Life’s clock is always ticking, and if you’re like me, you’re perpetually seeking ways to make the best use of your time.
Over the years, I’ve gathered a host of tips and ideas to help me save time at home. They’ve transformed my daily routines, providing more leisure time to spend with family or on hobbies.
Ready to dive in? Here’s a list of my favorite time-saving hacks for home.
1. Create a Designated “Drop Zone”
Who hasn’t had those frantic moments of searching for keys or wallets when running late?
My first lifesaver is creating a designated “drop zone” near the entrance. Equip it with hooks for keys, baskets for wallets and other knick-knacks, and a shoe rack.
This simple hack will save you minutes every day, which can accumulate to hours over the month. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.”
2. Employ a Slow Cooker or Instant Pot
Think of your slow cooker or Instant Pot as your private chef who takes care of meals while you attend to other duties. You can dump in all ingredients before starting your day and return to a ready-to-serve dinner.
The possibilities are endless: from pot roast and pulled pork to soups and stews. What’s more satisfying than a home filled with the aroma of a meal slow-cooking itself?
3. Implement a Color-Coded Laundry System
Sorting laundry is a chore that feels like a brainteaser.
Solve it by using a color-coded system. Assign different colored baskets for white, dark, and colored clothes.
This way, when laundry day rolls around, your clothes are pre-sorted. Plus, it’s an engaging way to get kids involved in chores.
4. Create a Family Command Center
A family command center or message board in a central location of your home can be a lifesaver.
This is where you post important reminders, schedules, and to-do lists for everyone to see.
It’s a simple and efficient way to ensure everyone stays organized and on the same page.
5. Embrace Smart Home Technology
Transform your house into a smart home by automating tasks like adjusting the thermostat, controlling lights, and watering plants. It’s like living in the future, where your house takes care of itself.
6. Organize Your Mail System
Piles of unsorted mail can cause stress and sap time from your day. To tackle this, set up a system using labeled folders or a digital scanner.
Separate your mail into categories like ‘Bills,’ ‘Personal,’ ‘Work,’ etc. Going digital? Scan documents and store them on your computer or in the cloud.
As Marie Kondo states, “Clutter is caused by a failure to return things to where they belong.”
7. Invest in a Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
Imagine your floors getting cleaned while you’re working or even sleeping. This isn’t a fantasy when you have a robotic vacuum cleaner.
It’s like having a small helper dedicated to keeping your floors dust-free, providing you more time for other tasks.
8. Use Multitasking Cleaning Products
Cleaning can be time-consuming, especially when you need to switch between various cleaning products for different surfaces.
Opt for multi-purpose cleaners. With one product, you can clean your kitchen countertop, bathroom tiles, and even windows. It’s a cleaning cupboard in a bottle!
9. Master the Art of Meal Planning
What’s for dinner tonight? If this question often leaves you blank, try meal planning.
Plan your weekly meals and do all your grocery shopping in one go. Implement a rotating menu system where you assign specific meals to different days of the week.
Planning your meals eliminates daily store trips and the need to spend time deciding what to cook each day.
10. Label Everything
Label makers might seem like an office supply, but they are magic wands for home organization.
Label your spice jars, storage containers, pantry items, and anything that can be labeled. It’ll prevent the search-and-rescue missions for ingredients while cooking.
As someone who loves a good system, I firmly believe that “Labels are the first step toward clarity.”
11. Keep a Handy Notepad or Smartphone App
Ideas and tasks often pop up when we least expect them. Keep a notepad or smartphone app handy to prevent them from slipping away.
From jotting down an idea for a blog post to listing items needed from the grocery store, this little habit can be a big time saver.
12. Automize Your Pet Care
Opt for automatic pet feeders and waterers to ensure your furry friends are cared for even when you’re away or busy. This saves time and ensures your pets are properly nourished.
13. Pack a “Go Bag”
Gathering essentials can eat up valuable minutes when you’re rushing out the door.
The solution? A small “go bag” with items like charging cables, headphones, and travel-sized toiletries.
It’s like your personal grab-and-go kit, always ready for any spontaneous trips or outings.
14. Use a Family Calendar or Scheduling App
Family logistics can sometimes resemble a military operation. Streamline everyone’s activities, appointments, and reminders by implementing a family calendar or scheduling app.
This “single source of truth” prevents scheduling clashes and ensures everyone knows who’s doing what, where, and when.
15. Set Up a Central Charging Station
Tangled cords and missing chargers can be a thing of the past with a central charging station for electronic devices.
It eliminates the need to search for outlets or untangle cords, and your devices are always ready to go.
16. Distribute the Workload of Household Chores
Implement a rotating cleaning schedule where each family member takes turns tackling different household chores.
This distributes the workload and ensures a clean home without one person being solely responsible for all the cleaning tasks.
17. Assign Specific Days for Household Tasks
Randomly deciding when to do chores can drain your mental energy.
Assign specific days for grocery shopping, cleaning, and other household tasks. This helps establish a routine and reduces the mental load of constant planning.
18. Streamline Your Wardrobe
Ever stared into a closet full of clothes with nothing to wear?
Streamline your wardrobe by organizing clothes based on color or type. This simplifies your morning routine and reduces decision fatigue.
After all, Steve Jobs wasn’t wearing the same turtleneck every day just for fashion’s sake.
19. Keep a Toolbox Handy
Minor household issues can crop up anytime. Having a small toolbox or essential repair kit on hand means you can quickly fix these issues without rummaging for the right tools.
20. Keep a Kitchen Whiteboard or Chalkboard
A whiteboard or chalkboard in the kitchen can prevent those last-minute trips to the store for that one forgotten item.
Just jot down what you need as soon as you realize it, and the next person heading out can grab it.
21. Organize Documents in a Digital Filing System
If you’re like me, you’ve got important documents and receipts stashed away in various drawers and folders.
Simplify your life by organizing these in a digital filing system or cloud storage.
It will save you from rummaging through papers when you need a specific document. Remember, “For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned.”
22. Use Grocery Delivery or Meal Kit Subscriptions
In today’s digital world, grocery shopping or meal prep can be as easy as a few clicks.
Use an app or online service for grocery delivery or meal kit subscriptions. You not only save time but also gain the chance to try new, delicious meals.
23. Implement a 10-Minute Daily Decluttering Routine
A cluttered home can often lead to a cluttered mind. Implement a 10-minute daily decluttering routine to keep your living space tidy.
It’s a small commitment with big returns, preventing those overwhelming cleanup sessions.
24. Implement a “One-Touch” Rule
Deal with tasks requiring immediate attention immediately rather than letting them pile up.
It’s surprising how much time you can save by following the “one-touch” rule.
Got mail? Don’t just toss it on the counter. Open it, read it, and take the necessary action.
25. Opt for Self-Cleaning Appliances
Investing in self-cleaning appliances like ovens or dishwashers can save time and effort. It might sound like a luxury, but the time you save makes it a worthwhile investment.
26. Use a Clothing Steamer
Ironing clothes is a time-consuming task.
Use a clothing steamer instead for quick, wrinkle-free garment refreshment. It’s faster, easier, and you don’t have to deal with the hassle of an ironing board.
27. Organize Your Important Documents
Set up an organized system for storing and categorizing important documents, such as warranties, manuals, and medical records. This saves time when you need to locate specific documents in the future.
28. Set a “30-Minute Power Hour”
Once a week, set a timer for 30 minutes and tackle as many small tasks as possible.
Whether it’s organizing a drawer, decluttering a shelf, or sorting paperwork, this focused burst of productivity can make a huge difference in your home’s organization.
29. Maintain a Donation Bin
Keep a bin or designated area in your home to collect items you no longer need.
Once the bin is full, donate its contents to a charity or organization. This ongoing decluttering strategy saves time compared to purging all at once.
Wrapping Up
There you have it! My comprehensive list of time-saving tips and ideas for the home. Remember, time saved is time earned. So, adopt these hacks, save time, and enjoy the extra moments with your loved ones or doing things you love.
As Carl Sandburg said, “Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.” Spend it wisely!
