How to fit more in without added pressure

by Angela Darar

At the start of this year, I set myself two simple goals. Nothing dramatic. I wanted to walk for at least an hour a day, and I wanted to read 24 books across the year. That could be physical books or audiobooks, but the aim was the same. Move more and learn more.

The part I wasn’t sure about was where the time would come from. Because like most people, my days can fill up very quickly. If I left both goals until the end of the day, I knew what would happen. I’d be tired. Something would come up. And I’d tell myself I’d start properly next week.

So I tried something different. In the mornings, I now do my hour walk and listen to an audiobook at the same time. Fresh air, movement, and learning all in one go. It’s become a routine I genuinely look forward to.

It made me think about how often we treat time as though it’s fixed and immovable. In business, we often say there isn’t enough of it. Not enough time to think strategically. Not enough time to learn. Not enough time to step back. But sometimes it’s not about creating more hours. It’s about combining the ones we already have.

If you spend a lot of time in the car, could that become learning time? If you’re waiting around for children at clubs, could those twenty minutes become reading time instead of scrolling time? If you’re already walking, could that become thinking time rather than just ticking off steps?

The same applies in business. Where are you already investing time that could serve two purposes instead of one? A team meeting that also develops someone’s confidence. A client conversation that doubles as feedback. A planning session that also clarifies your own priorities.

Doubling up isn’t about cramming more in. It’s about being intentional. It’s about recognising that progress often comes from small, consistent adjustments rather than grand plans that never quite get started.

For me, walking and reading now sit side by side instead of competing. And that small shift has already made the year feel more manageable. And as for my reading goal, it’s still early in the year, but I’m already five books in. A mix of audio and physical. If I keep this up, I’ll comfortably reach 24. Not because I’ve suddenly found extra hours, but because I stopped waiting for the perfect time to sit down and read.

It’s worth asking yourself what small shift might make the same difference for you.