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 peaches0582 | N DINWIDDIE, VA
Aug 09, 2017

Organize,use a calendar,plan dinners and kids activities for the week. My favorite quick fix food is macaroni and cheese with a can of peas drained can of crushed tomatoes drained and a can of tuna fish drained my family loves it.

by llkee51 | Lenexa, KS
Aug 09, 2017

Biggest time saver is having a "to go" spot near the front door. Everything we need for the next morning is kept by the door; lunch boxes, totes, books are at hand so we aren't running around at the last minute.

by ilovemybellababies | PENSACOLA, FL
Aug 09, 2017

Meal prepping while the kids are asleep saves me a lot of time for the whole week. My easiest recipe is baked salmon. Ingredients: Altantic Salmon, Ground pepper, Garlic powder, Light soysauce, Lemon and Olive oil. Directions: Preheat oven to 350 deg. Line the baking pan with foil. Put the salmon and drizzle with olive oil, light soysauce and lemon (front to back).Rub the garlic powder and pepper on the salmon (front to back). Leave the salmon in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

by momofour | LITITZ, PA
Aug 09, 2017

I use this as a time saver for my lunches when I run out of time to pack or get extremely bored with taking the same thing every day. It's healthy and saves time: Lightly toast an English muffin, top with a few teaspoons of your favorite salsa and a bit of shredded cheese. Put back in toaster oven or in microwave just long enough to melt the cheese.

by lea5000 | Portland, OR
Aug 09, 2017

daily calendar lists!

by wendy1214 | QUAKERTOWN, PA
Aug 09, 2017

really quick school/sport night dinner- baked BBQ chicken. Just place chicken breast in a baking dish, cover with your fav BBQ sauce and bake at 350 for 30 mins. While cooking, make up some rice or a favorite side. Quicker than even running to a fastfood joint!

by ksutherland | MODESTO, CA
Aug 09, 2017

I make my kids lists for what they need to do before school. If they finish early they get extra electronic time after school! It really makes them move!

by ilovemybellababies | PENSACOLA, FL
Aug 09, 2017

Meal prepping while the kids are asleep saves me a lot of time for the whole week. My easiest recipe is baked salmon. Ingredients: Altantic Salmon Ground pepper Garlic powder Light soysauce Lemon Olive oil Preheat oven to 350 deg. Line the baking pan with foil. Put the salmon and drizzle with olive oil, light soysauce and lemon (front to back) Rub the garlic powder and pepper (front to back) Leave the salmon in the oven for 20-25 minutes

by Keatonsmm | Benton, AR
Aug 09, 2017

My quick fix dinner is similar to a Stromboli. I take crescent rolls ball it up then roll it out into a rectangle. I then put ham & Swiss cheese all over it or whatever I have on hand! Then I roll it up like a pinwheel. Bake at 350 until brown usually about 10 minutes & your done! The whole family loves it! I serve with a salad & seasonal fruit!

by ilovemybellababies | PENSACOLA, FL
Aug 09, 2017

Meal prepping while the kids are asleep saves me a lot of time for the whole week. My easiest recipe is baked salmon. Ingredients: Altantic Salmon Ground pepper Garlic powder Light soysauce Lemon Olive oil Preheat oven to 350 deg. Line the baking pan with foil. Put the salmon and drizzle with olive oil, light soysauce and lemon (front to back) Rub the garlic powder and pepper (front to back) Leave the salmon in the oven for 20-25 minutes

by darlene9040 | COLORADO SPGS, CO
Aug 09, 2017

I put all my appointment in my phone calendar. And set a reminder three hours before the appointment. Place ribs in a large pot with enough water to cover. Season with garlic powder, black pepper and salt. Bring water to a boil, and cook ribs until tender. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Remove ribs from pot, and place them in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Pour barbeque sauce over ribs.

by TREYBUM2 | HOPKINS, SC
Aug 09, 2017

To save time on scrubbing dishes, I use fabric softener sheets to loosen caked on food. Soaking pots and pans with a sheet for about 15 mins and it's easy to scoop out the stuck-on food to clean the item. I also like to buy several cartons of eggs when they're on sale and I boil a carton to have immediately on hand for boiled eggs to top my salad or make deviled eggs or mayonnaise based salads. My favorite quick dish is my high-protein salmon scramble. Basically, I remove the bones from a can of salmon and stir up two eggs with a bit of salt, pepper and garlic powder. I fry some diced onion (you could use olive oil but I prefer to fry a few pcs of bacon and then sauté the onions in the bacon fat--shame!); add the salmon and add a bit of water if necessary. I scramble the eggs separately and then add to cooked salmon. Great for breakfast or any other meal when trying to cut carbs!

by wendy1214 | QUAKERTOWN, PA
Aug 09, 2017

when making appointments they immediately get put into my phone calendar. With keeping track of all the kids, mine and my mom's appoints, this saves time making sure none of them coincide. At the beginning of the school year, I also add in all the no school days to help keep my schedule running smoothly

by talliana | GREEN CV SPGS, FL
Aug 09, 2017

My favorite time saver is to open the mail at the trashcan. If I don't need something I trash it immediately. No need to hold on to something to have to look at it late and have it on my table. My easy recipe is ground some beef and add a can of Goya seasoned red beans. Add a little Adobo seasoning and you have instant chili. Serve over rice

by sarahmhale | CHICAGO, IL
Aug 09, 2017

I follow a cleaning plan I found on Pinterest: Mondays - Clean kitchen Tuesdays - Dust living and dining Wednesdays - Dust bedroom, change sheets Thursdays - Clean bathroom, change towels Then I never have to clean on Fridays or the weekends and cleaning jobs are manageable.

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