Tips for Saving a Few Minutes

William Penn famously said, “Time is what we want most but what we use worst.” Every time I run across this quote, I find myself nodding like a bobble head.

Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.

“It’s easy to keep taking on things and taking on things,” says Cynthia Kyriazis, a time management expert with Productivity Partners in Kansas City. But rarely do we pause to ask ourselves, “What is my goal?”

Read on for time-saving tips that will save a few precious minutes each day.

All clear. Ask kids to bring their own dishes to the kitchen after each meal. Younger kids can set dirty dishes on the counter; older kids can rinse their dishes and put them in the dishwasher. With some kid help, your kitchen table will be clear in no time. TIME SAVED: 2 minutes.

Double up. When making a hearty dish, such as a casserole, make a double portion and freeze one. Doubling up means two meals with only one cleanup. TIME SAVED: 20 minutes.

Read ‘em and eat. Read important documents, sign field trip permission slips or engage in a daily devotional while you eat breakfast in the morning. “I love my time in the morning,” says Donica, a mother of two. “I’m not rushing, either. Doing both at the same time means I don’t have to hurry.” TIME SAVED: 10 minutes.

Dust buster. Ask kids to dust all surfaces in their rooms. Older kids can handle this chore themselves. Help younger kids by clearing off surfaces and handing them a rag. TIME SAVED: 5 minutes.

Dishwasher dash. Unload the dishwasher first thing in the morning. Starting the day with an empty dishwasher means you can put dirty dishes directly into the dishwasher throughout the day, cutting out the step of tossing dirty dishes in the sink. TIME SAVED: 3 minutes.

Sweet sweeper. Sweep floor dirt into piles. Encourage your kids to assume dustpan duty, following behind you to sweep up the piles. TIME SAVED: 5 minutes.

Let go. Decide to let go of one thing each day. Maybe it’s one minute of Facebook time, or a trip to Target that can wait. Letting go of things that don’t matter help you stay focused on both small and big picture goals, Kyriazis says. TIME SAVED: 10 minutes.

Summon the laundry fairy. Racheal, a mother of one, made a cardboard t-shirt folder and wash cloth folder. Her daughter is in charge of folding each. “She loves doing it, and my clothes are folded neatly,” she says. TIME SAVED: 5 minutes.

Trade time. Allow yourself to regroup around the week’s goals by trading kid time with another parent. Not only do you free up time for yourself, but you give the gift of time to another parent. Bonus: Your kids still get to play. TIME SAVED: 1 hour.

Cleanup patrol. Spend 10 minutes before bed each night picking up around your home and putting toys and articles where they belong. Starting a new day with a clutter-free house means there is one less thing occupying your space—and your mind. TIME SAVED: 10 minutes.

“If you don’t value your own priorities, everything else gets in the way,” Kyriazis says.

Cherish the gift of time. It’s called “present” for a reason.

Kate Meadows loves deep breaths in quiet moments, strong coffee and time with her two little boys. Her favorite time-saving trick is stretching while brushing her teeth. www.KateMeadows.com