The Balanced Business Blueprint
Module 3: Leveraging your pockets of time

Welcome back! By now, you’ve clarified your vision for your business and started identifying patterns in your feast and famine cycles.

Today, we’re tackling one of the biggest struggles for solopreneurs like us: finding the time and energy to work on your business when life feels like it’s pulling you in a hundred different directions.

Consistency is often talked about as the golden rule in business—but when you’re juggling limited resources like time, energy, or health, it’s not always possible. And you know what? That’s okay. Because while consistency is great, persistency—showing up when you can, as best as you can—is what truly matters when you’re navigating a busy or unpredictable life.

In this video, we’re going to talk about how to use your “pockets of time”—those small windows in your week—to make persistent progress on your business, even when life gets in the way.

So, what exactly is a "pocket of time"?

It’s any small window in your day—5, 10, or 30 minutes—that often goes unnoticed or unused because it feels "too short" to do anything meaningful.

Think about those moments when:

• You’re waiting for a client call to start.

• You’re sitting in the car before school pick-up.

• You’re waiting for dinner to cook.

These pockets of time might feel insignificant, but they can be incredibly powerful if used intentionally.

When I first started leveraging these pockets of time, I thought, What’s the point of doing something small? But I realised that in my world, where chronic illness sometimes means I can’t stick to a rigid schedule, it wasn’t about being consistent every day. It was about showing up persistently, doing what I could, when I could. And that mindset shift made all the difference.

Let’s talk about how to make the most of these small but mighty windows of time.

1. Batch Small Tasks

Instead of scattering small tasks throughout your week, batch them into a dedicated pocket of time.

• Respond to social media comments.

• Send follow-up emails.

• Brainstorm or outline ideas for blog posts or Reels.

These tasks might not seem “game-changing,” but persistently tackling them in small bursts keeps your business moving forward.

2. Create a ‘Power 15’ List

This is your running list of quick, impactful tasks you can do in 15 minutes or less. Keep it handy—on your phone, a sticky note, or your favorite app—so that when you find yourself with a spare moment, you don’t waste time deciding what to do.

Examples of Power 15 tasks:

• Writing a quick thank-you email to a client.

• Scheduling tomorrow’s Instagram post.

• Researching hashtags or brainstorming content prompts.

The beauty of the Power 15 list is that it makes persistency actionable. Even if you can’t be consistent every single day, you’ll have a bank of small tasks ready for whenever you can show up.

3. Pre-Plan Tasks

If you don’t have a plan, those pockets of time will disappear before you know it. At the start of each week, look at your calendar and identify potential pockets of time. Pre-plan tasks for those moments so you’re ready to take action when they come.

For me, this looked like knowing that I had a 15-minute window before lunch and using it to write an email draft or outline ideas for a strategy session. I didn’t need a perfect, consistent routine—I just needed a persistent effort to keep making progress.

Here are a few tools to help you make the most of your pockets of time:

• A Timer or Stopwatch:
  Set a 10- or 15-minute timer and challenge yourself to complete one task. It creates focus and urgency.

• Task Manager App or Notebook:
  Use apps like Trello or Asana, or even a sheet in your notebook to track your Power 15 tasks.

• Calendar Blocking:
  Look at your weekly schedule and find natural breaks where you can slot in these quick activities.

Now it’s time to put this into practice with your workbook exercise.

1. Map Your Week:
   Write down your typical weekly schedule, including work hours, family commitments, self-care, and other responsibilities. Then, identify at least three pockets of time—10-30 minutes—where you could focus on business activities.

2. Create Your Power 15 List:
   Based on what your business needs right now—like marketing, admin, or client follow-ups—write down 5 quick tasks you can complete in those pockets of time.

For example, if your mornings are always hectic but you tend to have 15 minutes free before lunch, you could use that time to brainstorm content ideas or reply to social media comments.

And remember: persistency over consistency. Even if your week doesn’t go perfectly, showing up for your business in those small pockets of time still counts.

Here’s what I’d love for you to do next:

• Identify 3 pockets of time in your schedule.

• Create your Power 15 List with 5 quick-win tasks.

• Use one pocket of time to complete a task and see how it feels.

I hope this helps you see the power of persistency—taking those small, intentional steps when and where you can. It’s not about showing up perfectly every day; it’s about making progress, even in the busiest or most unpredictable weeks.

In our next video, we’ll build on this idea and talk about creating a simple, sustainable marketing plan that fits your time and energy. So dive into your workbook exercises, and I’ll see you in the next video!