Finding the Time

I remember a period when I kept saying the same thing:

“I’ll work on my applications this weekend.”

The weekend would come. Something would come up. I’d be tired. I’d push it to the next weekend.

The next weekend came and went the same way.

Weeks passed. Nothing moved.

It wasn’t that I didn’t care. It wasn’t that I didn’t know what to do. I just couldn’t seem to find the time to sit down and do it properly.

At least, that’s what I thought.

At this point in the journey, you likely know a lot already. You know how to choose opportunities. You know how to tell a clear story. You know you need to show, not just claim.

But knowing is one thing. Doing is another.

And this is where many people get stuck.

We often wait for the perfect time: a free evening, a quiet weekend, a clear schedule.

That time rarely comes.

Life does not pause because you have applications to write.

Work continues. Responsibilities remain. Energy fluctuates.

So the question is not: When will I have time?

The better question is: How do I use the time I already have?

The shift for me was simple.

Instead of waiting for long, perfect blocks of time, I started using small ones.

• 15 minutes.

• 20 minutes after dinner.

• 30 minutes before bed.

Not to finish everything. Just to move something forward.

One day, I would shortlist opportunities.

Another day, I would draft a paragraph.

Another day, I would edit.

It didn’t feel like much in the moment. But over time, it added up.

This is where habits matter.

When you attach application work to something you already do, after dinner, before bed, during a commute, it becomes easier to stay consistent.

You remove the pressure of needing the “perfect time.”

You also reduce friction.

Keep your documents in one place.

Have a simple structure for your essays.

Know what the next small step is.

This way, when you sit down, you don’t waste time figuring out where to start.

Most people are not short on ambition. They are short on structure.

You do not need more time. You need a way to use the time you already have.

This connects to everything we’ve discussed.

Small steps — you move gradually.

Habits — you stay consistent.

Strategy — you focus your effort.

Clarity — you know what to say.

Evidence — you know how to show it.

Now you just need to keep moving.

You don’t need a perfect weekend.

You need a consistent 15 minutes.

—Ojonugwa

Scholar ChitChat