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

disinfecting cleaning services Winnetka ..

In The News:

Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.

Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.

Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.

New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.

A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.

AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.

A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.

New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.

Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.

Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.

Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.

Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.

Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.

Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.

iPhone and Android users can reduce battery drain and data usage by restricting Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi connections instead of mobile networks.

Scammers nearly stole an Apple account by exploiting the support system with authentic-looking tickets and phone calls, users can protect themselves with safety steps.

FoloToy restored sales of its AI teddy bear Kumma after a weeklong suspension following safety group findings of risky and inappropriate responses to children.

Threat intelligence firm Synthient uncovers one of the largest password exposures ever, prompting immediate security recommendations.

Viral video shared by Elon Musk shows Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots performing tasks from cooking to construction, garnering over 58.5 million views on social media.

Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.

Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.

Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Tips to Save One Hour Per Day

Time Management