How often do you take time out of your day just to think? Not to plan, not to strategize, but simply to let your mind wander or focus on big-picture questions about your life and goals? Many people might say, “Never.” With busy schedules and endless to-do lists, taking time to sit quietly and think can feel unproductive or like a luxury we can’t afford. But successful people know that dedicated thinking time is not only productive — it’s essential.
Confidence in your abilities to go after your goals can sometimes be difficult to find or keep.
It can sometimes take time to discover the confidence you have inside you. This can be especially true if you are trying something new.
I have a program that can help you to discover what is holding you back from achieving your goals as well as help you set an attainable goal related to where you are in your life and where you are trying to be.
This program also works with you to build up your confidence in being able to reach your goal.
You can find out more about this program at Confidology, a funny name but a serious program.
You can contact me to talk about this or any other aspect of confidence and success at michael@coachmichaelw.com
Visit the site and read through the program description.
If you are not ready to commit to a full program, I have a self-paced course on Udemy that may be of interest. You can find out about the course and register at Confidence and Motivation Development and Maintenance
In a world filled with constant distractions and noise, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind without ever stopping to reflect on where you’re headed. Successful individuals make it a habit to carve out regular time to think deeply about their goals, challenges and the next steps they should take. They understand that creativity, problem-solving and innovation often come not when they’re immersed in the chaos of daily tasks, but during quiet moments of reflection.
Thinking time is more than just daydreaming or zoning out. It’s deliberate, focused reflection. It’s the process of stepping back from your everyday routine to ask yourself important questions: Am I on the right path? What are my long-term goals? What’s holding me back from achieving them? By setting aside time to think, successful people give themselves the mental space to explore these questions without the pressure of immediate deadlines or distractions.
One reason thinking time is so powerful is that it allows successful people to see the bigger picture. In the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life, it’s easy to get bogged down by immediate tasks and forget the larger goals you’re working toward. But when you take time to think, you can step back and look at your life or career from a broader perspective. This helps you ensure that the things you’re spending your time on are actually moving you closer to your long-term goals.
Actionable Step: Start by setting aside 15-30 minutes each day for quiet thinking time. Find a space where you won’t be interrupted, and use this time to reflect on your goals, challenges and next steps. Don’t feel pressured to come up with solutions right away. Simply giving yourself the space to think is the first step. Over time, you’ll find that these moments of reflection lead to clearer decisions and more innovative ideas.
Successful people also use thinking time to solve problems more effectively. When faced with a challenge, it’s tempting to jump into action mode and start working on a solution right away. However, this can lead to rushed decisions or incomplete solutions. Instead, successful individuals take time to think through their options. They consider different angles, evaluate potential outcomes and think critically about the best approach. This thoughtful consideration often leads to better, more effective solutions.
One famous example is Bill Gates, who is known for taking regular “Think Weeks.” During these weeks, he isolates himself to focus entirely on reading, thinking and reflecting on big ideas. Gates credits these periods of focused thinking with helping him come up with innovative strategies and approaches for Microsoft and his philanthropic efforts. While not everyone has the luxury of taking a week off just to think, even small amounts of dedicated thinking time can make a huge difference in how you approach your goals and problems.
Another important aspect of thinking time is that it fosters creativity. Many of the best ideas don’t come when you’re sitting at your desk, staring at a computer screen. They often come during quiet moments — while you’re walking, relaxing or just sitting and thinking. By allowing your mind to roam freely, you open yourself up to new ideas and connections that you might not have considered otherwise. Successful people know that creativity often strikes during these unstructured moments, which is why they prioritize time for quiet thinking.
But thinking time isn’t just about solving problems or coming up with new ideas — it’s also about self-awareness. Successful people use this time to reflect on their own behaviours, attitudes and motivations. They ask themselves questions like, “Am I spending my time wisely?” or “What’s stopping me from reaching the next level of success?” This kind of self-reflection helps them identify areas where they can improve and make adjustments to their habits or mindset. Without this regular introspection, it’s easy to keep repeating the same mistakes or getting stuck in unproductive patterns.
One of the biggest benefits of thinking time is clarity. In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of things vying for our attention. Taking time to think allows successful individuals to cut through the noise and focus on what really matters. They use this time to prioritize their goals and make sure their actions align with their larger vision. When you’re clear about what you want to achieve and how you’re going to get there, everything else becomes easier to manage.
It’s important to note that thinking time doesn’t always lead to immediate answers or breakthroughs, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t to force solutions but to create space for reflection and exploration. Often, the insights or ideas generated during thinking time don’t come right away, but they plant seeds that grow over time. Successful people understand that thinking time is an investment in their future, even if the benefits aren’t immediately apparent.
Another advantage of making time to think is that it helps successful people stay proactive rather than reactive. When you’re constantly rushing from one task to the next without stopping to reflect, it’s easy to fall into a reactive mode, responding to problems as they arise rather than anticipating and preventing them. Thinking time gives you the opportunity to step back, evaluate your situation and plan for the future. It allows you to be more strategic in your actions and decisions, which is a key element of success.
Thinking time can also be a way to reduce stress. When you’re feeling overwhelmed by a problem or decision, it can be tempting to avoid thinking about it altogether. However, this only leads to more stress in the long run. Successful people face challenges head-on by dedicating time to think through their options. By taking the time to reflect on the situation calmly, they gain clarity and confidence in their decisions, which reduces anxiety and helps them move forward.
Incorporating thinking time into your routine doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need to set aside hours each day, and you don’t need a perfectly quiet space to reflect. Even a few minutes of quiet time during a commute, on a walk or while relaxing at home can be incredibly valuable. The key is to make it a regular habit — just like exercise or healthy eating — so that you consistently give yourself the mental space to think deeply and reflect on your goals.
Thinking time is one of the most underrated yet powerful habits that successful people practice. It’s not about daydreaming or procrastinating — it’s about giving yourself the mental space to reflect, solve problems and stay aligned with your long-term goals. In a world full of distractions, taking time to think can make the difference between staying on track or losing sight of what really matters.
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Don’t try to do all of this by yourself, ask and receive the guidance that can get you moving towards your own success.
Nothing happens until action is taken.
To your success.
Michael
P.S Don’t forget to visit Confidology to learn more about the program. If you are not ready to commit to a full program, I have a self-paced course on Udemy that may be of interest. You can find out about the course and register at Confidence and Motivation Development and Maintenance
P.P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching
P.P.P.S. If you enjoy reading these articles on my blog, I have more books that have more of this type of information that you can find out more about at Books to Read. You can buy these ebooks at many on-line book stores. The links to the bookstores are at the link above.
If you have an Amazon Kindle account, there are different books at Amazon – Michael W (author)
