Starting 10 Minutes Late

When I wake up 10 minutes before my alarm rings, I usually get up and thank the universe for the 10-minute head start. It can really make a difference. But so can the opposite.

This morning, the alarm rang, and my partner and I both woke up. But instead of jumping out of the bed, I took 10 minutes to stay in, cuddle, and ask her about how she slept. We chatted for a bit, then both started our day. It was time well spent.

Starting before you’re ready has value, but so has delay. They each come with their own tradeoffs. Picking the right one is a never-ending task that’ll forever depend on the day, context, and timing of what you’re trying to do.

A 10-minute head start can snowball into half an hour saved over the course of a whole day. Meanwhile, starting 10 minutes late can set you up with calm and emotional balance for the next 16 hours.

Unlike a chess board, life’s not black and white, and the pieces reset every day. Choose the right ones for each round. And if that means starting the game late, perhaps it’s exactly that delay that’ll eventually net you the win.