How to Keep Learning When You Don’t Have Time (Because We All Have 24 Hours)

I get it. Between work deadlines, personal projects, training for powerlifting meets, and everything else life throws at me, it sometimes feels impossible to add anything else—like learning new skills or growing professionally.

But here’s the truth I’ve come to embrace: continuous learning isn’t about carving out huge chunks of time or waiting for “perfect” conditions. It’s about weaving small, intentional habits into your daily life—no matter how busy you are.

1. Learning in Small, Manageable Chunks

You don’t need an hour-long YouTube deep dive or a weekend workshop every time. Sometimes, 5–10 minutes is all you need.

For me, that looks like listening to a tech podcast during my commute or reading a quick article while waiting for my coffee to brew. Breaking learning into bite-sized pieces makes it sustainable, not overwhelming.

2. Use What You Already Do as Learning Opportunities

I’m a software engineer, so debugging code, reviewing PRs, or even writing unit tests are part of my job—and they’re also learning moments. I try to stay curious during everyday tasks, asking myself:

• Why does this bug happen?

• How can I improve this method?

• What tools or patterns can make this cleaner?

This mindset transforms routine work into continuous growth.

3. Blend Learning with Your Passions

If you’re like me, your hobbies are part of your identity. I’m passionate about learning and growing myself. I try to learn skills that support my career and my curiosity—like exploring digital marketing for my shop or diving into biomechanics and nutrition science for better lifting.

This way, learning is not a chore—it’s energizing, and it can help you build the momentum to learn other things, too.

4. Build Learning into Your Daily Routine (Even If It’s Tiny)

Sometimes it’s about habit, not time. For example:

• Reading one blog post or documentation page each morning.

• Writing a short summary or tweet about what I learned that day.

• Experimenting with a new coding technique during my next project.

The key is consistency, not volume.

5. Accept Imperfection and Keep Moving Forward

Life is hectic. Some days you won’t get to learn much. That’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s progress.

Even if you spend just 10 minutes every few days learning something new, over weeks and months, that adds up to real growth.

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Final Thoughts

Continuous learning is less about time and more about intention and curiosity. You don’t need extra hours in the day—you just need to make the most of the moments you have, turning everyday actions into chances to grow.

So next time you think, “I don’t have time to learn,” remember: you already do. You’re just one small choice away from learning something new.