Our days are busier than they’ve ever been in previous generations. Many people work two jobs to survive in this inflation-filled world. It’s no longer common for one parent to stay home with the kids while the other works. Now it’s common for both parents to work, and this sometimes has negative consequences on the children. This means that the parents may not have as much time to assist with homework or teach vital life skills to their kids. I would like to one day move to a quieter area and live a slower pace of life but until then, I’ll look for ways to simplify my life and make the days less hectic. Here’s how you can simplify your day.
Tidy Up the Night Before
This is something I learned from my mom growing up. Tidy up your home the night before and there will be less to do in the morning. Wash and put away all dishes, mop and sweep the floors, put loose items back in their proper places, and wipe down counters and appliances. Have the kids tidy up their spaces at night and create a visual nighttime chore chart of tasks they must do before bedtime.
Start With the Most Urgent and Difficult Tasks
Another way to simplify your day is to start with the most urgent and difficult tasks. When you get these out of the way, you can continue with the less time-consuming and easier tasks. Suppose you’re a freelance writer. Your most urgent assignment is a complex article that covers the latest federal legislation that affects education in the client’s state. When you wake up, avoid scrolling on social media or checking emails of minor importance. Bring your laptop to a quiet place in the home and let the people in your home know that you’re carving out two to three hours of focused work. Once the article is submitted to the client, you go to your next most important tasks.
Lay Out Clothing the Night Before
By laying out and ironing outfits the night before, you don’t have to stress about what to wear the next day. If you have teens at home, have them do the same with their outfits to avoid being late for school. On Saturday or Sunday afternoon, you can lay out several outfits to iron and hang up for the upcoming week.
Get a Whiteboard Calendar or Planner
My aunt is a social worker with a busy schedule. In her room, she has a whiteboard calendar where she writes down important dates and tasks for the month. Purchase a whiteboard calendar or planner where you can write down important tasks you’ll need to complete. Get some colorful markers and stickers to make it fun.
Give Everything a Home
Simplify your day by giving everything a home. It becomes easier to find what you need, and you’re not spending hours trying to locate certain items. It also saves you money because you won’t need to buy duplicates of what you already have. If your kitchen is cluttered and hard to navigate, reorganize it using this principle. Clear out everything and toss out what you don’t use. Purchase a caddy for sponges and dish rags, and pour the dish soap in a cute soap dispenser. Put your small everyday appliances, such as the coffeemaker and toaster, on the counter. Remove everything else from the counter for a clean look. Use drawer organizers to separate your silverware.
Set Timers for Tasks
I like to set timers for certain tasks so I won’t spend too much time on any of them. Simplify your day by setting timers for your most boring tasks. It creates a sense of urgency to complete your tasks, and you can stay focused for chunks of time. Use a block schedule for each task and set a timer for each block of time. If you’re preparing freezer meals for use later in the week, set a timer for the number of hours it will take to fix and store the meals.
Reject Unnecessary Requests for Favors
People want you to do things for them, but it doesn’t mean that you have to be readily available for everyone. You can set boundaries and turn down requests for favors you’re unable to do. Politely tell them that while you want to help, you can’t do so because of more important priorities.
Run Efficient Errands
Errands are necessary, but you can run them efficiently to save time and make your day less hectic. If your spouse or other relatives live near the places where you run errands the most, ask them to run the errands for you. Use grocery store websites to pick and pay for groceries before visiting the store and getting them. Use your off days to run errands so you won’t have to do them every day after work.
Take Breaks as Needed
Nonstop work without rest is a recipe for burnout. Take breaks as needed so you can rest and recharge for your next task. Ideas for breaks include reading a good book, eating a healthy lunch, walking your dogs, calling friends, or listening to good music.
Get in a Good Night’s Sleep
When you’re sleep-deprived, it becomes hard to survive the next day. A few hours before bedtime, avoid screen time and instead do more relaxing activities that help you calm down for the night. Make your bedroom dark or use dimmed lights. Keep your bedroom’s temperature between 60 and 67 degrees. Tidy up the bedroom before falling asleep to create an organized and neat space.
With increasingly busier schedules, it’s not surprising that our days are more hectic. These are just a few ways to streamline tasks to minimize the chaos and have a more productive day.