There are shortcuts we can take to help us with our daily tasks, and to help optimize our precious time.
Time Waster: Shopping for groceries daily
Time Saved: 20 minutes
- Shop once a week using a Menu Plan
- Make a short list of what you want to eat for the week and look up the recipes and keep the paper as a reminder of your Menu Plan
- Write a list of ingredients for each meal and regroup them into their like categories (e.g. 2 onions for Beef, 4 onions for Chicken = 6 onions total)
- Take inventory of what you already own (Carton of Eggs, Check!) and cross them off your list as you go along
- Then write a final Shopping List, grouping the items together (Dairy, Meats, Veggies) for easy shopping
Time Waster: Starting dinner from scratch
Time Saved: One night – Four nights
- Use your oven as a slow cooker while at work at 450 F for 20 minutes in the morning and then reduce the heat to 180 F to cook for 8 hours
- This works for food you want to get really tender like ribs, lamb or pork
- If you are OK with eating the sort-of same things each night, you can also consider cooking once a week like on Sundays and finding recipes where you can make the same sides but eaten with different, nightly cooked proteins
Time Waster: Trying to find something you use everyday (makeup, keys, gloves, etc)
Time Saved: 10 minutes
- Keep only your everyday items out so they are easily accessible either in the bathroom, or a bowl near the door with your keys, gloves and wallet
- For makeup, organize the rest into clear plastic bags or boxes into like categories (eyeshadows, lipglosses), or by face area (eyes, lips)
Time Waster: Shampooing when you are late (Women)
Time Saved: 20 minutes
- Put it up in a ponytail or a chic chignon
- Usually the dirtier the hair, the better it holds as it has natural texture
Time Waster: Wandering without a purpose around the gym
Time Saved: 10 minutes
- Get a workout plan on paper before even going to the gym
- It doesn’t have to be difficult: 20 minutes cardio, 20 minutes bicep curls
Time Waster: Waiting (Waiting rooms, Bus stops, etc)
Time Saved: 20 minutes
- Ask nicely what days and times are the slowest for the doctor/dentist
- Usually right after lunch is your best bet
- Take the time to organize the rest of your day with a List Book
Andrew Randazzo
on Jun 23rd, 2010
@ 6:59 pm:
Point taken, but "time wasters" can be manipulated to our advantage as well. For example, waiting can be a good thing when you're prepared with a book, homework, or something else productive that you can be doing while waiting.
@michaeln
on Jun 26th, 2010
@ 6:39 pm:
When I visited the farmer's market this morning, I found out about a program in which local farmers will package their specialties together and deliver them to your doorstep twice per month. Whole milk, organic eggs, and home-grown veggies in one great bundle.
eemusings
on Jun 28th, 2010
@ 12:59 am:
Dirty hair never works for me
It gets limp, greasy and generally nasty.
jswesner
on Jun 28th, 2010
@ 5:47 pm:
I hate waiting in a doctor's office. I've had to wait over an hour. Just unacceptable!
finallygettingtoeven
on Jul 3rd, 2010
@ 1:23 am:
Shopping everyday might be a time-waster but for me it is a great money-saver so i continue to do it most days. My strategy is buying up the items that are being reduced and building my menus around them. Because of this we eat for pennies on the dollar. So in essence, I save money, have to work less, and that saves time for more things I enjoy doing…