Last year, I challenged you to fit 10 minutes of exercise into every day – and increase that when you’re ready.
Some of you may be wondering, “Where is that 10 minutes supposed to come from? I could already use that time to catch up on the laundry, vacuum or sneak in some extra time with my baby.”
Good question. I hope this post can help with that! Even if you don’t want to workout everyday … you’d probably love some extra time to work on something you love.
10 Places to Save Time
1. Simplify your makeup and hair. Cut one step out of your beauty process, like using eyeliner or straightening our hair. Google quick up-dos for your length of hair to wash, dry and go.
2. Delegate one daily chore to someone else. Choose something simple like making the bed, folding a load of laundry or dusting. Ask your spouse or kids for help.
3. Save paperwork or menu planning for waiting times at appointments. Instead of reading a magazine, use this time to get something done.
4. Create a place for everything. This will take extra time up front, but consider having a place for items like:
- Kids’ schoolwork & papers (folder by name)
- Family’s misplaced items (lost and found bin)
- Bills (folder)
- Coupons (folder)
- Keys & cell phones (repurposed candy dish)
5. Run errands in batches. Heading out for your weekly grocery shopping? Handle prescriptions, gifts and other needs along the way.
6. Create a monthly menu organized as “easy” and “effort.” I’m testing this new meal plan and I love it! One half lists all the meals I can make in 30 minutes or less – spaghetti, pizza, tostadas, breakfast for dinner and so on. Recipes in the effort column are for days I have time to cook something special – mashed potatoes, roast, fresh salmon with Mr. Right’s avocado lime garnish, yum.
I love the flexibility of this system. To simplify further, I buy all the ingredients needed for 30 days in one monthly shopping trip. (I still shop for perishable food weekly, but get the bulk of it out of the way in the beginning of the month.)
7. Create a master grocery shopping list. Print and hang on the fridge each week (keep a pen on top of the fridge, too) so everyone can write down what’s needed.
8. Cut email and social media time in half. Stick to your goal by setting a timer or use Tick Tock Timer online. (Note: If your computer goes to sleep, so will the timer, so only use when you’re actually online.)
9. Watch your favorite TV shows online or use DVR. This cuts out wasted time watching commercials. Bonus thought: We could stop watching TV completely … but I’m too chicken to do the math on the time savings there.
10. Slip a bag over your coat hanger. Place items you need for tomorrow into the bag as the night goes on. Now you won’t waste time forgetting things or searching for them in the morning.
Life is full of things to do, but our chore list shouldn’t get all the attention. Simplify and find 10 minutes (or more!) in your day to focus on something you love – fitness, amazing work or time to just be still.
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If you like this blog, you might like my book, The Hybrid Homemaker - our story of becoming debt free and simplifying.
Photo by Hammonton Photography
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
i try to fold laundry while i watch tv. it helps me avoid the tv-guilt. or i clip and sort coupons, flip through cooking magazines pulling out recipes…other mindless tasks.
here’s an idea my mother used to do to save time running errands. rather than go out and buy a birthday gift for a classmate (not the bff), she would stock up on barbies or g,i. joes or whatever other age appropriate toy was popular when she saw a good price. that way there was always one in the closet. i’m also finding a need to keep a wedding card and sympathy card in the house at most times to avoid an additional trip just for a card.
This was a truly helpful list. Thank you. The item that resonated most for me was delegating chores to others. I need to start delegating more chores to my kids! My husband does his part of the housework which is wonderful, but he and I need to make a concerted effort to delegate more chores to our kids, and then of course make a continued effort on the following through part. -Because as we are all aware, attempting to squirm out of chores is simply a part of childhood. (And I guess holding the line is the equal and opposite part of parenthood.) Feel free to write a post on delegating chores to kids anytime!
I recently taught my 7 year old how to vacuum. She only does it once a week, hall or her bedroom. She enjoys doing it, which is a bonus!
I think I do almost everything on this list, but recently cut way back on FB too. I’m on and off in under 5 minutes every day. I honestly don’t miss it! I’m still working on checking my email in only 30 minutes a day. That’s a lot harder!