time saving tips??

[markio26]

i only watch tv two hours per day, and only while i am doing another chore...i have found more time to do other activities i like.. like reading, returning phone calls to buddies.

[CheaplyClever]

Originally Posted by previouscrichton

These may not be the most original time saver tips but I thought I'd post anyway....

1. I have the name/date labels for DD’s bottles that go to daycare with her pre-printed through July so all I have to do is cut them and tape them on at night after she’s asleep – and we’re ready to cooler them up in the morning! It is an Excel spreadsheet so in July, all I will have to do is go back to it, and repopulate the date field for a couple of months worth of labels!

2. I put all my things for the next day (including kids’ stuff for school/daycare) in the car the night before. I have a checklist on the door that leads into the garage that reminds me of what I need so that I won’t forget anything on my way out the door (literally!)

3. I keep a 2-3 week menu listing on my computer at work and at home so I know what we will be having on a particular night. I look at it before leaving for work so I have a Plan-of-Action for when we walk through the door after arriving home. DS is almost 17 months old and believes that once we arrive on our own linoleum, he must start eating! It doesn’t give me much time to flounder around in the pantry or fridge so knowing what to start cooking is key.

4. I set out outfits for 5 days for both DS and DD on Sunday night. No fuss, no confusion. This way, we have everything we need to start our mornings in the right direction without adding to the normal amount of chaos in a house where DH works nights and there are two babies under the age of two.

;D

You are SO organized! That's cool!

[Bookie]

Mostly things that make life easier:

1. Print a sheet of return address labels on the computer. Keep with sheet of postage stamps in a file folder at the front of my file cabinet. (Too bad I pay so much via computer.)

2. Keep a bowl on the entry-way credenza into which I put keys/change/pocket stuff as soon as I walk into the apartment. No more searching.

3. Print a standard kitchen staples list from the computer with columns for inventory/purchase. I post a copy in the kitchen and note as I use things for an instant grocery list.

4. Keep two laundry baskets in the bedroom. Whites in one colors in the other. No sorting.

[markio26]

i preset my stove clock for 15 minutes ahead of the time i must leave to go for an appointment... i preset it for an hour prior to dressing for an appointment... this gives me extra time to go some where if there is bad weather or heavy traffic...
i use one day a week for call backs... this time i am on the cell phone at the proper time....if it is an emergency i call back immediately.

[funnyvalentine]

probably my best time saving tip is in paring down my wardrobe. Everything I own, practically, is black or a print with black in it, so it makes it really easy to get dressed, find shoes, pantyhose, earrings. I realized early on in my practice that most of my clients only see me twice, so I don't need a million outfits; I need two, lol.... I have all the components hanging together in the closet so I can get dressed in five minutes.

[markio26]

i am using frozen french fries, in my crockpot recipes, instead of fresh potatoes, and it is saving me a ton of money and time... no one can tell the difference...

[flash]

Use a lint roller to dust your lamp shades. You'll be surprised at what comes up, faster and more effective than vacuuming them.

[contrary1]

I make up baggies of pancake mix, so when it's pancake day here, I don't have to measure out dry ingredients. I do the same for my waffle recipe. I've had the same baggies for years, they are still holding up! So nice in the AM (or for dinner) to just grab a bag & add the liquids........then ready to cook.
I do the same thing with anything I'm cooking actually. If I'm making a cake, biscuits, whatever.........I'll make one in the mixer/bowl and then put the same dry ingredients in a baggie. Label and toss in the pantry. Very quick cooking that way!

[markio26]

i used white toothpaste on my formica marble top sink in the bathroom to remove a stain, i let it sit overnite..
i used windex to spot clean some spots on my carpet and let it sit for about an hour and dabbed almost dry with rags.
i used a small plastic container and poked holes in the lid, then i placed 2 tblsp of maxwell house coffee in the container, replaced the lid, attached tape to the top, labeled, placed in fridge, can last for 6 months, removed my baking soda box, spread on carpet, let set for overnite and vacuumed...
i cleaned the top of fridge, laid down wax paper, used magnets to keep in place, less cleaning...
placed 2 comforters into a large trash bag, used vacuum to suck out the air, and taped shut.

[gopher]

Hi. I'm new here and just started posting today. Such a great board. I'm always looking for ways to save myself some time so this thread has been great. To add to it, I recently did a massive house cleaing and got rid of tons of stuff. It took some time and some emotional detachment but I treated myself in the end bought a Roomba and a Scooba. I used some of the money I'd socked away from the yard sales I'd been having and invested in these. They're basically robots that sweep and mop your floor and they're shaped like little flying saucers. They're brilliant and talk about a time saver. As long as I pull the chairs up I can just turn one or the other on before I got to work. My housecleaning time has been cut in half.

[LuxLiving]

FunnyValentine, we're the same. I have a couple of black uniforms I call them. They aren't uniforms, but very servicable. Black shell, black skirt. Jackets w/black in them make for quick Sunday dressing.

Winter: Black leggings, same black shell - sweater or jacket w/black in them, black boots.

Summer: Black shorts, a couple of black tees of varying sleeve length, tanks, shells, black flipflops- viola = dressed in a jiffy all year long!

Saving time? I put the teens on the job - whatever needs doing...they're in a hurry to quit doing it so, zip zam zowy, done...and I've hardly sweated at all! !

[markio26]

i am trying to go down to 3 pairs of sneakers, and one pair of black dress shoes, a pair of boots and house sandals... i owned over 40 pairs of shoes, and all in great shape.... my wardrobe is shaping up, since i have been trying on clothes and matching them to my comfort zone.... i gave probably over a thousand dollars worth of clothes and shoes to my sister and one friend... my spouse is gonna clean out his walk in closet soon... i have too much bedding... i will go thru the linen closet this week????? somehow, we have too much stuff in the kitchen too, cookbooks, recipes, tableware, etc... but, i love the clutter free areas, so, i will take care of all of this stuff this week.

[funnyvalentine]

I agree that having less clutter anywhere means less time; I was glad to read the post about the roomba! I want one!!!!! I bet it would drive the cats insane....

[scrava]

I have a roomba and LOVE it. We have all hard woods and 2 hairy cats and 1 hairy dog. It really helpsme keep up w/ the floors. If only it did stairs!
I want a scuba, too. I really hate cleaning floors. And, it's a never ending battle.

I keep all of my cleaning supplies together on the 1st floor in the 1/2 bath. I also keep rags and cloths and paper towels w/ them. I do the same upstairs. I ahve 2 of everything so I don't have to run up and down the stairs like a mad woman. I do the trash bag trick, too! I put a bunch of extra's in the bottom so that there are no excuses when it comes to replacing the bag!

I keep everyonme coat's in our front closet too. No wated time while caots and jackets are located.

great thread!

[Brendan39]

Use a planner. You may be used to making only mental notes for appointments and deadlines. MIT schedules become steadily more complex and your brain's short-term memory may overflow. Use your phone or iPod, a PDA, software on your computer, even a paper pocket calendar—whatever technology is easy for you to enter and retrieve information and receive reminders. Ironically, writing things down (or typing them in) actually helps your brain remember them.
Keep a daily to-do list. Also use your planner to list each task you hope to accomplish. Set the priority of each task and check off tasks as you accomplish them. Carry over to the next day those you did not complete. A To-Do List is a simple tool, but it saves you from wasting time worrying whether you've forgotten something.
Plan your study time. Each subject's syllabus gives you lots of clues as to when and how much you need to study each week. At the beginning of the term block out periods for psets, preparing for hour exams, and writing papers. Then you won't waste time each week figuring out what to do first.
Break big tasks into smaller ones. Before you start on a large research project, a paper, or preparing for finals, divide it up into smaller tasks (for example, "Assemble lists of website to consult," "Get bibliography from TA," "Execute lab tests." This helps you focus on each task, eliminating time wasted worrying about how to get everything done. It also gives you a welcome sense of accomplishment as you check off each one. Try our Assignment Timeline as a framework for this process.
Organize your space, The old proverb, "A place for everything and everything in its place" says it all. Invest a little time in organizing now, and you'll save it many times over when you're in a last-minute rush and need your notebooks, soccer pads, water bottle, and snacks.
OHIO: Only Handle It Once. Sort postal mail into three piles, maybe using a desk organizer: items that need action (put them on your To-Do List), items to file for future reference, recycling. Handle your email and voicemail similarly; don't waste time saying, "Oh, I'll go back and read this more carefully some other time."
Stop the Time Thieves. Pick a quiet, comfortable study location where you are not likely be disturbed, and tell your friends where you will be only if you can trust them not to interrupt you unnecessarily. Turn off your phone. If being online is too much of a temptation, turn off your computer's network connection. Concentrating on study now allows you to concentrate only on socializing later.
Make Waiting Productive. When you have just a few minutes between classes, on line, or on the T, review some note cards, touch up your lecture notes, continue with a reading assignment, or work on a problem set. Every minute counts.