Do you ever wish there were more hours in a day?
You're not alone.
We all have busy lives, and finding space can be tough.
But guess what?
There are simple ways to save precious minutes every day.
In this article, we'll look at some top time-saving tips that can make your days more efficient and enjoyable.
What are some of the time wasters in our lives?
In our daily hustle, it's easy to overlook how certain habits and routines, both in our personal and professional lives, can become major time wasters.
Thanks to recognizing and addressing these, we can reclaim valuable hours for productivity or relaxation.
Let's take a look at some of these common clock thieves with a sprinkle of statistics for good measure:
Unnecessary meetings
First up, we have unnecessary meetings. Picture this: you're sitting in a room, the clock's ticking, and you're wondering, "Why am I even here?" You're not alone.
A whopping 67% of people feel the same way, thinking that meetings are just stealing their time.
It's like planning to bake a cake but ending up just reading the recipe over and over without ever turning on the oven or getting out your cooking equipment (from, e.g., Dean Supply).
Email overload
Then, there's email overload. Imagine your inbox as a never-ending buffet, and you're trying to taste everything.
On average, people spend about 28% of their workday managing emails.
It's as if you were trying to catch all the leaves falling from a tree - pretty overwhelming, right?
Procrastination
This is the art of putting off until tomorrow what you could (and probably should) do today.
Around 20% of people identify as chronic procrastinators, often trading immediate comfort for future panic.
Are you one of them?
Using outdated technology
Using outdated technology at work can be a major time drain too.
Think of it as driving an old, slow car on a superhighway - you're just not going to keep up.
Social media
And finally, let's not forget about social media.
We spend up to 42.6% of our online time on social media platforms.
It's a bit like going down a rabbit hole and emerging hours later, wondering where the time went.
Every second saved from these time traps is a second gained for something better. Are you ready for it?
Top 10 tips to save time in business and personal life
To combat these time wasters, you need to hone your time management skills.
Luckily for you, we've compiled a list of our top 10 ways to get that extra time from every day.
Our methods include:
Use a time tracking app
Time tracking is like having a virtual assistant that's keeping tabs on how you spend every hour.
At work, it helps identify tasks that just consume too many of your minutes. Outside work, it can be an eye-opener to see how much time we might waste on less important activities.
This insight allows us to adjust and use our time more effectively.
Unrubble is a fantastic choice when it comes to time tracking apps. Think of it as your own time management guru, constantly looking at how you spend each hour.
At work, Unrubble shines by giving you a clear picture of where your time goes. It can pinpoint tasks that are eating up too much of your day.
Outside of work, it's equally valuable. It can be quite enlightening (and sometimes a little shocking) to see how much time slips away on activities that don't add much value to our lives.
This could be anything from mindless scrolling on social media to getting lost in the black hole of online videos. Thanks to tracking these habits, Unrubble helps you stop wasting time.
Unrubble is not just a passive tracker. It also helps you with work scheduling, attendance tracking, and PTO management - all on desktop and mobile devices.
So, whether you're looking to boost productivity at work, or just trying to find more time for your hobbies and relaxation, Unrubble is a tool that can help you get there. We're focused on making every hour count and living a more balanced, fulfilling life.
Try different time management techniques
While there are many time management techniques out there, the top ones include:
- Pareto Principle: focus on the 20% of tasks that yield 80% of the results, both at work and in personal time.
- Pomodoro Technique: work in short, focused bursts (25 minutes) followed by short breaks. This can be great for both professional tasks and life chores like cleaning or studying.
- Eisenhower Box: prioritize tasks by urgency and importance. This method is useful in both professional and private decision-making.
- Parkinson's Law: set shorter deadlines to complete tasks faster. Such an approach is applicable to work projects or personal goals like fitness routines.
Structure your schedule around your peak hours
Identify when you're most energetic and productive. Schedule demanding tasks during these peak times at work and reserve similar high-energy periods for personal projects or workouts at home.
Use frequent breaks and schedule them
Like rebooting a computer, short breaks refresh your mind. It's effective in both job settings and during home activities. As a result, you can prevent burnout and keep your productivity on a high level.
Here's what you can do:
- follow the Pomodoro technique,
- set a timer for breaks,
- stretch or move during breaks,
- step away from your work area,
- practice mindfulness or meditation,
- engage in a different activity,
- avoid screens during breaks,
- have a snack or hydrate,
- practice deep breathing,
- schedule longer breaks.
Do one thing at a time and do not multitask
Multitasking is a myth when it comes to productivity.
Focusing on one task at a time will simply yield better quality and efficiency.
And that's no matter if it's a work project or a home activity,
Limit every distraction
At work:
Use website blocking apps - install apps like Cold Turkey or Freedom on your computer. These apps can block access to distracting websites like social media, news, or entertainment sites during work hours.
Manage notifications - turn off non-essential notifications on your computer and phone. This prevents frequent interruptions from emails, messaging apps, or social media alerts.
Have focused work sessions - use tools like the Forest app, which encourages you to stay focused by growing a virtual tree during your work session. If you visit a distracting site, the tree wilts, giving you a visual incentive to stay focused.
At home:
Set up a dedicated workspace - set up a specific area in your home exclusively for work or hobbies. This space should be away from high-traffic areas like the living room or kitchen. All this is to minimize interruptions.
Use noise-canceling headphones - if your home environment is noisy, use noise-canceling headphones to create a quiet zone. This will be helpful when it comes to your concentration.
Schedule work times - communicate with family members or housemates about your dedicated work or hobby times. During these periods, ask them to avoid interrupting you unless necessary.
Create a schedule for every day
Just like a roadmap, a daily schedule guides you through your tasks. It's a time-saving tip that helps in prioritizing both work duties and life errands.
A good tool for this is Unrubble. It's easy to use and helps you make a daily schedule. It's a handy solution that helps you plan your day. You can put in your work tasks and personal things to do. This way, you know what to do next. It makes managing time easy and helps you stay organized.
Using Unrubble can help you make the most of your day. It's a simple and effective way to keep track of your tasks.
Prepare your day and schedule in advance
Spend a few minutes each evening planning the next day. This preparation saves time the next day. As such, you dive straight into tasks without wondering what to do first.
Group similar tasks together
It's one of the best ways to spend less time switching gears. Batch similar work tasks or household chores together to streamline your process and save time.
Grouping tasks is a smart way to reduce the time spent switching between different types of activities. This approach, known as "batching," lets you concentrate on one type of task at a time.
Example of batching tasks:
Imagine you have various work-related tasks such as emailing, report writing, and attending meetings. Instead of jumping from one to another haphazardly throughout the day, you can group these tasks:
- Emailing: set aside a specific time block in the morning to handle all your emails. During this time, focus only on reading, replying, and organizing your inbox.
- Report writing: choose another time block, perhaps mid-morning or early afternoon, dedicated solely to writing and compiling, for example, social media reports. This uninterrupted time lets you focus on this task without the distraction of other pending activities.
- Meetings: schedule your meetings back-to-back in another time block, say late afternoon. This way, you're in the 'meeting mindset,' able to shift smoothly from one discussion to another.
Similarly, at home, you can batch household chores:
- Cleaning: dedicate a time block for all cleaning activities like vacuuming, dusting, and tidying up.
- Meal preparation: set aside a specific time for meal prep, perhaps chopping vegetables, marinating proteins, and pre-cooking certain items in one go.
Cut down on meetings where possible
It's one of the best ways to spend less time switching gears. Batch similar work tasks or household chores together to streamline your process and save time.
Top tips:
- evaluate the necessity of each meeting,
- set clear objectives for necessary meetings,
- limit meeting attendees,
- use standing meetings for brief updates,
- allocate specific time slots for meetings,
- encourage written updates instead of meetings,
- leverage collaboration tools,
- implement 'no meeting' days,
- review recurring meetings regularly,
- encourage open communication outside of meetings.
Time management made simple - save your time like a pro
Thanks to these time-saving tips, you can now regain control of your day.
Remember, it's all about making small changes to how we do things.
By using our advice, you can find extra time for the things you love.
Saving time isn't just about getting more done - it's about enjoying life more.
Apply our strategy today and see how much more you can achieve and enjoy.
P.S. Don't forget about Unrubble - your helping hand in everything time management-related.
