It seems like everyone I know is overly busy during the week, even with coronavirus closures. Many of us are busy working from home, managing our daily (and non-ending) lists of to-dos, or home-schooling.
No matter our plight in life, many people can use a little more time in their days and weeks. I started thinking about this last week and decided to share some of my tips for returning time to your schedule each week.
01 | BATCHING
After surveying my weekly to-dos, I look for items that I can batch (aka group) together. Often those items fall into the categories of meal prepping, work-related tasks, or errands.
MEAL-PREPPING
I often prepare two dinners in one session, using similar ingredients. This approach helps me to save time (and electricity) and reduces dinner prepping to 2-3 sessions per week versus every day.
ERRANDS
I also batch errands. If I will be in a certain part of the city during my week, I think about the appointments and tasks that I have to handle and then schedule my matters accordingly.
WORK TASKS
I used to respond to e-mails as they arrived in my inbox. I’ve long since realized that this attempt to be super responsive was just a disruption to my efficiency. Now, I scan e-mails and only respond to urgent matters right away. The remainder of my e-mail is batched together and answered, usually within 24 hours.
02 | AUTOMATING
BILL PAYMENTS
Somedays, I can get so busy that I easily forget to pay bills that I’ve placed on my to-do list….until the 11th hour. This is a nonstarter since I’m not a fan of late fees (or horrific credit, for that matter).
To remedy the issue, I started using the auto-pay function that so many credit card companies offer (And, guess what??? It works!). If the auto-pay option isn’t available, I set-up bill pay with my bank and ensure that I allow sufficient time for the bank to send out the payment. At the end of the week (or, month), I review each account to confirm that payment was received.
GROCERY
The other thing that I like to automate is grocery shopping. If you use certain items every week, consider placing an order for grocery delivery or pick-up….particularly for staple items. Many stores offer these options, but you will need to give yourself a little lead time to avoid running out of things you regularly use. If stores in your area, don’t offer the service, check out your options with Instacart, Amazon Fresh, or Postmates.
If you have any time-saving tips, I’d love to hear from you!
