In life’s daily whirlwind, essential-yet-not-truly-urgent tasks like flossing, exercise, and even 15 minutes of peace and quiet can fall off your priority list. Sure, you could stay up an hour later to get everything done, but sleep is yet another essential to-do that helps your body and brain self-restore and prepare to face another busy day.
A better option: smarten up about the way you spend your time and you can actually get more of it. “By really focusing on the task at hand — instead of doing 15 things at once — you’ll gain a few minutes here and a few minutes there,” says professional organizer Marla Cilley, aka The Fly Lady. Add up all those saved minutes, and you’ve got yourself a whole hour — or more! — to indulge in a bubble bath, take an invigorating walk or organize your spice cabinet (hey, to each her own!). Start here to find a little more time in your everyday.
Create a launch pad
To end the morning chaos of finding everyone’s backpacks, briefcase or gym bag, designate a place by the front door (hooks on a wall, a dresser with a drawer for each of you) where everyone puts their packed bags the night before. Spending 5 minutes tonight to get organized for tomorrow is an investment that pays great dividends, says The Fly Lady. “If your kid can’t find his homework as the bus arrives, it could take you nearly an hour to track it down and then run it to school for him,” she reasons.
Time saved: 20 minutes
Put your keys on a leash
Have you ever upended your purse on the front steps in an effort to find your house keys? Wasted minutes in a parking lot digging for your car keys? Can you count the times you’ve asked the universe, “Where are my keys?” End the madness: put your keys on a lanyard keychain that’s long enough to hang outside your purse, suggests The Fly Lady. Give a tug and voila! Keys in hand — no digging, dumping or searching required.
Time saved: 5 minutes
Clean out your bag
While we’re on the subject of purses, clean out and organize yours once a week. Take a few minutes while you’re catching up on Dancing With the Stars or waiting to pick your kid up from soccer practice to throw away old receipts and candy wrappers, organize your wallet and agenda. Restock with a fresh pack of tissues and a tin of mints. Staying on top of your purse clutter will make it easier to find things while you’re on the go.
Time saved: 3 minutes
Presort your laundry
As long as everyone in the house is tossing laundry into a basket, why not sort whites and darks as you go? “Get a hamper with several dividers so each family member can automatically presort,” says Fly Lady, or buy a set of mesh bags for each family member – one for whites, one for darks.
Time saved: 10 minutes
Buy in bulk
Sometimes, buying in bulk can backfire (see: the giant bag of tortilla chips that stares you down whenever you open the pantry). But if you strategize, it can be a real timesaver. “Keep your pantry stocked with regular necessities, such as rice, beans, paper goods, cleaning products, shampoos and toothbrushes, and you’ll spend less time dashing to the store when you run out,” says Christine Hohlbaum, author of The Power of Slow: 101 Ways To Save Time in Our 24/7 World. Save more time by shopping online: Alice.com finds coupons and deals on your favorite essentials, then reminds you when you might be running low so you can avoid a last-minute trip to the drugstore. The Fly Lady recommends buying birthday cards in bulk (check wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club) and mailing them out once a month.
Time saved: 30 minutes (to and from the store and post office)
Soak as you go
Before you start dinner tonight, fill your kitchen sink with hot soapy water. “As you start cooking, dump in dirty utensils, plates, pans and cutting boards,” says The Fly Lady. “While your meal cooks, your dishes get a good soak.” No more scraping sticky spatulas and fry pans = More time to spend enjoying dessert!
Time saved: 10 minutes
Clean the shower while you’re in there
“It’s quicker to spray some cleaner and do a swipe and a rinse while you’re already in there naked then to scrub the shower walls fully-clothed,” says Fly Lady. Stock your shower with more than just shampoo and body wash; Stash a cleaner and sponge nearby so you can do a quick clean-up at least once a week.
Time saved: 10 minutes
Don’t get sidetracked by your computer
Email and gadgets are meant to make our lives easier, but often they’re a huge time suck. Commit to checking your email only twice a day — and responding only once. “It’s hard at first, especially if you’re used to checking 50 times a day,” says blogger Laura Brady Saade, founder of Give Me 10, a time management consulting firm, who is dedicated to making the most of small gaps of time. “But all those quick replies and checking messages that you know you’ll respond to later eats away at your day.” Train yourself by setting your smartphone to ring only when certain important numbers are calling.
Time saved: 10 minutes
Keep wipes under every sink in the house
Wait for your bathroom to get icky with a week’s (or more!) worth of grime and you’re looking at a good hour of cleaning and scrubbing. Instead, spend two minutes each day swiping the counter, sink and toilet with one flushable wipe; use another to remove any hair from the floor. And once a month, drop an automatic cleaner tablet in the toilet bowl. Avoid getting sucked into doing more by setting a timer for 10 minutes. “It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be clean,” says Brady-Saade.
Time saved: 12 minutes
Schedule in some breathing room
“We often expect to do more than we have time for,” says Hohlbaum, “and the anxiety to make every minute count can actually waste precious moments.” Each day, take a few minutes to daydream, enjoy a cup of tea, or flip through a magazine before you move on to the next thing on your to-do list. “You’ll be able to better focus on the task that awaits you, and be less likely to bungle it and then have to re-do it,” she says. Plus, feeling relaxed and sane can go a long way in making your day feel positive and productive.
Time saved: 7 minutes of re-dos
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