saving.. time

[starving_student]

What are your time saving tips... I need to find more time to exercice (30 min/day)/ volunteer (5hrs/week) and study (2-3 hres/ day).
I work a lot and don't seem to have nay time left for anything
I already decided to limit my internet "consumption" to 15 minutes a day. Any other ideas?

[mom-from-missouri]

Multi task, I used to "exercise" by walking to work. Can you tape your lectures or get text on tape so you can listen to it as you drive or exercise?

[veronak]

I study every chance I get, while watching TV every commercial break I review my note card, on my lunch break, in the rest room, at a red light, hairdresser, nail salon... I utilize every free minute for studying then that way when its test time I just review. As far as exercising I am working on that like taking the stairs at the college, good luck

[mom-from-missouri]

Ok, I don't know if this is the mom in me, or the teacher in me.
You can't study with the TV on!!!

[tinapbeana]

Originally Posted by mom-from-missouri

Ok, I don't know if this is the mom in me, or the teacher in me.
You can't study with the TV on!!!

ACK!!! i always studied with the TV or radio on, i needed the background noise. in college when my room was too quiet i'd go to the student union building and study in the cafeteria where it was louder.

to the OP: i read when i walk. i know it's a security issue, so i got a treadmill and now read when i walk on it.

[veronak]

Originally Posted by mom-from-missouri

Ok, I don't know if this is the mom in me, or the teacher in me.
You can't study with the TV on!!!

You'd be surprise, like Tina I need the back ground noise

[starving_student]

It is not about how to study per se. I just don't have time to do it. I need timer saving tips...
I thought about the following
-Shop only one day a week (will try to eventually extend to 2 weeks): save time comuting to and from the store, at the cashier register etc...

-shop during off-time (Week day in the morning)

- Leave work 30 minutes later so I avoid rush hour altogether. No more time wasted in the car

-Make a list of 30sec house-keeping task that can be done whever I got less than a minute to spare.

-limit internet and TV use

-limit shower time (5 instead of 15 minutes ... that save me 1 hour a week!)

-Extend time between laundry day by using all my clothes

-Wash dishes/ clean kitchen as the diner is cooking

-Liked the idea of listening to tape (probably audio-book) while driving!

-double recipe -- use left over for lunch

Any other ideas?

[poundwise]

I have these pages bookmarked for myself. They are loaded with information and ideas:

MindTools: Time Management

Get Organized Now

Enjoy!

[tinapbeana]

multi-task the things that don't require full attention.

for instance: get home, get a casserole out of the fridge (that you put together the night before!) and put it in the oven. while that's baking, put a load of laundry on, get tomorrow's dinner together and put in the fridge, wash up the dirty dishes, clean up the kitchen, clean up the bathroom, move clothes from washer to the dryer, pick up the living room. eat your dinner, pack up leftovers for work, pack up the rest and put in the freezer, wash the dishes, fold the clothes and put away. chances are this'll take 2 hours or less, and you could listen to a book on tape the whole time.

for things that require devoted or undivided attention, schedule them in just like you would work or school. use a timer if it helps. for instance, if you get home from work at 5:30 and the cooking/cleaning routine above takes 2 hours, schedule your time from 7:30 till you go to bed.

7:30-8 take a walk
8-8:15 shower
8:15-10:15 study
10:15-10:30 internet/email

try to find volunteer opportunities on the weekend, or find some that would be condusive to studying.

and get a crockpot! put dinner on in the morning, it's done when you come home.

[LittleGopher]

You have a good start with what you listed, and what others have mentioned.

As posted by Tina, scheduling can help. Think about when would be a good time to do your task (no setting yourself up for failure.) Then commit to doing it, and let nothing get in your way.

Also it may be easier to work on one change at a time, rather than all at once. Depending on you, sometimes it's easier to pick the most beneficial or rewarding task to work on first, or maybe the easiest to establish into your routine.

And remember, it may take time and small steps, but you'll get there!

[LuxLiving]

Decide to kick it whenever you're on short-time. Put on a fast-paced Ventures tune or the like and put your hinny in high gear and get'er done! Work, study, or housekeeping, etc., can be expanded outwards to fill a void. I find that if I really want to get done quicker I can, IF I put my mind to it.

Some times even after I've decided to KICK IT I'll find I've slipped back into low gear unmindfully and I have to re-escalate my efforts. Lots of times we are just in 'low-slow' gear for no real reason.

Kick-it-up a notch and try to do some speed_____ 'whatever'. Time and Compete with yourself. Beat your own records, reward yourself in some positive way when you meet a shaved timing goal.

Make it a game where you are the winner!

[PrincessPerky]

REalize in spite of it all, you still only get 24 hours in a day, and no you can't do everything.

though you might find skipping some things is double time back, like the salon gives you not only the time spent sitting, but also the time spent driving, waiting your turn, and driving to the next thing.....

[lrjohnson]

I like your list, but I think that with laundry it actually makes more sense do do frequent loads, unless you go to a laundromat.

Get enough sleep, so that when you are awake you are productive.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Adopt a no-maintenance hairstyle. Long hair can be low maintenance. Just brush and put into braid or ponytail. Short hair for many people takes more time because how you sleep on it seems to have more effect on how it looks each morning. You might be stuck having to wash and perhaps style it each morning--that depends on your own hair, of course. If you have a very casual lifestyle and don't have to live up to others' standards, you can make a covering bandana a part of your routine all the time, or sometimes. If you color your hair, wean yourself off of that till you have more time.

Stop shaving if you are not offended by the idea and can "get by" with it.

Stop doing nails other than keeping trimmed and clean.

Every now and then give yourself a week of extremely simple eating with as little prep time as possible. A friend of mine who is busy way beyond what is healthy uses a rice cooker to cook as much as it will hold. She then eats only rice, yogurt, and one vegetable or fruit for each of the 14 meals/week for which she is at home. Lunch is skipped or consists of sunflower seeds and orange segments from her pocket while she is working or studying. She spends less time per week cooking that I spend on one meal, many times.