At the moment I’m in the process of getting the balance of work and family life just right. Work is getting busy and working for myself means I have to use my time wisely and know when to switch off work. I have set myself a goal to get properly organised in order to achieve this balance because in all honesty, I’m far from being organised.
Kirsty at My Home Truths actually set a prompt to write about today entitled ‘what are your own little tips or ‘life hacks’ that you use to make your life easier?’ Well the fact is, besides doing my grocery shopping online, I really don’t have any hacks that are worthy of a mention so instead I’ve come up with a list of things I would like to start doing to keep things tidy and to use my time productively.
7 Time Saving Hacks
1. Before I leave a room, pick up one item and put it away.
2. Aim to do at least 20 minutes of cleaning every morning.
3. Stop reading my emails first thing in the morning, only check them three times a day max. and clear all emails! I need to stop using it as a to-do list…naughty, naughty!
4. Focus on the most important three tasks and start with the most important thing in the morning.
5. Instead of just writing my blog post ideas on note pads, I need to start writing everything that comes to my mind on either note pads or using an app like Evernote. Hopefully this will stop my brain from being so overloaded and I’ll stop forgetting things!
6. Set up a daily structure so I can let go of the unnecessary things that are time wasters.
7. Install the StayFocusd App for Chrome so I can limit the amount of time I spend on time wasting websites a.k.a. Facebook.
What are some of your top hacks that save you time and get you organised?
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I tend to do all my housework over a couple of hours every day so that I can take a break in the middle of the day for blogging. Then the rest of the day is housework all over again…
Wow, you do a lot of housework! 🙂
Definitely Evernote! Love it. Other tips: do all the housework before kids are in bed. That way you actually get a ‘ free’ evening (ie time to work:)).
Evernote is great, but I must utilise it more!
Stayfocusd added! I’m going to need that in the next few weeks for all my Uni work. I also like the idea of picking up one item when you go to another room.
Yes, I thought of you when I saw this one!
These are great time savers!! I spend 10-15 minutes each night before I go to bed tidying up and doing all those little household jobs so when I wake up it’s not the first thing I think of – I’m a total cleaning nut so if I didn’t do that I’d be cleaning all day!!! xx
Thanks Lucy. That’s so good of you, I’m usually sitting on my computer working but I know if I did that it would make waking up to mess a little less stressful!
I totally need to follow some of these. The main one I’m trying to make SURE I do is: never go to bed with an untidy kitchen. Once I’ve got that mastered, then I can perhaps branch out!
I definitely don’t have that one mastered, although I make the dinner so it’s usually my husbands responsibility to do the cleaning up…that’s just how we roll in our household.
I need all the time saving tips I can get. I’ve started cleaning up the kitchen really quickly while I make breakfast in the morning, but I still seam to have to do everything in 15 minute spurts around the demanding toddler.
You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.
Some really great ideas there. I suppose it’s all a matter of priorities. It’s virtually impossible to get ALL the things you want to do in a day or week done, we just need to focus on the most important things and stress less about the rest. Thanks for the tips.
Exactly right Vanessa.
These are great tips. I am constantly struggling to find balance and these would go a long way to fixing that!
Yep, it’s all about balance isn’t it?
Are you sure you haven’t read my mind? I need to do ALL these things too! Maybe we can support each other as we try to be more organised and effective in our day?
Support is good, maybe check in on each other every now and then? Ooh…that’s scaring me now.
I think I need number 7 the most! Definitely going to look into that one!
How good is it!
I learned about number 3 (only open your email 3 times a day, and don’t use your inbox as your “to do” list) at a conference earlier this year. I haven’t been terribly successful at putting it into practice, but I’m getting there!
I must admit Janet, I’m a bit worried that I won’t be able to do the 3 times a day thing too. I must remember that people aren’t going to go crazy if I don’t respond to them within a few hours. If they REALLY need me, they will call me on the phone.
I started a daily routine a few weeks ago and the change has been amazing. I just use the notes section on my phone to record blog post ideas, that way I can delete them as I use them.
A very good idea Tegan.
I like to make lists of things I need/want to get done in that day. It helps me keep on track and not go wayward because I have forgotten what needs doing. Isn’t FB a big distraction!
I am such a list person too, Alicia.,
I installed Evernote on my phone a couple of weeks ago and I just KNOW it’s going to be awesome, but I’ve not yet used it to it’s full potential.
It IS awesome Emma!
Great tips. I’m a big believer in clearing my inbox/inboxes as I go. The sight of hundreds of messages sitting there just freaks me out!!
Yes, it can be quite overwhelming!!
I love using my inbox as a to do list! I don’t get what the problem is with having it full. It’s not like it can over flow! I delete the spam and rubbish, but keep everything else there. I would love to work out how to create folders so I can organise is better, yet I find it easy still to just type into the search box.
I’m liking the sounds of the App Evernote. I like doing my groceries online, always makes me feel half organised, I also like to make school lunches the night before and unpack them as soon as we’re home of an afternoon. Planning dinner in advance always helps me save time too.