How to squeeze extra time out of your day?

Will · 01-02-2008, 05:01 AM

Besides Wise Bread, I also help run at least two other blogs (Parenting Squad & Healthcare Hacks). My schedule can get a bit busy sometimes. Here are some of the things I do to add extra time to my day:

Stop watching TV. If you like a show, get it on DVD later and watch it in marathons. It's more fun this way and you save a ton of time skipping commercials.

Get an iPod and listen to podcasts and audiobooks whenever you are driving, walking, or otherwise on the go. This gets me caught up on the latest news and industry information so I don't have to waste time reading it.

Automate as much as possible. Get direct deposit. Do auto-debit for all your bills. Set up effective email filters to divide up work/family/friend/junk email.

Skip dinner. Well, not completely. But sometimes I will make myself an extremely simple dinner, like a turkey sandwich or a bowl of cereal.

Do things in big chunks. I only go shopping for groceries once every 2-3 weeks. For me, multitasking generally leads to wasting time.

Hang out with your friends in groups. This allows you to bond with several of them at once instead of one at a time. I know, it sounds sad to have to make this calculation. But it is better than not seeing some of them at all.

Try working at off-peak hours. Instead of 9-5, try asking your boss to switch your shift so you can avoid traffic. Better yet, see if you can start working from home.

Figure out what/who zaps your energy and stay away from those things or people.

Not all of that is good advice. I'm sure skipping dinner isn't too healthy. How do you find extra time in your daily schedule?

davoscat · 01-02-2008, 05:04 AM

Getting to know your body's natural rhythm is important. Adapting my schedule to my body's natural preferences make me a lot more alert and energetic the entire day.

sloria1 · 01-02-2008, 07:52 AM

For me, the best way to reclaim more time is to wake up earlier. Zen Habits inspired me with a great article on becoming an early riser: 10 Benefits of Rising Early, and How to Do It | Zen Habits

Since I like to dance, my motivation to get up early is having time to practice!

Savio · 01-02-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will

[*]Figure out what/who zaps your energy and stay away from those things or people.[/list]

I like this tip best Will.

Basically quitting Tv, Internet and Videogames gives people a large piece of time. I've tried it and I'm kinda successful in decreasing Tv and Videogame time.

Greg · 01-02-2008, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will

Figure out what/who zaps your energy and stay away from those things or people.

What if those things are what you're paid to do?!

VaranusK · 01-05-2008, 02:19 AM

First, as already said, waking up early. On weekends, it really makes the difference!
then staying far from TV
And I should not spend so long in front of the computer, it's funny who I spend time trying to save time... sometimes I wonder if it's really worth...

Gootsy · 01-05-2008, 04:37 PM

I like to make multiple dinners in 1 cooking session. So if I'm going to have chicken breast/veggies/potatoes/salad on Monday, I'll cook 3-4 chicken breasts. So on tuesday I'll take 1 of the breasts and some of the leftover salad to make a chicken wrap. Wednesday lunch will be chicken burger, and another chicken wrap for dinner (just microwave the chicken and throw it all together in a few minutes.

In the mornings is when I feel extremely efficient. Sometimes i feel like a pingpong ball cause I'm bouncing around the kitchen/house like crazy. Put water on for coffee, empty dishwasher, put oatmeal in the microwave, start loading dishwasher, take the oatmeal out of the microwave and put on the counter, clean out the coffee thing (forget name), finish loading dishwasher, put coffee in the maker, wipe counters, and by now the water should be boiling, add the water to the maker, eat the oatmeal while pouring my coffe/milk... Then sit down to enjoy some delicious coffee while catching up on email/blogs before work.

rollo · 01-06-2008, 11:40 AM

Using less time on computer-related stuff would be a big time-saver for me, that is for sure. I've made a resolution to start waking up earlier, which I hope will help with getting things done. Lately my daily rhythm has been quite badly out of whack.

n_vizion · 01-09-2008, 04:40 AM

Plan ahead.
Nothing takes up more time than trying to figure out what you should be doing when you really shoud be doing it.
Use the advice of others who have done it instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.

lucille · 01-09-2008, 07:43 AM

I had the voice mail on my cell phone disabled. I loathe voice mail and rarely go back and answer it on my cell phone because just about all of the messages are someone saying "uh hi, I called." I can figure that out by looking at my missed calls. Voice mail also gives unwanted callers the opportunity to contact you even if you don't want to talk to them. That creates yet another time waster you have to hear the first part of and decide to just delete from your voice mail. Those unwanted or unneeded calls frequently then put the ball in your court in some fashion that hey, they contacted you now you are obliged to do "x" or be tagged as negligent in some way. So cutting the voice mail just eliminated all of that completely!

I know most of the phone numbers that actually need to be calling me either by recognizing the number or it is already in my phones address book. If I'm unsure I can always look up the phone number on the internet to see if it is someone who has a reason to be calling me or not.

My time is worth something and I now have effectively cut quite a few time wasters out of my life.

01-02-2008, 05:01 AM	#1
Will Administrator Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 381 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (23)	How to squeeze extra time out of your day? Besides Wise Bread, I also help run at least two other blogs (Parenting Squad & Healthcare Hacks). My schedule can get a bit busy sometimes. Here are some of the things I do to add extra time to my day: Stop watching TV. If you like a show, get it on DVD later and watch it in marathons. It's more fun this way and you save a ton of time skipping commercials. Get an iPod and listen to podcasts and audiobooks whenever you are driving, walking, or otherwise on the go. This gets me caught up on the latest news and industry information so I don't have to waste time reading it. Automate as much as possible. Get direct deposit. Do auto-debit for all your bills. Set up effective email filters to divide up work/family/friend/junk email. Skip dinner. Well, not completely. But sometimes I will make myself an extremely simple dinner, like a turkey sandwich or a bowl of cereal. Do things in big chunks. I only go shopping for groceries once every 2-3 weeks. For me, multitasking generally leads to wasting time. Hang out with your friends in groups. This allows you to bond with several of them at once instead of one at a time. I know, it sounds sad to have to make this calculation. But it is better than not seeing some of them at all. Try working at off-peak hours. Instead of 9-5, try asking your boss to switch your shift so you can avoid traffic. Better yet, see if you can start working from home. Figure out what/who zaps your energy and stay away from those things or people. Not all of that is good advice. I'm sure skipping dinner isn't too healthy. How do you find extra time in your daily schedule?

01-09-2008, 04:40 AM	#9
n_vizion Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Plan ahead. Nothing takes up more time than trying to figure out what you should be doing when you really shoud be doing it. Use the advice of others who have done it instead of trying to reinvent the wheel. __________________ http://clearlyenvizion.blogspot.com/-Develop Your Person http://www.wealthyhabitsnow.com/id2.html-Common Sense Finances

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01-02-2008, 05:04 AM	#2
davoscat Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (14)	Getting to know your body's natural rhythm is important. Adapting my schedule to my body's natural preferences make me a lot more alert and energetic the entire day.

01-02-2008, 07:52 AM	#3
sloria1 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 56 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	For me, the best way to reclaim more time is to wake up earlier. Zen Habits inspired me with a great article on becoming an early riser: 10 Benefits of Rising Early, and How to Do It \| Zen Habits Since I like to dance, my motivation to get up early is having time to practice!

01-05-2008, 02:19 AM	#6
VaranusK Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	First, as already said, waking up early. On weekends, it really makes the difference! then staying far from TV And I should not spend so long in front of the computer, it's funny who I spend time trying to save time... sometimes I wonder if it's really worth...

01-05-2008, 04:37 PM	#7
Gootsy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 281 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (24)	I like to make multiple dinners in 1 cooking session. So if I'm going to have chicken breast/veggies/potatoes/salad on Monday, I'll cook 3-4 chicken breasts. So on tuesday I'll take 1 of the breasts and some of the leftover salad to make a chicken wrap. Wednesday lunch will be chicken burger, and another chicken wrap for dinner (just microwave the chicken and throw it all together in a few minutes. In the mornings is when I feel extremely efficient. Sometimes i feel like a pingpong ball cause I'm bouncing around the kitchen/house like crazy. Put water on for coffee, empty dishwasher, put oatmeal in the microwave, start loading dishwasher, take the oatmeal out of the microwave and put on the counter, clean out the coffee thing (forget name), finish loading dishwasher, put coffee in the maker, wipe counters, and by now the water should be boiling, add the water to the maker, eat the oatmeal while pouring my coffe/milk... Then sit down to enjoy some delicious coffee while catching up on email/blogs before work.

01-06-2008, 11:40 AM	#8
rollo Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Using less time on computer-related stuff would be a big time-saver for me, that is for sure. I've made a resolution to start waking up earlier, which I hope will help with getting things done. Lately my daily rhythm has been quite badly out of whack.

01-09-2008, 07:43 AM	#10
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 673 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (38)	I had the voice mail on my cell phone disabled. I loathe voice mail and rarely go back and answer it on my cell phone because just about all of the messages are someone saying "uh hi, I called." I can figure that out by looking at my missed calls. Voice mail also gives unwanted callers the opportunity to contact you even if you don't want to talk to them. That creates yet another time waster you have to hear the first part of and decide to just delete from your voice mail. Those unwanted or unneeded calls frequently then put the ball in your court in some fashion that hey, they contacted you now you are obliged to do "x" or be tagged as negligent in some way. So cutting the voice mail just eliminated all of that completely! I know most of the phone numbers that actually need to be calling me either by recognizing the number or it is already in my phones address book. If I'm unsure I can always look up the phone number on the internet to see if it is someone who has a reason to be calling me or not. My time is worth something and I now have effectively cut quite a few time wasters out of my life.