The Power of 10: How Ten Minutes Can Change Your Day, Your Leadership, and Your Life
Originally inspired by a post from April 9, 2009. Updated and expanded for today.
Ten minutes is an incredibly powerful amount of time.
I wrote about this idea years ago, and I believe in it even more today.
One of the greatest obstacles to getting things done is not always a lack of time. More often, it is the feeling that we do not have enough time.
We look at a project, a problem, a pile of paperwork, or a goal we have been putting off and convince ourselves that we need an entire afternoon, a free weekend, or a stretch of perfect circumstances in order to make progress.
But what if we only needed ten minutes to begin?
Years ago, I discovered the power of a simple kitchen timer. I bought an egg timer at the dollar store for $1.29. Yes, I remember thinking that seemed a little suspicious for a dollar store. But that little timer turned out to be one of the most useful productivity tools I had ever used.
It was simple, clunky, and loud. It ticked. It rang. It did not require syncing, updating, charging, or downloading. It just did its job.
And it helped me do mine.
I began setting it for ten minutes and getting to work.
Ten minutes to clean a room. Ten minutes to answer email. Ten minutes to straighten my desk. Ten minutes to read. Ten minutes to begin writing. Ten minutes to start a project I had been avoiding.
It worked.
Not because ten minutes was enough to finish everything.
But because it was enough to begin something.
And beginning is often the hardest part.
The Power of 10
Over time I came to realize that ten minutes is useful for far more than chores and quick tasks. Ten minutes can improve focus, build momentum, reduce stress, and make us more intentional in the way we lead and live.
1. Ten minutes can defeat procrastination.
Big tasks often feel intimidating. That is why we delay them.
We tell ourselves we will start when we have more time, more energy, more clarity, or better conditions. But those perfect conditions do not always show up.
Ten minutes is enough to get moving.
You do not have to finish. You just have to start.
And once you start, you are much more likely to continue.
2. Ten minutes can improve concentration.
We live in a distracted world. Notifications, interruptions, emails, texts, and a hundred competing demands are always trying to steal our attention.
Choose one task. Set a timer for ten minutes. Focus only on that one task.
No multitasking. No checking your phone. No wandering around the internet. No bouncing between tabs.
Just ten minutes of honest concentration.
That kind of focus is powerful.
Ten minutes may not be enough for every kind of deep work, but it is often enough to get your mind engaged and moving in the right direction.
3. Ten minutes can make overwhelming jobs feel manageable.
Some jobs look so big that we avoid them simply because they feel too heavy to lift.
A report.
A difficult conversation.
A cluttered office.
A stack of papers.
A long-overdue decision.
Ten minutes takes a bite out of the big job.
You may not finish it today. That is okay.
But it will no longer feel untouched, and untouched problems tend to grow in our minds.
Progress creates hope.
4. Ten minutes can make you a better leader.
This may be my favorite part of the whole idea.
Great leadership is not only about major initiatives, presentations, or strategic plans. It is also about small, intentional actions done consistently over time.
What if you devoted ten minutes a day to one meaningful leadership act?
Ten minutes encouraging someone on your team.
Ten minutes writing a note of appreciation.
Ten minutes checking in with a student, teacher, or colleague.
Ten minutes reflecting on what your organization needs most.
Ten minutes visiting a classroom, office, or workspace just to listen and learn.
Leadership is often strengthened in small moments before it is ever seen in big ones.
5. Ten minutes can improve your life outside of work.
Read a few pages. Take a walk. Pray. Reflect. Journal. Stretch. Clean up a space. Call a friend. Write a thank-you note. Sit quietly. Make art. Learn something new.
Ten minutes is not a replacement for the time our families, faith, health, and goals deserve.
But it is often the beginning of a habit that can change our lives.
Ten minutes a day adds up quickly.
Ten minutes a day for a year is more than sixty hours.
Think about what you could improve, create, strengthen, or enjoy if you consistently invested that kind of time in something worthwhile.
A Few of My Favorite Uses for Ten Minutes
Here are some ways I have used ten-minute bursts over the years:
Checking and clearing email
Folding laundry
Straightening a workspace
Paying bills
Planning the day
Brainstorming ideas
Beginning a writing session
Taking a short break without letting it become a long one
Reading something worthwhile
Tackling one part of a much larger project
You do not need fancy systems or expensive tools.
You just need intention.
Try the Power of 10 Challenge
Tomorrow, choose three things you have been putting off.
Pick one. Set a timer for ten minutes. Give it your full attention.
When the timer goes off, decide whether to stop, schedule another session, or keep going.
Then do the same thing with the next item when time allows.
That is thirty focused minutes invested in things that matter.
Not rushed.
Not scattered.
Not accidental.
Intentional.
A Special Dedication
This post is dedicated to Justin Ufferman, Superintendent of North Union Local Schools, and his leadership team.
Justin reached out to ask about an older post I had written years ago about the power of ten minutes. He remembered the message, saw the value in it, and wanted to reshare it with his team.
That means a great deal to me.
One of the greatest gifts a writer, educator, or speaker can receive is discovering that an idea shared years ago is still being remembered, still being used, and still helping people.
Thank you, Justin, for remembering the original version of this post, recognizing the power in it, and requesting to share it again with your team.
And thank you to the North Union leadership team for doing the important work of growing as leaders and helping others thrive.
Keep being awesome.
A Free Resource for School Leaders
I have created a free resource called:
The Power of 10 for School Leaders: Ten Things You Can Do in Ten Minutes to Improve Your School
It is a practical PDF filled with simple actions school leaders can take to strengthen culture, build trust, encourage staff, and make a meaningful difference in just ten minutes at a time.
If you would like a copy, I would be glad to send it to you.
I would love to share it with you.
I Want to Speak at Your Event
I love helping educators, leaders, schools, and organizations grow in ways that are practical, inspiring, and memorable.
If you are planning a keynote, conference, leadership retreat, professional development day, or special event, I would love to be part of it.
Visit KellyCroy.com to learn more.
Leadership Matters! Let's give the world something worth following.
Keep being awesome.
Kelly Croy
Speaker | Author | Educator | Leadership Coach
Website: https://www.kellycroy.com
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