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Are you always running late and feeling like there’s never enough time in the day? It’s a common problem.
Before long, it’s 9 pm and we’re yawning, wondering how time slipped through our hands and being forced to push tasks to tomorrow’s to-do list.
Fortunately, there are ways to create more time in your day - all without compromising precious sleep or relinquishing beloved activities.
You can optimize your daily routine with a few simple strategies and efficient time-management techniques, making space for both productivity and leisure. Here are six simple tips to help you save time and energy—go ahead, seize the day!
Create a Morning Routine
Creating an efficient morning routine is a great way to get started on the right foot. For example, try setting the coffee pot the night before to brew at a specific time. Make your lunch the night before.
Have a specific spot where you put food for breakfast, so you know where to look while you’re still groggy and waking up.
Put your packed gym bag near the door. Shower the night before. Set alarms for when you need to be doing your hair and makeup or heading out the door.
Knowing what to expect and do the moment you jump out of bed will help you stay on track and start the day right.
Make a List
Lists are great for keeping track of all the tasks you need to do. Writing them down helps to prioritize what needs to get done so that you know exactly what needs your attention first.
You can even write them in order of urgency and importance. That way, you won't waste precious time trying to remember what needs doing.
Simplify Your Wardrobe
Have you heard of capsule wardrobes? They're becoming more and more popular in today’s age.
This is probably because people are becoming more environmentally conscious of the effects of fast fashion, as well as a societal trend towards more minimalistic lifestyles.
Try it out for yourself. First, donate everything you haven't worn in the past year. If you're not wearing it, it's taking up space.
Then, create a small, seasonal wardrobe of interchangeable tops, dresses, bottoms, accessories, and shoes.
Having a small number of high-quality items you love to wear will simplify your morning routine and help you to style your outfit so much faster in the morning.
Take Short Breaks
Breaks are essential for recharging your batteries and regaining focus so you don’t experience burnout. Find the time during the day to take 5, 10, or 15 minutes away from work and just relax. Stretch, take a walk around your neighborhood, or have a healthy snack.
That way, when you come back to it, you’ll be feeling refreshed and more productive than ever before, which will lead to you probably getting more done than if you had tried to power through.
Delegate
If there are tasks that you can do without or delegate to someone else, let them go! This will free up some of your time for other things, which is invaluable when there never seem to be enough hours in the day.
Outsourcing can be a great way to get more done and save time. If you have tasks that require more expertise than you have or are taking up too much of your time, hand them off!
Is it worth it to hand over an email that needs to be sent over to another coworker who knows more about the project? Or perhaps hiring a cleaning service for your home would save you time and energy? It's worth considering if you have the support or money to spare.
Automate
If there are actions or items on your to-do list that you can automate, do it! There’s no need to use the mental energy and time it takes to remember if you paid a bill, missed an appointment, or got something on time. And there’s nothing worse than realizing you ran out of your favorites.
Set up automatic payments and recurring meeting reminders. For items you’ll always need more of, like supplements, home goods, and groceries, set up a subscription.
You’ll most likely get a discount for a subscription service. Plus you’ll also save energy on having to remember to manually order and save time by eliminating the need to go to a store and shop every few weeks.
Conclusion
Creating more time in your day is all about being mindful of how you use your time.
Try to be honest with yourself and only do what needs to be done, delegate tasks or outsource where possible and create a simple routine to save time getting ready. Automate as much as you can to save brain power and time on the clock.
Once you can create more space in your life for things that matter, it will become easier to maintain a sense of balance and enjoy life without feeling overwhelmed by daily tasks. So go out there and start creating more "you" time today.