--- title: "How to Get More Time in Your Day Without Waking Up Earlier" description: "Boost your productivity and reclaim your day by mastering monotasking, implementing structured time blocks, and taking active breaks for sustained focus and…" lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#person", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/", "image": "https://christianespinosa.com/__l5e/assets-v1/de07e44b-a8e0-4bcc-bcb0-13aec15421f1/headshot-front.jpg", "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/christian.espinosa.official", "https://x.com/Ironracer", "https://www.instagram.com/christian.espinosa.official/", "https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianEspinosaOfficial", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianespinosa/" ], "jobTitle": "Bestselling Author, Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur", "worksFor": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Blue Goat Cyber", "url": "https://bluegoatcyber.com/" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#website", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#organization", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/logo.svg" }, "founder": { "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#person" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/christian.espinosa.official", "https://x.com/Ironracer", "https://www.instagram.com/christian.espinosa.official/", "https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianEspinosaOfficial", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianespinosa/" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "How to Get More Time in Your Day Without Waking Up Earlier - Christian Espinosa", "description": "Boost your productivity and reclaim your day by mastering monotasking, implementing structured time blocks, and taking active breaks for sustained focus and…", "image": "https://christianespinosa.com/__l5e/assets-v1/49f1f57e-c83b-42a4-9af6-8a825e168d38/how-to-get-more-time-in-your-day-without-waking-up-earlier-card.png", "datePublished": "2020-07-13T09:08:17+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-06-26T05:35:05.315Z", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/blog/how-to-get-more-time-in-your-day-without-waking-up-earlier" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/about" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/logo.svg" } } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the core idea behind \"How to Get More Time in Your Day Without Waking Up Earlier - Christian Espinosa\"?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "In this post we'll cover three tips to make you more productive and give you back more time in your day without having to cut into your sleep." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Who is this post for?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Honestly, anyone who suspects the real life is happening in the ordinary hours, not the milestones. If you want a listicle, this is not that. If you want the honest version of what I have actually lived and worked through, keep reading." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I actually apply this, not just nod along?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Pick the single line in the post that made you flinch or look away, and change one thing in your week because of it. One choice this week beats a whole framework you never touch." } } ] } ] --- [Skip to content](#main) [](/) [About](/about)[Speaking](/speaking)[Cybersecurity](/cybersecurity)[Programs](/programs)[Books](/books)[Media](/media) Writing Search Ctrl K[Connect](/connect) [The In-Between](/blog/category/the-in-between) # How to Get More Time in Your Day Without Waking Up Earlier July 13, 2020 3 min read 704 words I'm the CEO of a company, I do Ironman triathlons, I climb mountains, and I travel a lot. Productivity is extremely important to me. I'm constantly striving to become more productive. I’ve learned these three techniques over my lifespan, and that’s what I’m sharing with you today. ![](/__l5e/assets-v1/435b93f2-9186-4ddb-b1b3-1fb8e3073195/how-to-get-more-time-in-your-day-without-waking-up-earlier-hero.webp) The takeaways 1. 01 This post is a transcription from the video at the bottom. 2. 02 I’ve learned these three techniques over my lifespan, and that’s what I’m sharing with you today. What to do next Pick one conversation you have been putting off where learned is the real subject, and have it before the week ends. 3. 03 Each of these blocks is set up where I monotask on a specific project or activity. 4. 04 It’s too easy to just sit at my computer or at a job for hours at a time. What to do next Pick one conversation you have been putting off where easy is the real subject, and have it before the week ends. This post is a transcription from the video at the bottom. I'm the CEO of a company, I do Ironman triathlons, I climb mountains, and I travel a lot. Productivity is extremely important to me. I'm constantly striving to become more productive. I’ve learned these three techniques over my lifespan, and that’s what I’m sharing with you today. Number one is **monotasking**. We live in this world where everyone thinks it’s normal to multitask. Multitasking is inefficient. Many studies show it’s inefficient. I focus on one thing, 100% focused on one thing at a time. This way I can get one thing done before I move on to another, or make significant headway on one task before I move on to another. My brain can’t really focus on two things at once. Hence, monotasking. The second thing is **time blocks**. Some people call it **block time**. I set my day up so I have blocks of activities scheduled. Each of these blocks is set up where I monotask on a specific project or activity. Then between each block of time, which is the third thing, I have **active breaks**. It’s too easy to just sit at my computer or at a job for hours at a time. But what happens after roughly 50 minutes is your focus starts to wander and you’re less effective. Even if you’re monotasking, you still need a break every 50-60 minutes or so. ![time block example - christian espinosa](/__l5e/assets-v1/d8e9e31d-47aa-42d8-91de-9fb3920de0d8/f22d4af44e62.jpg) Time Block Example Here’s an example of some time blocks: - Time Block 1: Between 7:00 am and 8:00 am, you do email. This is a time block with monotasking. You only do email between 7:00 and 8:00 in the morning. That’s it. What most people do is they’ll start a project, and while they’re working on the project, they’ll answer emails, answer text messages, answer the phone, and they make zero progress on the project. So only do email on this time block, and this is just a suggestion. You can do it however you want to - Active Break: Then between 8:00 am and  8:10 am, you notice I have a 10-minute break between these two, that 10 minutes is where you take the active break. You do something like get up, walk around, maybe do some pushups, whatever you want to do to get the blood flowing because we sit for too long in front of the computer most of the time. - Time Block 2: Then the next period of time block or block of time, I have project one. So I only work on project one during this time block. I don’t do email. I don’t answer the phone. Only project one. - Active Break: Next time block I have a break between them. I do something active, walk around, go for a walk, go outside. Then I do personal development, as the example, then another break, then project two. Some people say, “Well, I’ve got a lot of work to do on a specific project.” That’s okay. You set up two blocks of time for that project, but make sure you take that 10-minute break between the two so you don’t start zoning out or getting distracted or losing your focus. That’s where the active break comes into play. Even if it’s as simple as going outside for a short walk, that will help get the blood flowing and often clear your head, and then you come back with a fresh perspective and can often make more progress on that particular project. So the three things to get a quick review, monotasking, time blocks, and active breaks. I hope you found these three tips useful. Good luck with your productivity. Take care. Frequently asked ### What is the core idea behind "How to Get More Time in Your Day Without Waking Up Earlier - Christian Espinosa"? ### Who is this post for? ### How do I actually apply this, not just nod along? ### Work with me I help founders and cybersecurity leaders build teams that ship, not teams that stall. If that's the problem you're trying to solve, let's talk. [Start a conversation](/contact) Share this essay [X ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Fhow-to-get-more-time-in-your-day-without-waking-up-earlier&text=How%20to%20Get%20More%20Time%20in%20Your%20Day%20Without%20Waking%20Up%20Earlier) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Fhow-to-get-more-time-in-your-day-without-waking-up-earlier) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Fhow-to-get-more-time-in-your-day-without-waking-up-earlier) [Email](mailto:?subject=How%20to%20Get%20More%20Time%20in%20Your%20Day%20Without%20Waking%20Up%20Earlier&body=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Fhow-to-get-more-time-in-your-day-without-waking-up-earlier)Copy link ![Christian Espinosa, headshot](/__l5e/assets-v1/de07e44b-a8e0-4bcc-bcb0-13aec15421f1/headshot-front.jpg) About the author [Christian Espinosa](/about) · Founder & CEO, Blue Goat Cyber Christian is the founder and CEO of Blue Goat Cyber, a medical device cybersecurity firm. He's an Air Force Academy graduate, 24x Ironman, climber of two of the Seven Summits, and the author of The Smartest Person in the Room and The In-Between: Life in the Micro. Keep reading - [ ### Unexpected Connections Can Have a Big Impact - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/unexpected-connections-can-have-a-big-impact) - [ ### The Value of Monotasking - What Jesse Itzler and Rainbow Taught Me - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/the-value-of-monotasking-what-jesse-itzler-and-rainbow-taught-me) - [ ### How Emotional States Can Slow Down and Speed Up Time - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/how-emotional-states-can-slow-down-and-speed-up-time) [← Previous essay The Value of Monotasking - What Jesse Itzler and Rainbow Taught Me - Christian Espinosa ](/blog/the-value-of-monotasking-what-jesse-itzler-and-rainbow-taught-me)[Next essay → FOMO vs JOMO - Christian Espinosa ](/blog/fomo-vs-jomo) Related, Cybersecurity ### Need medical-device or offensive security expertise? Blue Goat Cyber, Christian's firm, runs FDA-aligned premarket submissions, penetration testing, and SBOM/SOUP analysis for medtech and high-stakes industries. [Explore Blue Goat Cyber](/cybersecurity) Christian Espinosa Bestselling author, keynote speaker, and Founding CEO of [Blue Goat Cyber](https://bluegoatcyber.com/). Helping technical leaders develop the soft skills that turn brilliance into impact. 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