Life is hectic. With work, family, and everything else, it sometimes seems that 24 hours is insufficient. Many people wish for additional hours. The reality is time is time. So how come some people do more with their time than others? The answer is straightforward, they manage their time wisely. You can also. In this blog, I will discuss 5 simple, easy tricks to save you time each day.
Read more: 10 Things People Notice About You But You Don’t
Plan Your Day the Night Before
This is a powerful habit. Planning your day the night before only takes 10 minutes, and it can save you many hours the next day. Just write down your most important tasks for tomorrow, before you go to bed. Use a notebook, app, or sticky note – anything which is clear. The next morning, you wake up and already know what to do, you don’t waste time thinking or guessing. Planning the night before also gives your mind the time to prepare. While you sleep, your mind is working on those tasks, and you wake up more focused and determined.
Tip: Select your top 3 most important tasks and focus on them first.
Use timers for tasks
Have you started a small task, only to realize you lost track of time? You’re not alone! That’s why setting a timer helps.
When you use a timer, you have focus. You don’t get distracted! When you only have 20 minutes left of your timer, you will move faster knowing you have limited time.
This method is called the Pomodoro Technique. Follow along: Pick a task. Set a timer for 25 minutes. Work as hard as you can. Take a 5-minute break. Repeat. After 4 cycles, take a longer break. 15-30 minutes.
This tip makes boring tasks seem like a game. You’re racing against time, and your productivity will increase.
Learn to Say “No” to Things That Consume Time
Some of us just take on too much. We say “yes” to everything. Later, we become fatigued and overburdened.
Learning to say “no” takes time, but can save you arguably the most time of all. You don’t have to be rude when you say “no.” Just be honest and direct.
Say something like:
“Thanks for the invite, but I’m not able right now.”
“I would help you out, but I’m too busy today.”
When you say “no” to lower priority items, you are creating availability for what really counts.
Also, try to think prior to your agreement. Ask yourself, “Is this really worth my time?”
Make Use of Waiting Time
We all have to wait. At the bus stop. In line. In the doctor’s office. It adds up.
You have those minutes that you could be much better served waiting in smart ways instead of scrolling social media.
Here are a few possibilities:
Listen to a short podcast.
Read a book or article.
Plan tomorrow.
Reply to quick emails or texts.
Even in small physical chunks of time, waiting time can serve you. If you do this daily, you are going to be surprised how much you can accomplish in a week’s time.
Establish Routines
Routines save time and eliminate guesswork for the day. Different tasks can become a habit when you do them at the same time, on the same day of the week, as each task becomes a habit of the larger routine.
Best part: Morning and evening routines are usually more effective.
For example:
Morning Routine: Wake, stretch, shower, breakfast, plan the day.
Evening Routine: Turn off screens, pack for the next day, read, go to bed.
These provide you with a considerable time savings because you don’t have to make new choices every day and are on auto-pilot.
Routines eliminate stressful decisions which can promote feelings of control and less rushed.
Automate Everything You Can
There are so many things automated by technology these days that it would save you hours of time. You can automate automatic payments to bills. You can use applications that allow you to schedule emails or social media posts. Also, you can even set up reminders and grocery lists. Do you really want to do the same tasks of the same nature every week, or would you rather let tools do the same task for you automatically? Use as many automated tools as you can, and spend the time you saved on the things that are truly important to you.
Clean Up Your Space
Clutter steals your time while you aren’t aware, if your desk or room is cluttered, it may take you a few extra minutes just to find a thing. It certainly is easier to think and be quick when you have a clean space. Take a few moments each day to make things tidy. Put things back where they belong. In time, you will feel calmer and find yourself saving hours that you would otherwise waste.
A few more quick time-saving techniques
Reduce the number of times you use social media: set a timer on your scroll.
Group similar tasks: Do all your emails in one shot. BAM! Do all your errands in one trip.
Write things down: use a To-Do list, so you don’t forget, and include deadlines.
Organization is your friend: The less time you spend looking for lost items, the less you’ll be busy.
Wake up 15 minutes early: Having that extra 15 minutes in the morning (to be “calm”) will do wonders for your day.
Conclusion
It doesn’t take magic to save time. It takes a few habits. Some smart shortcuts. And a little practice.
Start small. Just try one tip this week. Then add another tip next week.
Before you know it, you’ll be feeling more in control. You’ll be getting more done. And you’ll gain time for the stuff you enjoy.
Remember: You simply can’t make more hours, but you can make better use of them! So, get started today!
