OTR = Opportunity to Read

Reading books takes time but if you look at your daily stats on your smartphone, you’ll probably be surprised how much time you spend on it. In comparison, reading 20 minutes per day is enough to complete close to 20 books per year.

Here are a few tips that I apply to read more (these are just examples that can serve as suggestions, but as always, adapt to your context):

• I bring my e-reader to my appointments (especially medical ones as doctors are often late and we are usually requested to arrive early…)
• I prefer public transport. Most of my reading happened on the train (the French railway company is known for its frequent delays, which meant more opportunities to read!)
• I’ve always kept my e-reader at hand while holding my young kids in my arms to read a few pages after they fell asleep. (Babies have shorter sleep cycles and I prefer to read rather than get annoyed not being able to fall asleep as quickly as they do.)

OTM = Opportunities to Move

I always read books comfortably seated on my couch, my bed or my FatBoy. But reading is not the best activity my body needs to stay active. Exercise often sparks ideas and clearer thinking by stimulating our unconscious brain.

Here are a few tips that I use to move more:

• I take the stairs. Elevators and escalators are convenient but not necessarily faster options.
• I sometimes get off one stop earlier or later when using public transport to enjoy sunny days.
• I walk if the metro is not really faster. Especially in Paris to appreciate the architecture instead of experiencing overcrowded metros…
• I live in the city center to have stores (in particular bakeries! 😍) that are more easily accessible by walking than by car.
• I use a regular scooter (or just run) to follow my kids in their biking adventures.
• I wear a weighted backpack when walking with my wife to simulate the effect of aging and limit the natural physical decline (I’m 40 and things aren’t going to improve…).
• I have a yoga mat and a pair of kettlebells close to my desk to encourage me to do a few sets during the day.

OTP = Opportunities to Practice

Growing means always learning, always trying to improve your skills. For most of those skills, practicing a few minutes every day is better than a weekly one-hour session. Our brains react better to daily practice as every night is an opportunity to consolidate new practices.

Here are a few tips that I use to practice more:

• I study my flashcards while waiting for the train or the bus (but booking a predefined moment in your day to study is more efficient).
• I talk to myself in English while driving (I’m French).
• I allocate time slots in my agenda for the skill that I’m currently trying to improve (like improving my spoken English right now).
• I use habit stacking to chain some habits like meditating before reading aloud some English texts.
• I experiment with prompt journaling to reflect on my life, my practices, and my goals so that I can learn from them and be more focused on the important things.
• I’m always working on something. It could be a side project that I would probably not complete 😅 or a blog post. Being creative is an important part of growing and an essential aspect of being human.

OTL = Opportunities to Live

Do not try to make use of every moment of your life. The goal is never to optimize your life but simply to live it fully. Growing is part of a human life but is just one aspect.

Daydreaming, relaxing, or mastering the art of doing nothing are invaluable. You need moments where you don’t have to be conscious, which is different from entertainment where you are consciously relaxing.

• I rarely use my phone while waiting in line. I’m just looking around, hearing people, noticing the weather, the leaves carried by the winds, the sunlight through the store windows.
• I never use earphones when running. I listen to the sound of nature (while listening attentively to the “bzzz” of bees that I’m so afraid of) or I just daydream as I rarely come across another pedestrian or a runner (the joy of not having to run in Paris where you must always be on the lookout!).
• I always observe the seasons for a few minutes when I travel by train. The golden hour when the sun rises, the fog over the fields, the changing colors of the trees.
• I often drive alone without the radio turned on. I used to always have ambient sound (mostly the TV or the radio) but have learned to appreciate the sound of silence too.
• I watch my kids play during their sports sessions, while sitting in the park or at home. Even if I sometimes look at my phone, I try to make it the exception. Kids learn what you do, not what you tell them.
• I never work during my holidays (I barely read too…) and have no work messaging apps on my phone.

Small moments compound in the same way money does: each small action doesn’t look like much on its own, but it changes your trajectory. No change is usually visible at first but with enough perseverance, a tiny action can create lasting change.

Personal growth isn’t about waiting for monumental shifts, but about embracing the power hidden in small moments. By seizing opportunities to move, read, and live fully every day, we turn ordinary life into a consistent journey of becoming a better version of ourselves.