Five Easy (And Enjoyable) Ways To Make Career Progress In Under An Hour

If the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, it follows that the ten thousand hours required for professional mastery starts with a single hour. But finding time for career development can be a chore unto itself.

Fortunately, most of us in the United States gained an extra hour, courtesy of Daylight Savings. Rather than spend your newfound time binge-watching your favorite Netflix shows, instead try these five easy and enjoyable ways to make career progress in under 60 minutes:

1. Hit the books and break open a pod(cast).

Reading for pleasure should be part of your daily routine. It opens your world to new ideas and possibilities, keeps you current with trends in your industry (or the industry you'd like to join), and gives you interesting fodder for chatting up your colleagues and clients. Can't seem to find a daily hour to dedicate to reading? Try listening to audio books during your commute or topical podcasts to while running errands to broaden your horizons.

2. Get moving. 

Like muscles, our imagination tends to atrophy when not used. Conquer both by leaving your home or office for an early morning run, a midday walk to a local park, or an after-work sweat session at the gym. Along with strengthening your body, a workout has the added benefit of clearing your mind, allowing you to find new solutions and inspiration where before you had none. Being one with nature is a great way to change your perspective, and your ability to reframe a challenging work situation. You'll also gain clarity, an essential skill for leadership.

3. Challenge yourself to try something new.

If you keep doing the same things, you'll never grow. Get over your fear and jump out of your comfort zone. When you challenge yourself to try something that scares you—leading a pitch to a new client, presenting your department's quarterly objectives, or asking your boss for more responsibility—you'll move beyond words to action. And when you successfully master that challenge, you'll have newfound confidence. You'll gain positive attention for your fearlessness and initiative. And your decision to take a leap of faith can be the catalyst for further growth.

4. Get social (in real life).

While I laud social media's ability to connect people from around the world, nothing beats face-to-face interactions. Instead of spending an hour on Insta, use that time to invite a connection to meet over coffee. Or better yet, grab a small group and form an informal mastermind group where each member can make introductions to other people and companies, and share their expertise and advice. Make it a goal to surround yourself with people who support and challenge you to be the best version of you, and who can help you get there. Your environment always wins; make sure your community includes the kind of people with whom you'd like to emulate, learn, and collaborate.

5. Practice self-care.

We’re constantly bombarded with messages of hard-charging executives who never sleep and entrepreneurs who proudly "hustle" 24/7. But we rarely hear the ugly aftermath of that go-go attitude: chronic stress, burnout, fizzled relationships, and disease. The truth is this: you can't pour—or perform—from an empty cup. To make serious career progress, you can't neglect your wellbeing. You must build in time to recharge your mind, body, and spirit. That means having the self-awareness to know when you're reaching your limit— and then taking action to push the reset button. By putting yourself first, you can give more to your boss, colleagues, and clients.

Remember, how you spend your extra hour is your choice; choose wisely.

This article was first published on Forbes.com.

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To elevate your voice and engage the people who matter most to you, work with Amy Blaschka, a ghostwriter and co-founder of Park City Think Tank.

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