How to Make the Most of “Dead Time” for Your Self-Development

Hey there mamas!

How many times have you caught yourself thinking:“If only the day had 24 extra hours…”Or maybe you’ve sighed, muttering the classic:“I just don’t have time.”

Meanwhile, the world seems to be shouting at us with motivational speeches and Instagram-perfect quotes:“You create your own time!”“If it matters to you, you’ll find a way!”

Sounds great in theory, right? But let’s be honest. Picture this: a full-time working mom of three, balancing on a tightrope between professional obligations, school follow-ups, and household chaos. And then someone tells her that if she doesn’t find time for herself, it’s her fault.Excuse me? Who exactly has the right answer here?

From my humble opinion - and from painfully personal experience - the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

It’s true that there are days when, no matter how good my intentions are, no matter how determined I wake up to conquer the world, life overwhelms me.A sudden illness of a child, an urgent and complicated work situation that keeps me extra hours at the office, or an external circumstance beyond my control that doesn’t allow me to fit into my day those precious moments of self-improvement I so desperately need.

Of course, these are exceptional situations, not the everyday norm. Yet, I find that as children grow, the free moments within the day gradually increase. And that is encouraging.

Naturally, when a mother has a newborn, this discussion feels irrelevant - the schedule is packed with caring for the little one and the tiny scraps of time are invested in sleep.

Now, things are better, but still, we cannot talk about unlimited free time. So, what can we do when we long to truly take care of ourselves - through exercise, self-care, self-improvement?

In my case, the answer is: make use of the “dead time” during the day. And we all have some of that.

What do I mean by “dead time”?It’s those minutes (or hours, when added up) that I spend in the car doing school drop-offs, taking kids to afternoon activities, running errands, and grocery shopping—during which I choose to listen to podcasts and self-improvement talks. The same applies when cooking, folding laundry or cleaning the house.

It’s those waiting-room hours at the doctor’s office, whether for my appointment or my children’s, when instead of endlessly scrolling on my phone (okay, I do that too), I always carry a book with me.

It’s my lunch break at work, when instead of watching Netflix to unwind, I choose to do a short meditation - and when the weather allows, I go for a walk in nature.

It’s that early morning hour when I set my alarm a little earlier because, instead of one extra hour of sleep, I choose to exercise. Not because I’m some fitness guru - far from it. I just know that if I don’t do it first thing in the morning, it’s never going to happen later in the day.

And beyond that, the feeling of starting my day by doing something good for myself gives me an incredible psychological boost to face the various challenges that pop up from every direction.

The Takeaway

We may never have endless free time, but we can reclaim small pockets of it. Those “dead moments” scattered throughout the day can become powerful opportunities for growth, self-care, and mental well-being. It’s not about perfection - it’s about intention.

So next time you find yourself waiting, commuting, or pausing between tasks, ask: How can I turn this moment into something that nourishes me?

Remember: you have the choice and small steps lead to bigger ones.

Love, Katerina