Simple Ways To Save Time
Do you have more to do than hours in the day? Need some simple ways to save time? It used to make me crazy that some people seem to get so much done while I struggled with the necessities of the day. When I had had enough, I started to try anything that I thought would save me time. Here are the best ways that have helped me to save time and simplify my life.
Simple Ways To Save Time: Don’t Hit The Snooze Button
This is a big one and it’s on the top of the list. It is also the hardest to do for some people. While you might think you will feel better by getting 5 more minutes of sleep, an article from the Cleveland clinic tells us that hitting that snooze button actually disrupts your REM cycle, increases your blood pressure, and heart rate. Not to mention that you will be late for work which gets your day off to a bad start. If you are constantly tired every morning, go to bed earlier. You will thank yourself in the morning.
Simple Ways To Save Time: Plan Ahead For The Next Day
Having an efficient routine is a must if you want to save time and simplify your life. An important part of this routine should be getting ready for the next day each night before you go to bed. Setting out your clothes the night before means no running around the house trying to find that shirt that goes with the pants you want to wear or those missing pair of shoes. Put your keys, purse, and anything else that you need for the next day in one place so that you can just grab them and go. Do the same thing for your kids and your morning routine will soon be on auto piolet.
Simple Ways To Save Time: Plan Your Meals
Planning your meals not only saves you time but also saves you money. Knowing what’s for dinner is half of the battle. You could save even more time by cooking two of the same meals at the same time and putting one of them in the freezer. Another tip is to prep your vegetables when you get them home from the grocery store so that you don’t have to do it later. Crock Pots are also helpful time savers by cooking dinner while you are at work. You can’t get any better than that right? You can find meal planning on a budget ideas here.
Simple Ways To Save Time: Multitask Activities
Multitasking activities is an important time saving ingredient. For example, washing the dishes from prepping dinner while the food is cooking saves you from having to do them after you are done with dinner and want to rest. Get the kids to pop the dirty plates and silverware in the dishwasher and you are done. I have even been known to declutter the utensil drawer while I waited for dinner to finish.
Simple Ways To Save Time: Combine Errands
There is so much time and gas to save by grouping your errands together. A little preplanning will allow you to drop the dry cleaning off on your way to the grocery store because it is on the way or pick up that birthday card at the pharmacy when you pick up your prescription. You might also want to reassign errands to family members that are going in the direction of that errand.
Simple Ways To Save Time: Learn To Say No
How many times have you said yes to an obligation when you should have said no? This is one of my biggest problem areas because I am a people pleaser. What I have come to realize is that life is too short to spend it overcommitting to things I had no business doing in the first place. Your friends and family that love you will understand, and chances are that those that don’t are trying to make their problem your problem. Saying NO takes practice but you can do it and you will surely thank yourself later.
Simple Ways To Save Time: Delegate
I already mentioned reassigning errands to family members that are going in the direction of that errand, but delegation of obligations can be a wonderful thing. Having the kids set or clear the table or asking your husband to pick up the milk that you forgot on his way home can be a game changer. Take a good look at your workload to see if you can pass some to dos to anyone in your family that could and probably should already be doing it.
Simple Ways To Save Time: Declutter and Organize
Tring to find things in a cluttered and disorganized house is a huge time waster. I won’t even mention the money that I have spent buying things that I forgot I had because I was disorganized. Decluttering can be overwhelming at times but if you will just commit to 15 each day, you will see an improvement in short order. You can’t organize clutter so declutter first. Begin by getting rid of trash and then items that you don’t like, want, or don’t fit. You should notice a BIG difference in a small amount of time.
Simple Ways To Save Time: Limit Electronic Use
I have wasted so much time that I can never get back scrolling through different apps on my phone. That few minutes that I meant to spent suddenly turns into a few hours in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile the laundry is still in the dryer waiting to be folded and dinner isn’t going to cook itself. To help limit your time on your devices, you can set a timer on your phone or only allow yourself YouTube time while you are walking on the treadmill. You will be blown away by the amount of time that you have just given yourself each day.
