Get Done in 20 Minutes
When you’re balancing caregiving, parenting, and personal goals, it’s easy to think you need hours to make any kind of progress. But time management for caregivers doesn’t have to mean giant blocks of free time—it’s about using what you’ve got.
Here’s what I’ve managed in just 20 minutes:
- Format a word search puzzle
- Draft a blog outline
- Schedule a Facebook post
- Tidy a room (even if I ignore the dust bunnies in the corners)
- Answer emails or prep a Canva graphic
- Sip coffee and pretend I’m not wearing slippers
And some days, when even that feels like too much? I switch to a 10-minute timer. Because small wins still count.
Why It Works (Especially If Your Life Is Chaos-Flavored)
There’s something powerful about a timer. It quiets the overwhelm. I don’t have to do everything—I just have to do something. For 20 minutes. That’s doable, even when I’m running on fumes.
As someone who’s juggling caregiving, motherhood, and building a business, this tiny time-blocking method has become my go-to strategy for staying sane. It’s not perfect, but it’s effective. And it’s helped me rebuild my confidence—one puzzle, one blog post, one coffee-fueled sprint at a time.
Pro Tip:
You don’t have to do everything.
Just do something — and let it be enough today.
Progress Is Progress—Even in Pajamas
So if you’re feeling stuck, stretched too thin, or just plain tired—start small.
Set a timer. Pick one thing. Let your pajamas be your power suit.
Small wins stack up. One puzzle, one blog post, one stubborn coffee-fueled sprint at a time.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got 20 minutes and a dream—and definitely a laundry basket I’m pretending not to see.
