With school back in session and work headed back into offices, there's no better time to make a few simple changes to reclaim a few extra hours of sleep, family time....or even some "me time" every week.
Plan Your Week
We’ve all been there...venting about how every week feels like a marathon of activities, household chores and work obligations. Planning your week isn’t just knowing when and where you and your family members are supposed to be. Plan more efficiently by including your regular activities and errands. Instead of noticing the fridge is bare and thinking “Oh crap! Gotta get groceries today”, set Grocery Shopping Day - and to really make things efficient I should plan it on a day that is typically slow at the store (avoid Sundays at all costs!). This might seem like a no-brainer but simply planning the week ahead can help you better manage when and where you will go, which in-turn will eliminate a lot of wasted time.
Prepare For The Week
Now that your week is planned you might as well prepare for it. Most of us have a habit of waiting until the very last minute while rushing out the door to grab whatever is needed for that day. But that can easily result in spending extra time searching for those things or just plain forgetting them all together. Getting everything together staged for the week ahead of time or even the evening before will make for a much more pleasant morning and have the added bonus of being on time!
Get Up Earlier
The idea of getting up before the sun is not something many of us look forward to. Regardless, you’ve probably found that any day that begins early, ends up as an extremely productive day (maybe?). An early wake-up call can not only help you get a jump start on your todos, but waking up just one hour before your usual alarm time will let you take care of things you might normally leave to do into the evening hours.
Declutter Your Life
You’ve probably heard before that the less things you own the less stress you’ll have. Here’s the logic behind this…the less things you own, the less things you have to clean and organize, which means the less time you waste looking for stuff. Focus on only one room at a time and work your way through the house. Make it more manageable with a goal to declutter just ONE room a weekend.
Delegate Chores
Whether we’re willing to admit it or not, asking others to help out, even when those “others” are family members can be a real challenge. Set a new standard in your house - everyone works. The whole family can take part in the chores so it isn’t all on one person’s shoulders. Consider outsourcing some of the chores to someone else like (❋wink, ❋wink) a laundry service. Why spend 3 hours of family time sorting, washing and folding clothes each week when you can hire a laundry service for a reasonable price.
Other Things You Can Do to Save Time
▸ Opt out of junk mail (call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT or visit optoutprescreen.com)
▸ Brush your teeth in the shower
▸ Switch some or all monthly bills to autopay
▸ Designate a “drop spot” for your keys, purse, sunglasses, etc.
▸ Shop online for grocery staples and essentials