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Find More Time In Seven Easy Steps

By Sherrie Le Masurier

Do you have a list of “to do’s” as long as your arm? If so, join the many of us who find ourselves running out of time on a daily basis. One of the best ways Crystal and I have discovered to carve more hours out of our day is to take control of our schedule and work smarter. Sometimes it may mean doubling up on tasks or simply viewing any momentary chunks of downtime differently. As a result of our own experience, we have come up with seven simple ways of working smarter and using our time more effectively.

Make The Most of 'Waiting Time'

Never go to a medical appointment without first bringing along something to do. Who knows you could be waiting up to an hour and that’s a lot of time wasted if the only thing you have to do is skim old issues of uninteresting magazines. At the very least, bring a good book. Our suggestion though would be to bring along a ‘catchall bag’- a bag full of things you want to do or have to do. Always include a notebook and pen for making grocery and to-do lists. What about throwing in the odd post or note card to jot a quick ‘thinking of you’ message to a cherished friend or relative? If you’re a knitter or are into cross-stitching, throw your current project in the bag as well. Carry the bag with you at all times, you never know when and where you may be kept waiting.

Two of our favourite things to take with us are our address books and our memory books. Until recently my address book was a mess - it was overflowing with numerous pieces of paper containing addresses that were in dire need of being added. It was taking me forever to find a simple phone number and locating a friend's new address was next to impossible, until I took the time to get my address book organized once and for all. Our memory books are simply blank notebooks (we purchased at a dollar store) where we jot down the unique things our kids have done during the various stages of their young lives.

Now if you find yourself waiting with a child – it is an entirely different ball game. Your ‘catch all bag’ will need to be filled with toys and activities to keep THEM busy. And, don’t worry if from time to time you forget your ‘catch all’ – just use a little creativity. Open up your ‘imaginary bag’ and have your kids imagine what doors your magic keys could open or where a magic carpet could take you?

And, if it’s just you and you’ve got some quiet time to yourself - make the most of it. Enjoy the momentary time out. Close your eyes and picture yourself in an exotic locale. Or do some breathing and tension relieving exercises. Even a brief pause can renew your soul and give you more energy to tackle the rest of your day. When we are energetic, we also tend to be more productive.

Break The Job Down Into Chunks

For years, Crystal and I would let an imperfect situation become an excuse for doing nothing. We would wait for a large block of time so we could accomplish the whole task at once. And you know what happened? Very little. In my case, my photo albums never got filled and my cupboards never got organized until I broke things down into small, more manageable chunks of time and accomplishment. Now, I can honestly say that although not all my photo albums are updated and not all of my cupboards are organized, I have some done and am much further ahead than when I was only looking at the big picture.

Tidy First, Clean Later

Now ask yourself this…will anyone ever know if your don’t dust behind the TV or clean the top of the refrigerator? Chances are good they won’t, unless you happen to have a friend or relative who visits wearing a white glove. And, if you do have such a visitor, send them on their way after only a brief visit. I’m sure they’ll find even more dust at their next stop. The key to eliminating the overgrowth of clutter is to pick up things around the house. When time is short and it comes down doing one thing or the other, opt to organize the house and leave the cleaning until later.

Master The Art Of Delegation

Weekly planning sheets which include chores, appointments, school activities and leisure interests are a great way of keeping on top of things. Having everything spelled out in advance works wonders and eliminates the need to continually nag. Kids can see everything they have to do and want to do, at a quick glance. So, when they ask permission to do something, all they have to do is consult the planning sheet for the week first.

Carry A Notebook

You may want to take the planning sheet idea one step further and use a calendar/planning notebook as well. Carry this one with you at all times. Write in it all appointments, dates, special occasions and deadlines for you and your family. It may seem like a lot of doubling up but in the end, it does save a lot of time not to mention, the hassle of having to deal with conflicting activities. Any blank sheets can be used for to-do lists.

Organize With A Little Forethought

Keep jumper cables in the car, a waste paper basket in every room and your library books in one central location. Don’t leave items you rarely use on countertops, instead tuck them away on a bottom shelf or in a storage room.

Don't Overshoot Your Goals

We’ve all been there. We’re expecting company and we throw ourselves into a cleaning frenzy. We convince ourselves that we have to clean every square inch of the house in order to make it presentable. Stop, and ask yourself, “Just what is my goal here?” Chances are cleaning the heating vents will have little to do with hosting a successful party. Eliminate any activity that doesn’t advance your goal.