1. Set aside time each day to review and prioritize demands on your time.
Setting aside time each morning (or evening) to review your schedule for the upcoming day can save you enormous amounts of time in the long run. Doing so enables you not only to prioritize your demands, but also to identify activities that can be combined.
2. Schedule activities and errands around the busiest times of the day or week.
One colossal time-waster that affects almost of us is waiting in line at places such as the grocery store, post office or doctor’s office. How can one avoid these pitfalls? By scheduling one’s activities around the businest times of the day or week. For example, as grocery stores tend to be most crowded at lunchtime and right after work (5-7:00 pm), it’s best to avoid shopping during these hours. In fact, the optimal times for shopping are late in the evening, mornings and weekends. As for post offices and other governmental agencies such as the DMV, try to arrive just a few minutes before they open their doors. This usually enables you to be the first in line, which is crucial because many of these places are notorious for long lines throughout the day. As for doctor, salon, cable, plumbing and delivery appointments, always try to arrange for the first appointments of the day. If you schedule appointments later in the day, there’s a good chance that they may be running late, thus forcing you to wait longer.
Another important factor to keep in mind for saving valuable time is scheduling your activities and errands around “rush hour” traffic. A simple 15-minute trip to the department store can turn into a 40-minute nightmare if taken at the wrong time of day. With a little bit of preplanning, you not only can save that extra time for other things, but you can also save yourself from the unnecessary stress of traffic.
3. Listen to audiotapes while driving, exercising or doing housework.
Although we may not realize it, most of us spend over 25 hours in our automobiles each month. Imagine re-allocating this block of time to activities such as reading books, attending conferences or learning foreign languages. Then stop imagining and do it. Turn those 25 hours of normally wasted time into productive time by listening to audiotapes while driving. You may not have time to be a bookworm, but you can become a tapeworm! You might also consider switching from listening to music while exercising or doing housework to listening to audiotapes that provide instruction and learning. Not only will you get a great physical workout (or your house cleaned), but you’ll receive a great mental workout as well. Moreover, you’ll have the satisfaction of having accomplished two things at once. And in addition to that, you’ll find that time often appears to go by much more quickly as you concentrate on ideas being presented rather than on your own exasperated breathing patterns!
4. Control your phone.
The telephone can be one of the greatest timesaving devices around. It can also be the proverbial black hole into which all your free time disappears. The most important thing to keep in mind regarding the telephone is that you are in charge of it! You decide when to place a call, and you decide when not to answer a call. In fact, one of the best ways to save time is to let your answering machine take most of your calls — even if you are at home. While listening to the message you can decide whether to pick up or call the person back when it’s convenient for you. And when you do place that call, it’s best to make all other calls in the same allotted block of time.
Depending on your financial resources, you might consider obtaining a cell phone. These items are becoming increasingly popular and can serve as incredible timesaving devices. Mobile phones can be used to accomplish tasks during heavy traffic periods. They allow you to run errands while waiting for that important call. In short, they give you freedom, and security. Rather than driving all over town when you’re lost, you can simply call the venue and ask for directions. Another useful resource is the cordless phone. One can wander throughout the house performing any number of chores while speaking on the phone.
5. Use email effectively.
Without a doubt, email has become one of the greatest timesaving devices of our day. Not only can you correspond with people “instantaneously,” but you can also respond to people at your leisure. Another benefit is that emails take very little preparation time relative to letter writing. (In the latter, you must address an envelope, write more formally, and then drop it off in the mailbox.) email, however, can become time consuming if you allow it to control you. A few important tips to keep in mind are the following:
• Set aside a specific time each day to answer your email (just as you should with regular mail);
• Scan incoming messages by order of importance, using the subject line or sender to make the call;
• Keep your messages clear and to the point (you don’t have to be as formal as in regular letter-writing)
• Delete any and all junk email before reading it, and if possible, block the sender from sending you any further correspondence (most email account services provide this option).
6. Always have a good book or magazine on hand.
You never know when you may have to stand in line or sit for long periods of time on a train or in an airport terminal. To overcome these great time-wasters, it’s best to always carry around a good book or magazine. It’s amazing how many books one can read in a single year simply by using these specific opportunities — and they are opportunities!
7. Handle mail only once.
Unless you’ve cut a great deal with your spouse, you really must deal with the mail each day. As few as 15 minutes can spare you the considerable headache you may face if you let it pile up. And try not to shuffle the mail. Make a decision about each item as you handle it, and then follow through. In fact, choose a specific time and place to process your mail, and have a large wastebasket handy. Regarding bills, I usually place them in a file and go through them twice a month to make payments. As for junk mail, don’t even take the time to open it.
8. Set your keys and wallet/purse in the same place.
If you’re like me and most other people, you have at one time or another invested precious time searching all over the house for your misplaced keys or purse. The easiest way to solve this problem is simply to place these items in the same spot every time you walk in the door. Some people use a key hanger or small basket near the front door. This also goes for the cell phone. Placing the charger near your keys is a good idea. Although these adjustments may be difficult at first, they’ll soon become second nature — and you won’t ever have to go through the agony of ripping all your clothes out of your dresser and closets again.
