Easy #SheSpeaksTips to Save Time & Make Life Easier. Plus, Win a $50 Gift Card & Cute Timer!

    by   SheSpeaksTeam   

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Aug 09, 2017
438

It's a rare day that I don't fall into bed thinking about how busy the day was. I sometimes ask, what am I doing wrong? But when I talk to friends, they all say the same thing: life is busy, it's impossible to get everything done!

I refuse to accept this. There must be ways to save time and still enjoy life without it running us all ragged. So I polled some friends and got some great ideas. Then I tried them out. Read on to find out which tips worked for me - and can work for you too!

How do you save time? Tell us for the chance to win a $50 gift card to either Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts (winner's choice!) and a cute kitchen timer. Plus, submit an easy recipe for a bonus prize. If we use your recipe in an upcoming blog post, we'll send you a $25 Amazon gift card to say thanks!

Multitask

Most experts say that if you are doing two things at the same time, you are not doing either of them well. I beg to differ. On tasks when my brain runs on autopilot, I'm much more efficient when I multitask. For example...

Make a boring chore fun and you'll want to get to it, like ironing while binge-watching TV or cleaning the bathroom while listening to a podcast.

Exercise with a friend: you'll be getting healthier and finding out the latest gossip. Schedule in a weekly time on your calendar and you'll be more likely to stick with it.

Use waiting time, like your train-commute or your kid's gymnastics class, to cross a few things off your to-do list, That quiet time is perfect for finding dinner recipes, ordering groceries online, or doing vacation research. Alternatively, save that time to catch up on social media, and then resist checking your Facebook feed the rest of the day.

Plan for the unpacking while you are shopping: When unloading groceries from your cart to the conveyor belt at checkout, group them in order of where they go in the house, so they get bagged in that order (dairy together, fruit together etc). Then the groceries are easier to unpack when you get home.

Put it in Writing

  • It's so easy to get overwhelmed, thinking about all of the things that need to get done. When that happens, I force myself to write down everything that is spinning in my head. Most times, this list is not as bad as I thought it was, and sometimes I can cross a couple of them off the list in about five minutes. Seeing it in writing can be the kick I need to de-stress and get things done.
  • Figuring out dinner is one chore I dread. So I learned to spend a few minutes on Sunday morning making up the menu for the week, before going grocery shopping. That way, when I come home from a long, busy day, and I am too tired to decide what to make for dinner, I already have a plan and the ingredients ready.

Save Time With a Timer

Reminder: My kitchen timer gets a lot of use, but not just for cooking. It's the perfect way to remind me to get things done. For example, I put it on when I throw in a load of laundry so I don't forget to put the wet clothes in the dryer.

Deadline: Timers are also a good way to create an artificial deadline, like when I'm going through the pile of papers my kids brought home from school. I just put on the timer and try to get it all done in 5 minutes - it forces me to make decisions more quickly and keep me focused.

Note: Make sure the timer is in another room and doesn't stop beeping until you manually turn it off. Is it annoying? Definitely. But does it force me to stop what I am doing and change the laundry? Yes.

Throw It Away

  • Put an empty box at the bottom of your closet. As clothes don't fit or you decide you don't like them, just throw them right in there and donate the box when it is full. That way, you won't have to sort through things at the end of each season.
  • Don't guilt yourself into keeping everything your kids have signed their names to. Keep one spot in your house to display artwork, like the mantle or a shelf. At the end of each month - or when the space is full - take 2 minutes (use the timer!) to clear it out. Throw most of it in the recycling can. Keep only what is really meaningful. If you make sure each child gets just one plastic tub for keepers, it will help you make better choices about what to save.

Let It Go

Elsa was right. We can't worry so much about what other people think - we need to let it go. It's ok to wear those jeans "one more time" before washing them. Store-bought cookies for the school bake sale taste just as delicious to a 5-year old as homemade. Breakfast for dinner is perfectly acceptable. And my favorite: Don’t make your bed. You’re just going to get into it again.

What's your favorite tip to save time? Tell us for the chance to win a $50 gift card to either Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts (winner's choice!) and a cute kitchen timer!

Bonus: What's your favorite quick-fix food? If we use your recipe in a future newsletter, we'll send you a $25 Amazon gift card!

There are three ways to enter:

  1. Comment below and tell us about your favorite way you make life easier. Also, give us your best easy recipe!
  2. Tweet about the giveaway: Click HERE to Tweet: “Check out #SheSpeaksTips to make life easier & enter the @SheSpeaksUp coffee gift card giveaway! bit.ly/2vgbyG8"
  3. BONUS (worth 5 entries!): Post on Instagram: Take a photo of your favorite time-saving tip in action. Tag #SheSpeaksTips, #SheSpeaks and #entry

*One lucky commenter, Tweeter or Instagrammer will be chosen at random to receive a $50 gift card to the winner's choice of either Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts, plus a Hitechway Cute Digital Count-Down Up Kitchen Timer. Giveaway is open through August 27th, 2017 to U.S. residents at least 18 years of age. Entrants must be a member of SheSpeaks. If you are not a member, click here to join. Winner will be notified by email.

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by dianeclaudia | Hammonton, NJ
Aug 09, 2017

A calendar -- I couldn't manage without one. Also - take-out when there's just no time to prepare a meal.

by yukicharley | CROWN POINT, IN
Aug 09, 2017

I definitely need to write it down more often so that when I get busy, I won't forget things. I do it with groceries. Why not with LIFE?! Also, my favorite go-to easy recipe is spaghetti. Sometimes I don't even do meat. Noodles and sauce - everyone can add toppings like grated cheese, shredded cheese, a fried egg or even green or black olives. Add a loaf of bread and boom! Easy, inexpensive dinner in 30 mins or less.

by tumcsec | TUSCALOOSA, AL
Aug 09, 2017

I like to plan what I'm wearing the next day the night before. Clothes, shoes, accessories and even my hairstyle for the day. Saves me heaps of time!

by melanietheresa | CLIFFWOOD, NJ
Aug 09, 2017

I try to choose my outfit the night before to save time in the morning.

by makysmama | houston, TX
Aug 09, 2017

That timer is adorable! My time saving tip is to touch things once. If you pick it up, put it where it belongs. If the dish is on the table, it's rinsed and into the dishwasher or washed and put away rather than into the sink to sit.

by aubs78 | SENECA, SC
Aug 09, 2017

The best way to save time in the kitchen...don't cook! I order all my dinners from Freshlys.com. They are all natural and healthy for you. They taste great and filling with 400-600 calories per meal. And at $107 for 12 meals a week, it saves me time at the grocery store and clipping coupons.

by Becca8g1 | Meadowlands, MN
Aug 09, 2017

Best easy recipe- this is for dessert because that's obviously my favorite meal. I take some graham crackers and walnuts and smash them a little bit, layer them in a dessert dish, then I make whipping cream with sugar and dollop that on top; and cut up a peach and strawberries add a little sugar let them sit for 5 minutes and put them on top. Layer again and you have a fancy looking fresh tasting dessert in less than 10 minutes. I use natural sweeteners so it's healthy as well! Yummm! My kids are OBSESSED with it and it looks fancy. 🍑🍓🍓

by cusesoftie | DE WITT, NY
Aug 09, 2017

My favorite way to make life easier is to plan out meals for the week, and shop for all the ingredients at one time. And then, I divide all the food for portion control in containers that I can take on the go with me, if I need to.

by cropmom66 | GREEN BAY, WI
Aug 09, 2017

I tend to get more done when I make a list. So, I write all of my to-do's on paper. My favorite quick fix meal is Copy-cat Panda Express Orange Chicken. I actually like my version better. I try to buy a couple of rotisserie chickens when I go to Costco and I shred them and freeze the meat right away when I get home. I pull out a bag of chicken and heat it up on the stove. I add a bottle of Panda Express Orange Chicken Sauce (so good!). Chop up a red (or yellow, or orange) pepper and toss that in. My hubby likes when I add a little pineapple too. Heat it all up and serve over rice. Super easy and delicious!

by EnticingHealthyEating | AUSTIN, TX
Aug 09, 2017

One of my favorite ways to save time is to split the chores with my husband. Seems like common sense but it really does make a difference when you each have duties you prefer to do and need to do to help out your spouse.

by sandraatlanta | FLEMINGTON, NJ
Aug 09, 2017

LET IT GO!! All I need to do now is convince the rest of the family to agree so we can de-clutter! Best easy recipe kids can do - it's a treat though! But keeps kids busy for a while! Hedgehog Slice 4 cups crushed animal cracker or similar cookie 2 sticks plus 2 tbs butter 3 tablespoons cocoa 3 tbs shredded coconut 1 tin sweetened condensed milk 250g milk choc bits 2 tsp oil Crush cookies in a bowl until you have fine and chunky crumbs. Add cocoa and coconut to cookies and stir well. Melt butter and sweetened condensed milk on stove. Stir until it begins to get bubbly. Do not burn! Add to dry ingredients to wet and mix well. If too dry add more butter, if too wet add more crackers. Place into slice pan and refrigerate 1 hr Melt choc bits with oil, drizzle on top of slice, refrigerate again until set. Cut into squares.

by kcat55 | MOORESTOWN, NJ
Aug 09, 2017

I multi-task and delegate!

by rge-rge | Piscataway, NJ
Aug 09, 2017

prep dinner for the week over the weekend.... like prepare the casserole and freeze it....just take it out when needed and bake....

by tara19652006 | ALBUQUERQUE, NM
Aug 09, 2017

Great tips

by 216amyc | N ROYALTON, OH
Aug 09, 2017

I use my Amazon Echo devices to set daily tasks and reminders to make managing everything easier.

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