How to make the most of your time

Surprising achievements have been made in a short space of time.

Author John Boyne wrote The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in less than three days and Beyonce’s Single Ladies was composed in just 20 minutes.

And yet, at some point most of us will feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. If you’d like some advice on making the most of the hours in your day, take a look at the video below and read on.

See some moments as opportunities

Author Scott H Young is a specialist in making time work for people and noticed there are times in the day when our brain isn’t doing as much as it usually is. For example, when you’re on the bus, staring out of the window, or watching the kettle boil. He thinks we could make far better use of these downtimes by making them mini opportunities instead.

Listen to the sound of the steam as the kettle’s boiling on your tea break. The author calls this 'productive meditation'. That focus can help your subconscious clear. Return to your desk and that mindfulness can make you more productive for the task in hand.

Reward your memory - it loves it

Psychologist Claudia Hammond’s theory on the holiday paradox could also make you feel that time has been well spent. She says that doing something new, such as taking up a new hobby or a change in routine, stimulates your brain to the extent that it will want to remember the experience.

Even the smallest of new opportunities will be logged in the memory and, when looking back, it will be with an expanded sense of time that feels rewarding.

More time than you know what to do with

Time affluence is a sweet state where you feel there is more than enough hours on the clock to achieve whatever you want. No rushing, no panicking. Achieving time affluence can take work but one way, which sounds counter-intuitive - is to give your time away.

This happened in a study of a large group of people. Some were allowed to do what they liked in their own time, the rest helped others, doing things like writing letters to sick children. The result was those who had helped others felt they had more free time than those who actually had more.

How you spend your time is entirely up to you, but if you want the opportunity to take more control over the amount you have, the advice here can be a starting point.

Just don’t forget to relax - that’s important too.

Watch out for more videos offering tips on making the most of your time and life's bigger decisions, made in collaboration with BBC Ideas.