We have been doing the dating challenge this month and when I asked you for your top reasons why you don’t date – time was at the top of the list.
The irony? Some of the first people who answered were my friends on Facebook – one of my biggest time suckers if I’m not careful. (Anyone else? Or am I alone in this?)
I know you are going to expect me to say things like “Give up 30 minutes of TV,” and for some of us, that may be required, but I also know that your 60 minutes of Glee may be the only real downtime that you have. (And by downtime, I mean watching Glee, folding laundry, paying bills on your laptop and packing kids school lunches in the next room…)
So here are a few things that have been working for me lately. (As technology changes, so does my list of how to save time.)
- Getting Groceries Delivered When I’m on deadline for writing a book, and showering suddenly becomes optional, I go to my saved list on Safeway.com and have my groceries delivered to me. Sometimes I get coupons in my e-mail for free delivery, and sometimes it costs me around $7. But, if $7 can be traded for a shower, I’m on board. Another variation on this is to swap off with a neighbor for that mid-week Oh no we are out of milk and peanut butter. Be sure to give detailed lists so it doesn’t create more problems than it’s worth.
- Making the Kids Do It OK, if your child is 18 months, skip this tip. Wait – no! Read it! Be planning in advance when your kids can take over certain chores – dishes, garbage, vacuuming, sweeping and mopping. Training ’em early, train ’em young, train ’em often…
- Limit Computer Time I am now trying to give myself a two hour window each night where I don’t get on the computer for work, play or Facebook. When 90% of your job is on your HP laptop, that can be a challenge, but I have found that if I know I am going to have a definite end to my work day, I tend to get more things finished than if I fool myself into believing I have all night.
- Make an Appointment with Your TV Remember when we were growing up and we knew we had to be home on Thursday nights because that was the night that The Cosby Show was on (OK, maybe it was just me who had a thing for Heathcliff…)? Now I never know what night anything is on because our TIVO is recording something, every moment of the day. How great – I can watch anytime I want. The problem? I can watch anytime I want. I am setting aside some time to watch the shows I really love (Modern Family, Kell on Earth, 30 Rock etc.) and shutting off the TV so I don’t watch hours of Dateline on ID. (OK, if I am sick in bed with a cold I will have an ID marathon…)
- Nighttime Routines Setting the coffee the night before, putting out my walk-the-dog tennies, packing up my bag to put by the front door the night before, all of these little items not only get me out the door faster in the morning, but they let me sleep better the night before as I don’t wake up every three minutes thinking to myself “Wait, did I remember to…?”
Q4U – What is the best time-saving tip you have been using lately? Please share your wisdom in the comments below. I would love to put together a resource of all the best ideas – won’t you contribute your brilliance?
It may seem crazy but each day I do the timer thing too…I set a timer for 20-30 minutes and I just do the stuff around the house that needs done. Laundry, dishwasher, make beds, toilets, dust, sweeper, put stuff back where it belongs, etc. When the timer goes off I’m done and I know that I can pick up where I left off tomorrow. It’s amazing what you can get done in 20-30 minutes and the house never gets too out of control…I never spend a whole day/wkend cleaning anymore. Everyone has 20 minutes!!!
I hire an occaisional housekeeper!
Making a list the night before of what I need to do in the morning really helps! I wake up with purpose instead of wandering around.
I have started getting my kids to help and that is making a huge difference in the housework department.
I am also learning to recognize when I am feeling down or a little blue and trying to do something to shake myself out of it: a quick walk to the mailbox, pulling weeds in my garden for 10 minutes, or a tickle fight with one of my kids helps to lift my spirits and gives me the courage to face the work.
But sleep and exercise are the biggest ones. When I am healthy, I get more done. But as Mia Thermopolis says, “The concept is grasped. It is the execution that is a little elusive.”
Good tips! Thanks for sharing them.
One thing that I had noticed is that I lose a lot of time in the morning if I turn the tv on before noon. I tell myself that I am going to work while I listen… and then I sit down. : ) For Lent, I gave up morning tv. It has been amazing to me to see how much more I get done when I am not distracted. Laundry done, blog posted, work tended to, errands run. It has made a huge difference in my day!
Well, I too try to avoid those things like paperwork. I now set a timer and work on it until the timer goes off. I also make lunches the night before. I was having trouble with my weight until I started drinking protein shakes for breakfast and sometimes lunch. I wasn’t getting enough protein and too many carbs. Now I have lost some weight, save some time and feel better too.
I am a huge procrastinator. Mostly it’s about housekeeping (no hired help) and taxes amongst all the other things I need to do or would rather do. How do I manage my time better? I schedule playdates for the kids (Hosting Bunko or a dinner party works for me too). Sounds crazy but it forces me to tidy up on a deadline. Then when the playdate happens I let them play and continue with chores or computer “work”…Now if I could just apply time management skills to something income producing!
That’s funny regina!!!
My best household friends are my exceedingly loud timer and my planner.
I put me time and work time in my planner. I can tell you when I don’t, I am a creative mess! As a stay home parent, it is way past easy to be distracted. Oh look, I am on Kathi’s blog…..LOL
I have a alarm clock that plays CD’s. I now set my alarm 1 hour earlier then usual. I placed a worship CD in the CD player so when my alarm goes off it is playing worship music. Therefore it reminds me the very first thing I do for the day is spend it with God. SO I start by praising Him which leads into reading His word or a daily devotional and journal my experience. Sets the day off right. I always found once I was up I was easily distracted and my quiet time was always cut short or non existent. Also,when I hear the worship music I do not push the snooze alarm. I tried once and it made me think that i was cutting off God, not good.