Like most women I lead a busy life. Sometimes I wonder if there are enough hours in the day to get everything done. Over the years, in an effort to save my sanity, I developed some time saving strategies to help me accomplish all those tasks I need to get done and even occasionally manage to squeeze in a few minutes for me.
1. Lists, lists, lists. If I need to do something, have an appointment, need to pick up something from the store, whatever, it goes on a list on my fridge. (Yes, that is the one place I know I will see it.) My kids have learned if they want something they add it to the list or I will forget.
2. Delegate. I used to believe if I wanted something done right, I needed to do it myself. Now I am happy to tell the kids they can help vacuum, chop vegetables or whatever needs to be done. They’ve learned to never say they are bored because I am an expert at finding them something to do.
3. Plan your errands. Once a week I have to be near the mall and all the various shops. If I know I need something in the area I plan out my day with all the stops I need to make instead of making a special trip. The kids have learned this is the day I shop and ask, “Can you pick me up (whatever) when you are out?” Sometimes I allow my college aged daughter to run errands for me and to teach them money management, allow them to use a Prepaid card. I can save time on reloading money to the card using the Ingo Money mobile app that lets me load funds from checks to a participating Prepaid card. It’s simple to use– just take a picture of the check with your smartphone and send to Ingo Money. I can choose to pay a small 1% or 4% fee depending on the check type (with a $5 minimum fee) to load the funds in minutes, or I can wait 10 days to load the funds for free if the check does not return unpaid. As a safeguard Ingo Money reviews all checks for approval prior to loading the funds; if approved, the funds are mine to keep and will not be reversed even if the check bounces.
4. Stockpile. Sometimes I believe people think of stockpiling as hoarders who have thousands of items lying around the house. By stockpiling, I find how often an item goes on sale, usually every six weeks, and then purchase the amount of product I will use during that time. If I use three jars of peanut butter I will purchase three. That way I have the amount of product I need on hand and don’t find I can’t make peanut butter and chocolate shakes because the cupboards are bare.
5. Plan a few minutes of downtime for yourself every day. If I plan some time into my day and sometimes it is only five minutes to do something for myself I find I have more energy and patience for everyone else.
This is a great list of time savers. I also like to do many of the things you have listed especially the stock piling. It really pays in the long run.
Thanks for the great tips. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be more efficient with my time management. I really need to be better about delegating the household duties. I need to realize even if they don’t do things perfect, the chores are done.
I simply couldn’t make it through a day without a list. They’re the only thing that keeps me on task and organized. When I run errands, I always plan my route to be logical so I’m backtracking as little as possible.
Amazing tips! I really need to make a stockpile but I can never seem to keep up on things!
Keeping a stockpile in my home has saved me more than once.. but it also gets me when I think I have something waiting to be used and I do not. These are great tips! Fabulous Post! Thank you!
Great list! DELEGATE!! That’s the best one for sure!
LISTS- yes! I need to make more of them to stay organized
These are great tips and i think having stockpiles is great saves alot of time effort and money.
I think it is easy to forget to take time for ourselves.
I’ve got the downtime thing covered, I think… working on the delegation… and super struggling with the lists! I think I can, I think I can…
Simple is really so much better. I need to learn how to delegate better in our house instead of trying to do it all.
I’ve never heard of Ingo Money. Thanks for sharing!
I definitely need to take your tip and start writing things on the fridge. Mommy brain has really set in and I forget things like crazy. When my kids get older I think I will definitely like to delegate. For now, my little toddler enjoys helping out whenever he can. 🙂
I need to delegate better!
i like to try to prepare in advance that is a huge time saver for me!
I do a lot of these tips and they really work! Especially the lists! I have so many lists, but without them I would be so lost and waste so much more time.
Taking notes and making lists is very important to keep track of your appointments and events. Delegating is also very important, sometimes I feel overwhelmed.
I try to plan my errands so that I can get them all done in order and save time and gas.
I tend to have that thought and sometimes I tend to ask myself can it be 48 hrs in one day? lol! Anyway, thanks for all these tips – very helpful!
I do so many of these regularly to save time and money. I get told all the time that I am a hoarder just because I coupon ans stock up between the sales. Sometimes I get extra because it is a great deal and I donate what we do not need but that is the only way I can afford my addiction to give to others.
i want to stockpile! I just don’t know how and I have a very very picky husband that I have to talk him into stuff lol. That is one goal of mine by the time I am 40 to have a stockpile of goodies!
What a great list! I am working hard on finding time for myself every day. I am a list maker and can’t function with out them!
i have been writing a very similar post we’re on the same page for sure
Fabulous tips, Im a huge list maker!
These are some great ideas. I am a big fan of lists. Grocery lists, to do lists, buy lists, party planning lists, ect. I am always making lists.
Great tips! I am the most unorganised person out there… Definitely have to work on it!
I have to manage my time better. No matter how hard I try there is never enough time in the day!
I live by lists, and taking more down time is something I am working on this year.
Great tips! I like to plan and to have lists because I hate it when I go to shopping and come back and notice that I forgot something. Thank you for the tips!
Currently, I am partially living off a stockpile, and love it! We are doing the clean out your fridge, and cabinets diet this week!!
This is such great advice! I am always using lists and don’t know what I would do without them!
I need to brush up on my delegating!
I’m lost without my lists! Planning trips and stockpiling are also huge sanity savers for me.
Great ideas. I make lists for a lot of things.
The one I forget from your list is to schedule time for myself. I think I have become so accustomed to people imposing on that time that I don’t even bother to schedule it, but I need it so badly. I am going back to doing that and actually TAKING it. This is an excellent list.
Planning is always good for the simple life. I don’t do lists often they do have their place for me.
Those are great tips and I agree with the lists and finding time to enjoy life
I am such a list person! I have a list for everything! Evernote is my best friend!
Great suggestions. I am a list maker….I do not think I could survive with out a list! LOL
I strongly agree with making lists. It really puts it all out there for you to plan!
Fantastic tips! I’m a big fan of the lists LOL
I love lists, and stockpile too! But I find hard to get some downtime. Thanks for great tips! I should do some delegating too! Thanks for geat tips.
My Hubs is a stockpiler and it gets totally out of hand. There are only 2 of us and I can’t fit the food in our cupboards. I think he is afraid he might starve to death or something. I like the Plan Your Errands one
I am forever making lists and then promptly forgetting them. The one thing I do keep up is my calendar with appointment with clients and Drs and such. My Mom on the other hand-let’s just say every Saturday when she gets in my car she pulls out her to do list–then I am left to figure out how to drive to all the different places in the most efficient manner. All the above are great advice and should be listened to by all (especially me!!).
Those are great tips and I agree with the lists and finding time to unwind. I find when I do have a plan my day goes by so much easier than when I don’t. Sometime I do like to “wing it” especially on the weekends.
LOL, it’ so funny that you said that, because my mother stockpiles and I totally call her a hoarder. I think she goes overboard, though 😉