7 Ways To Make More Time In Your Day

There's no way to physically add more hours to the day - let's face it, we're not going to wake up tomorrow with 25 hours to kill rather than 24. But you can fit more stuff into your day by making the boring stuff - the admin stuff, the emails, the work stuff - shorter. You might not think that you have any time, and you might not think that you can be any more productive than you already are, but chances are, you can. There are plenty of things you can do to squeeze more time into the day, so read our seven tips to find out how to make more time in your day.

Get Rid of the Big Chunks

Big chunks that aren't being put to good use - now, in this context, "good use" really depends on what you determine to be good use - are wasted time. If lounging around with your family is good use, then make more time for it. If watching television for a few hours is good use, go for it. If you spend loads of time doing nothing - surfing Facebook, browsing the net or reading news article after news article, there are plenty of ways to cut it down.

Set aside an hour of the day to catch up, then move onto something else. If the internet is your problem, turn it off. If you're working, you don't need to be able to look at Facebook. Turn off the internet on your phone if you're likely to pick that up and use it instead.

Work Vs. Play

If work takes up too much of your time - which it is liable to, because after all, it's what you do to make a living - there are a few things you can do to be more productive and therefore, to squeeze more time into your day. Get into the habit of checking your emails twice a day, once in the morning and once at about 3pm. Put a note into your email signature that you'll reply to emails within 24 hours. You also need to work smarter. If you're working for someone else, don't do everything that you normally do in eight hours in two as you'll be given additional work that you might not be able to cope with. But if you work for yourself, think about outsourcing some of your work or turn down jobs that aren't paying the right rates.

See Also: Do You Have Problems Organizing Your Time?

Boring Stuff

We all have loads of boring stuff that we have to deal with on a day to day basis. But you can shave time off your daily or even weekly chore list.

If you can afford to, hire a maid! In terms of admin - paying the bills, sending letters, arranging household expenses, designate two hours per week to doing it. Keep any correspondence that comes in during the week in a specific spot, then know that you'll deal with it in that timeslot.

Reclaim Those "Gap" Hours

"Gap" hours are those hours in the day that are spent doing something, but that could be spent doing something more useful. Commuting to work, for example, waiting in line at the store, sitting on the sofa during the ad breaks of commercials, waiting for the kettle to boil. Although you might not think that you can achieve much during those gap hours, the truth is that you most definitely can. Whether you choose to do something useful with that time is up to you. Yes, you could answer emails. You could do a bit of work. You could get to your correspondence. Or, you could read a book. Listen to music. Listen to an audiobook. Catch up on the news with a news app. Alternatively, if you're out and about, use that time to engage. Speak to people around you, say hello, and have chats with people you've never met before. You'll really expand your horizons - all while waiting for the bus.

Do the Right Things

This might sound a bit odd, but it's really important that you do the right things. You might think that you're being productive by spending hours emailing clients or by crafting carefully written letters to follow up with customers, but you could be spending that time doing other things.

Think about what is most important out of those tasks - your email, your writing, your coding. Whatever is most important should go at the top of your list. Whatever is least important, but that still needs to be done, should go at the bottom. You could do things like set up auto-responders on your emails or craft replies to questions that you often receive so that you can speed through HR/customer service enquiries.

Bin the Baggage

We've all got that one friend or family member - or just a relationship with someone - that weighs us down. That makes us feel exhausted, tired and just downright depressed once we've seen them or had a conversation with them. These people take, take and take a bit more but are often reluctant to give anything back. Save time, energy and effort - and make yourself a lot happier in the process - by getting rid of these people from your life.

See Also: How To Avoid People Who Steal Time

Get Organized

If the things on your desk are organized, or your clothes or your kitchen cupboards, your mind is far more likely to be organized too.

Banish clutter from your home office if you have one or from your desk at work. Know your schedule, know what you have to accomplish this week or next week or just what you want to get done and you'll soon get there.