Looking for simple, easy (kind of random) ways to add time to your day? This is the list of all the time-saving ideas.
Y’all.
There is a LOT going on around here.
A lot of family.
A lot of things to get done.
A lot of balls in the air.
I’m always racing myself.
Trying to get things done faster. Trying to get things done more efficiently. Trying to get things done while I sleep.
And along the way?
I’ve discovered so many time-saving tips, tricks, and ideas that can save you minutes in a day. And I know that a minute doesn’t seem like a lot, but what if you saved 10 minutes every day? It doesn’t seem like that much until you add it all up. 10 minutes x 365 days =3650 minutes. And can someone please check my multiplication because I ran from higher math in high school?
(total aside: This is one of my favorite topics to discuss on the plane,t and the list was getting LENGTHY. So to save even more time, I’m only sharing the top ones. See? We are already saving time, and we haven’t even started.)
In no particular order (spoiler alert—this list is SUPER random), here are my top 25 ways to add time to your day.
25 Ways To Add Time To Your Day
1. Do the hardest thing first.
(total aside: you could just stop here. If you do the thing you don’t want to do first, you’ve already added an hour or two of time and not worrying to your day.)
2. Control Z on your keyboard. If you make a mistake, mistype, or lose part of your document? Just CTRL Z on your keyboard (Command Z on your Mac).
3. Empty the dishwasher as SOON as you think of it. Do NOT walk by it 41 times. Just empty it, and in two minutes you’ll be done.
4. When you go from room to room, before you leave, look around and see if you need to take anything from one room to another room. Then pick it up and move it. You are already making the trip. Why not bring some stuff with you? I’ve trained myself on this over the years and have it down to a fine art. It’s like a time muscle. The more you exercise it, the better you get.
5. Number 4 works even better if you have a two-story house. Heading downstairs? Look around and see if anything needs to go with you. Heading upstairs? Look around and see if anything needs to go up.
And if you put a pile of stuff at the bottom of the stairs?
DO NOT WALK BY IT.
Take it up with you.
(Total aside Number 4 and 5 not only save time, but help ELIMINATE CLUTTER. Win and win.)
6. Make a list. Yep. I know, right? Totally old school. And then? WAIT FOR IT.
Check. It. Off.
7. Here is another Captain Obvious idea. When you use something? Put it back in its place. When I film a craft? I take all this stuff out and it sits all over the table. Once I’m done filming, I walk around and put it all back before I do my next thing on my list. Having it sit out only makes me nervous with all that stuff out of place.
And if it needs to go downstairs? I refer to number 5.
8. Put your shoes on when you get up. It helps if you get dressed, too, but when all else fails? The shoes are the go-to.
9. Walk away from your phone. All those little alerts can be the biggest time-waster. For example, I’m writing a post right now. It takes me about 45 minutes. If I stopped and looked at my phone? It would take me 57 minutes. Time saved without a phone? 12 minutes.
10. Audiobooks (see, I told you the list was random). I LOVE to read. But it’s so hard to set aside time to sit down and read (and then I get caught up in the book and don’t get anything done).
The answer? Audiobooks. You can read and do other things at the same time.
11. Use your waiting time wisely.
I have a list of things I save for when I’m waiting. The list is in my notes app on my phone (this is a time when your phone is your friend, not your distractor). I take care of those tasks when I’m waiting and save time.
The key for success with this? Decide what you want to do BEFORE you ever start waiting.
12. Say no. I know that this is hard. I get it. Let me help you.
When someone asks you to do something that you don’t want to do? Just tell them that you “are overwhelmed.” Those words work in almost every situation.
They have gotten me out of more time-wasting things than I can count.
13. Display your dishes and silverware you use every day. I know this seems like a random addition to our time-saving list, but when you empty the dishwasher, I just add them to the display instead of taking the time to put them all away.
14. Shop online. This is my current best time-saver.
I need to write a post with all my online shopping tips.
15. Use a crockpot. It only requires a little bit of planning and will save you SO MUCH time with meal prep. Here are some amazing (and easy) crockpot meals.
16. Have a morning routine. If you have time, I wrote an entire post about my morning routine. Here’s the Reader’s Digest version.
Stay off your phone, stretch, and have coffee.
17. Have a laundry sorter. We have a laundry sorter with three compartments. There’s one for darks. One for lights and one for cold water and delicates.
18. And while we’re on the subject of laundry? Teach children how to do laundry. Their future spouses will thank you one day.
19. Buy bigger trash cans with lids and pedals that you step on. The trash can look so much cuter, and there are fewer trips to the outside trash.
20. Hang a shopping list on the wall in the kitchen (or a chalkboard works, too). Then, when you (or someone in the family) realizes you are out of something? Add it to the list.
Take a picture of the list on your phone before you go to the store.
21. Have a place for everything in your home. Clutter is just stuff you haven’t figured out where it goes yet. (Remember tips 4 and 5? This works because you know where everything goes).
22. If you pick it up, PUT IT AWAY. Do you know how much wasted time is spent picking things up, looking at them, and then PUTTING THEM RIGHT BACK WHERE YOU PICKED THEM UP FROM?
23. Use a wrinkle release spray instead of ironing.
24. Turn off notifications on your phone. In most cases, those notifications are nothing but stress. You are the boss of your phone. Don’t let it tell you what to do.
25. And my favorite (I know I said I didn’t have favorites at the beginning—but number 1 and number 25 are game-changers).
MAKE YOUR BED.
I know you are going to get back into that bed 14 hours later, but here’s the thing.
With feet in your shoes and pillows on your bed?
You can rule the world.
One minute at a time.
PS I realized as I was reading back over this list, that I sound SUPER bossy in places. I can’t help it. I’m a mom. 🙂
These are great!!! #9 is a biggie!
Excellent! Never mind about sounding bossy. Being concise just means you are organized and being organized is probably the best timesaver of all. 🩷
Thanks!!! Give example of how to display the dishes to be used from the dishwasher? How do the dishes look displayed?
Of course! Here’s a post I wrote about it: https://thistlewoodfarms.com/how-to-style-glass-front-kitchen-cabinets/ happy day, karianne
Great list especially for families. Living alone you do a lot of these things anyway. But I admit I am terrible about using my phone as a distraction. Thanks for a great article to read.
I often use a reusable tote bag to take things up or down. It’s great for multiple items. I just toss things in till I am ready to go up or down. . Since there’s a handle, I throw it over my shoulder and go. It’s much safer than doing stairs with your arms loaded up, especially for us seniors. Your hands are available for the bannister, too. Thanks for starting my mornings with positive vibes.
Good list. I have implemented your idea of looking around for things that need to be put away as I walk through the house, and it has been helpful. Also, my crockpot is my best friend. There's nothing like coming home from work and knowing that supper is ready and waiting.
Love this! So many things I do…so much more I need to improve…desk clutter seems to appear more than disappear!
I would like to see what area that you display your everyday dishes & silverware looks like. It takes time to put those things away, I’m afraid I just leave on counter and it looks cluttered.
Of course! Here’s a post I wrote about it: https://thistlewoodfarms.com/how-to-style-glass-front-kitchen-cabinets/ happy day, karianne
Ok love this list! I’m happy to report that I do a lot of these and even happier for the tips I hadn’t thought of! One suggestion for the grocery list tip: iPhones have an actual shopping list you can create in the reminders app that comes with the phone. It automatically puts things into a checklist (separated by categories like diary, meat, produce, household items, etc. — a type A person’s dream!) and if you have an Apple Watch you can just tell it to add things to your shopping list as soon as you realize you’re out. We keep back ups of mostly used items in our basement pantry and whenever I grab the back up, I add another one to my list. You can even share the list with other iPhone users so everyone has access to the same list (I assume droid has something comparable as well). Once you purchase an item just check the box and it disappears from the list. I love writing things down, but this has been a game changer for me as a busy mom who does most of the shopping for our household. Love your blog and thanks for these awesome tips! ❤️
KariAnne I am a big fan of taking things upstairs or down when I go. I have to save steps but agree with Marilyn about the tote. I'm not young and trying to carry little things can be dangerous. At 75 I always hold on to the rail. I placed an Alexa in the kitchen and as I use up items I tell her to add to my grocery list. Then it is available on the phone when I get to the store. I used to make a list and would forget the list. It's a big time saver for me. As far as the difficult job first I agree. I don't dread the chore all day and it is done. Love to mark off my list! I also rinse our dinner dishes and put in the dishwasher right after dinner. And as I cook I put away ingredients as I use them. I had a great aunt whose kitchen looked like she had not made dinner by the time she was through! Somewhere I read that if it takes 5 seconds do it. You would be surprised at how many things you ignore that takes 5 seconds. Like picking up that piece of paper you have walked past. Love your list
Great list except #8 won't work for me - I am barefoot almost all the time. #12 is also a major hangup for me - I have never learned how to say "no", but I wish I could - I not only don't say "no" when asked, but I volunteer too often . I do most of the other tips, but #1 may actually be the most valuable time saver - less time lost to procrastinating if I could make #1 an every day habit! Thanks for all the suggestions, and now I should put my phone down and just walk away! 😂
Years ago, as a mom who volunteered for everything, I wrote this quote from Snoop Dogg and taped it to my fridge, “No. Is a complete sentence.” It helped change my mindset and helped clear my calendar!
This is very VERY good advice, KA. Just what I needed to quit procrastinating. Ish. Always ish with me. : - D
Love the list, but #14 makes me sad. Online shopping is fast and easy but online stores give nothing back to the community. The independent children’s bookstore where I work pays local taxes, hires from the community, donates to schools and charities, and brings authors and illustrators to children. We know our merchandise and love to help our customers find just the right thing. Local support means everything!
#14 shop online is something I will not do! I enjoy going to a store and looking at the item, touching it and seeing how it's made, are the materials used worth the cost, etc... I have bought online before and the time waiting for the item, making sure it was what i ordered and the hassle of returning and the wait time for a refund to be put back into my account are just not worth it! This has happened to many times... nope, never again!!! Big Hugs
Totally off subject--whenever I see pictures of this room I am SO glad that you did not paint your father's desk. May your day be blessed
Hi. Any tips for teaching your husband these rules to live by? I'm on auto pilot and he is on oblivious mode.
So many good ideas...but number 14...We are spiraling into a shopping situation where the ONLY choice will be on-line because the brick and mortars have declining customers/sales. Our local communities need the tax revenue, work opportunities and shopping choices. As an influencer, you have an opportunity to encourage readers to shop local.
I have a no shoe policy in my home so it's either socks,slippers or bare feet. Only shopping online I do is my GEICO since I can't walk very far or long. Just bringing in the groceries on the cart I have wears me out for the day . As far as the upstairs/ downstairs I'm I'm having a retrofitted dumbwaiter installed.
🥰 Great stuff as always!
As I'm a day late in writing, this post was clearly meant for me! My favorite - TURN OFF NOTIFICATIONS ON YOUR PHONE! This mini-messages that show up on the lock screen and those crazy red badges (with numbers no less!) are THE MOST distracting things in the world.
One of my time savers is using Alexa to record my shopping list. When I find myself running out of something or something going to need in the next day or two I add it to the list. When I go to the store, I can just bring up the list on my phone and find everything I need.