{"id":2882,"date":"2023-07-30T10:51:31","date_gmt":"2023-07-30T16:51:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.happysimpleliving.com\/?p=2882"},"modified":"2023-07-30T11:02:13","modified_gmt":"2023-07-30T17:02:13","slug":"the-amazing-bliss-of-10-more-minutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.happysimpleliving.com\/the-amazing-bliss-of-10-more-minutes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Amazing Bliss of Leaving a Little Early"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Could something as simple as leaving a little early<\/strong> dramatically improve your day? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you find yourself frequently running late, rushing, or feeling stressed when going to an appointment or event, building in a few extra minutes to your schedule might be the most amazing gift you could give yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"a<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I had to report for jury duty recently. Since Denver’s morning rush hour is unpredictable, I built an extra fifteen minutes in my morning schedule to drive to the courthouse, park, and go through security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traffic was pretty typical that morning (busy!), but because I had extra time I wasn’t annoyed by the heavy volume or stoplights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I arrived early to the courthouse, and instead of frantically circling the crowded lot looking for a parking space I had time to find a nice, shady spot under a tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a few moments to sit in my car, I could think about the task ahead. I sent up a little prayer for the people in the courthouse with their various concerns and heartbreaks and problems, and for the judges and lawyers and staff to perform their best, and for us jurors to listen well and do a good job of carrying out our responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had a nice walk from my outlying parking spot to the courthouse, and didn’t feel stressed when I saw the long security line because I still had extra time. I arrived a few minutes early to the jury room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rest of the day was filled with many hours of “hurry up and wait,” as I sat through jury selection for two trials. My number was never called, and I was eventually excused mid-afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driving home, it occurred to me that the relaxed beginning to my morning had stayed with me throughout the day. Wednesday at the courthouse turned out to be a very pleasant day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I realized that too often, I don’t build in much extra time in my schedule. I frequently find myself trying to squeeze in a few more tasks before I rush off somewhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could you enjoy a more peaceful, calm day<\/a> if you gave yourself the gift of an extra 10 or 15 minutes now and then?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 Benefits to Leaving a Little Early<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Building in some extra time to get to an appointment or event will not only increase your chances of arriving on time, but also create a more enjoyable and stress-free experience overall. Here are some more benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Reduced Risk of Speeding Tickets or Accidents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By leaving early, you’ll be in less of a hurry and won’t need to drive above the speed limit to get to your destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Reduced Stress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you leave early, you give yourself ample time to reach your destination without rushing. This can significantly lower stress levels associated with the fear of being late or getting stuck in traffic. Arriving with a calm mind allows you to better enjoy the event or handle the appointment with a clear focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Time for Preparations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Leaving early provides you with extra time to prepare for the appointment or event. You can gather all necessary documents, double-check your belongings, or make sure you have everything needed for the occasion. This helps avoid last-minute rushes and ensures you are adequately organized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Allow for Unexpected Delays<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite planning ahead, unforeseen circumstances can arise, such as road closures, detours, or public transportation delays. Leaving early gives you a buffer<\/a> to account for such situations, reducing the risk of being late even if there are unexpected obstacles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Enjoy a Sense of Calm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Arriving early offers a chance to relax and decompress before the appointment or event. You can take a few moments to gather your thoughts, meditate, or simply enjoy a peaceful moment. This can help you enter the appointment or event with a positive mindset and a sense of composure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How about you? Could you build in a little extra time to your comings and goings this week, and see how that affects you? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

May you enjoy the bliss of some unhurried moments by leaving a little early! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

… Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7381,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"limit_modified_date":"","last_modified_date":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2882","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-simple-living","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33","no-featured-image-padding"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Amazing Bliss of Leaving a Little Early - Happy Simple Living<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"By leaving a little early for an appointment or an event, you'll enjoy less stress and have time for any unexpected obstacles.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.happysimpleliving.com\/the-amazing-bliss-of-10-more-minutes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Amazing Bliss of Leaving a Little Early - 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