Home
>
Time Management
>
Tips to Save One Hour Per Day

Tips to Save One Hour Per Day

At Home

? Keep related items together, for example the coffee filters and coffee "live" above or near the coffee maker. (saves 2-5 minutes a day)
? Create a communication center on the fridge for messages, chores etc. (saves 5 minutes a day)
? Keep the grocery list posted where all family members can add items as they run out. (Saves 10 ? 30 minutes a week, depending if you forget something and have to go back to the store!)
? Create a checklist for groceries arranged in the order of your grocery store aisles. (saves 5-10 minutes shopping)
? Create recipe categories that make sense to you. (saves 5 minutes a day)
? Identify a place to put car keys, gloves, umbrellas etc., for easy access when you leave the house (saves 5 minutes a day or a lot more if you really can't find your car keys!)
? Use an answering machine or service to control calls. Return calls at your convenience. (saves 10-20 minutes a day)
? When opening your incoming e-mail, apply The FAT System? (File-Act-Toss). If you aren't sure you need it, toss it! (saves 5-10 minutes a day)
? Create an address book for quick reference. Outlook Express, ACT!, and Quicken all come with address books, or you can do it the "old fashioned" way and input info by hand in an actual book. Keep it updated. (saves 5 minutes a day)
? Put daily grooming/make-up needs in a single container easily accessible. (saves 3 minutes a day.)
? Make a habit of looking when you go from one place to another, and see what needs to go with you. (saves 3 minutes a day.)

Family

? Teach your children to use an alarm clock or clock radio. (saves 5 minutes a day)
? Choose clothing and accessories the night before (saves 5 minutes a day)
? Pack lunches the night before (saves 5 minutes in busiest time of the day)
? Designate a place where family members can check to see if they have messages. (saves 5 minutes a day per person)
? Start a child's file system with a simple container, basket, file or shelf. It may contain information about their medical records, medicines, education, extra curricular activities, memorabilia, etc. (saves 10-15 minutes a week)
? Designate a "special place" for your child to put the papers they bring home from school. (saves 5-15 minutes a week)
? Run errands at non-rush hour times if possible. Keep stops sequential to avoid driving in circles (saves 15-45 minutes a day)

Work

? Avoid an overflowing e-mail In Box, by creating folders. Create a folder for each committee, project, person etc. (saves 5-10 minutes a day)
? Attach the old message when replying to an e-mail to help the recipient remember its original content. (saves 5-10 minutes a day)
? For lengthy or complicated e-mail, create your message in a word processing program and attach it to your e-mail. This allows you easy access for editing and retrieval. (saves 10 minutes a day)
? If you need a copy of an e-mail, print it and then delete it! Remember to file your e-mail hard copy in your paper management system, such as The Paper Tiger?, so you can find it again in 5 seconds or less! (saves 5 minutes a day)
? Keep your filing system simple. Don't create too many categories, it's better to put information into the largest general category first. (saves 10 minutes a day)
? Organize computer documents. Put into one folder. Your computer already has it for you - "My Documents". Then create subfolders for each program that you use, such as Word, Excel, Power Point, etc. Then save it. (i.e., My Documents/ Word/Mary Stowe letter/Marketing for book. (saves 10 minutes a day)
? Practice the Art of Wastebasketry?. Take a minute to clean out whenever you can. (saves 5-10 minutes a day)
? Let calls go into voice mail. Don't allow the phone to interrupt your work unless it's truly necessary. Return calls when you have a set time to talk. Checking messages can also give you time to prepare for what the caller wanted and avoid having to return calls back and forth. (saves 15 minutes a day)

? Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.productiveenvironment.com

Airbnb cleaning service Arlington Heights ..

In The News:

Red flags like processing fees, urgent countdowns and requests for full Social Security numbers expose fraudulent settlement sites targeting consumers.

Comprehensive analysis of Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps examines usability, routing accuracy, data handling and features across the top navigation platforms.

Expert analysis reveals whether wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi connections are safer for home internet use, plus practical steps to secure your network from attackers.

Australian construction robot Charlotte uses sand, crushed brick and recycled glass to 3D print fireproof, floodproof homes with reduced carbon footprint.

Cybercriminals are using fake invitation emails to trick recipients into downloading malware and stealing personal information and data.

Flying drones could help retailers fight a 93% increase in theft rates as Flock Safety promotes airborne security systems to track suspects and deter crime.

The Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter brings you the latest news on the emerging technology every Saturday, highlighting top stories.

Hacker group Radiant stole data from 8,000 children at Kido nursery chain, demanding ransom and directly contacting parents with intimidation tactics.

As 18 states implement bell-to-bell cell phone bans, creative students use Google Docs, iMessage on MacBooks and Post-It notes to stay connected in class.

A sheriff's captain says deputies often spend hours writing reports between calls, but Axon's AI program, Draft One, helps them save crucial time in the field.

Sora 2, OpenAI's new video-generation app, can create AI-generated videos based on a singular prompt. The results are both mind-blowing and terrifying.

iPhone and Android users can reduce Wi-Fi calling battery drainage through settings adjustments, background app limits and stronger Wi-Fi connections.

Work email scams are becoming harder to detect as criminals use AI and spoofed addresses to trick employees into opening malicious attachments and links.

From her Arizona living room, Christina Chapman ran a covert hub that helped North Korean operatives infiltrate U.S. firms, netting $17 million in stolen salaries.

UC Santa Barbara researchers developed a soft robotic intubation system that achieved 100% success rates for experts and 96% for paramedics with minimal training.

Scammers exploit probate filings to target grieving families with fake fees and debts, Kurt "Cyberguy" Knutsson reports.

Automotive giant Stellantis becomes latest victim of widespread Salesforce breaches affecting companies like Google, Cisco and Adidas this year.

A woman from Washington reunited with her missing Maine Coon cat Louie after 11 days using Love Lost, a free AI-powered pet recovery platform.

Expert cybersecurity tips help Mac owners remove malware infections and strengthen defenses with antivirus software, password managers and system updates.

Meta's AI chatbot training rules bans sexual roleplay with minors and block access to child abuse material as regulators scrutinize its safety measures.

Online banking users face a new threat: web injection scams that overlay fake pop-ups to steal logins. Here’s how to spot them and protect your accounts.

Meta introduced Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger while launching a School Partnership Program for U.S. educators to report bullying within 48 hours.

Executive order signed by President Donald Trump tasks Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA Commission with using AI to find new cures for childhood cancers.

New FileFix attack tricks Facebook and Instagram users into running malicious PowerShell commands disguised as Meta account maintenance to deploy StealC infostealer.

Step-by-step instructions help users migrate to Windows 11 while preserving emails, contacts, documents, and software licenses during the transition.

Tips to Save One Hour Per Day

Time Management