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25 Painless Ways to Free Up an Hour a Day for Your Goals

“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” - Henry David Thoreau

What would you do if you had an extra hour a day?

This is a common barrier I run into when I write about making positive life changes: people don’t have time to pursue their dreams. People don’t have time to exercise. People don’t have time to get organized.

Well, it’s time to make time.

By using some combination of the following, you can free up an hour or more a day. Find the ones that work for you (not all will work for everyone), and then carve out that hour a day.

Then make sure you use that extra hour a day in the best way possible — book that hour on your calendar for something you really, really want to do, whether that’s work on a goal, write a book, start a business, exercise, read more, or whatever. Don’t squander this gift of time!

Make an appointment right after work. Whether it’s exercise or working on some other goal, make an appointment to do it right when you get out of work (at 5 p.m., for example). This works especially well if you have to meet someone else, such as a workout partner or other group or team or coach or partner. You’ll be sure to meet the appointment, which means you won’t stick around work too long, and you’ll be sure to finish all your tasks on time so you can leave on time. This makes you more efficient in the afternoon especially.
Wake up earlier. I’ve written about this before, of course, but I’ve found time for goals that are important to me by waking a bit earlier. Exercise, writing, reading — I do those now early in the day, so it doesn’t interfere with family time. Early in the day works well for me and many others, simply because there’s not much going on to distract or interrupt at this time of day.
Turn off the phones. You don’t have to turn off phones all day long, but you should have some unbroken blocks of time when you don’t take calls, so you can concentrate on your important tasks. This allows you to get more done in less time, as phone calls can eat up chunks of your day if you let them.
Stop checking email. This doesn’t work for everyone, but if you can stop checking email except at one or two times during the day, you can free up a lot of wasted time. Checking email constantly takes up a lot of time.
Brown bag it. Many people I know take an hour or more for lunch. While a relaxing lunch can be a good thing, if you take lunch to work, you can eat quickly and either spend the extra time 1) working on a goal; or 2) getting work done so you can leave earlier. Plus, brown bagging it saves money too.
Figure out your core work activities. What is it that you really have to do each day? I mean, the stuff you have to do or your job would fall apart. If you really think about it, a lot of the tasks you do each day (and phone calls and emails, mentioned above, are included in these tasks) don’t really need to be done each day. Sometimes you can do them less often, sometimes you don’t need to do them at all. If you can learn to focus on your core activities, you can get your work done in less time.
Cancel a meeting or two. Think about the last 4-5 meetings you’ve gone to. How many of them were really valuable? How many of them did you need to be at? It depends on your job, but sometimes you can beg out of a meeting — or just outright cancel it if you have that power — and accomplish the same thing through an email or two. You just saved yourself 30-60 minutes per meeting canceled.
Delegate. Not everyone has this option, but if you can give some of the tasks on your list to others who are better suited to doing those tasks, you’ll free up time. Do you really need to be doing everything you do, or can some of those tasks be delegated?
Consolidate errands. If you routinely do errands throughout the week, you’re spending a lot of time driving. Instead, try to do all errands on one day, and plan out an efficient route. Most people will save at least an hour a week in total.
Know your priority. What is the one thing you need to do today? Get that done, above all else, and do it first. After you do that priority task, the rest is extra really. Cut back on some of the rest to free up time.
Shrink your task list. Once you’ve identified your core work activities and your top priority for the day, go over your task list and whittle it down to the essentials. Put tasks you don’t need to do now on a someday/maybe list, delete others, delegate others. Keep your task list down to the essentials, to keep from wasting time.
Say no. One of the biggest groups of time eaters is requests from other people. All day long we get requests, in person, on the phone, in email, through paperwork. Meetings, assignments, requests for information, requests to be on a committee or team … these are all requests that will eat up your time. Say no to all but the essentials.
Get to the point. While I’m a fan of long, slow conversations, if you’re trying to make time for goals, you need to whittle down needlessly long conversations — especially if it’s just with a co-worker who isn’t a close friend. In person or on the phone, you need to get straight to the point with a minimum of chit-chat, and if the other person isn’t getting to the point, politely ask what he needs from you.
Watch less TV. Many people watch hours of TV a day. You can easily save an hour a day if you cut TV out, or just watch your single favorite show each day. Don’t channel surf.
Read less online. If you’re like me, you can spend hours a day reading online. Limit your online reading and focus on your essential tasks.
Don’t talk long on the phone. Long phone conversations can eat up a lot of your time. Instead, know what you want to accomplish and try to get that done quickly. If someone else is calling you, encourage them to get to the point, and then wrap it up when you’re done. Tell them you have to go because you’ve got something else to get to.
Avoid IM and Twitter and the like. I’m not saying these types of instant communication don’t have their uses, but if they’re always on and you’re always available, you’re always at the mercy of others. Instead, just make yourself available at set times if necessary, or not at all if it’s not necessary. (And yes, I know the irony of giving this advice after I just started Twittering.)
Search, don’t file. I used to spend a lot of time filing all my computer files and all my emails into nice, organized folders. I’d spend time every day doing this. Now, I just archive everything, on computer and email, and search when I need something. With Quicksilver on the Mac, every file is within a few keystrokes. With Gmail, every email is accessible instantly. No time spent filing!
Leave early. If you’re using these time-saving tips, you should be able to finish your essential work early. If so, don’t use the extra time to just do more work … leave early! Of course, you’ll probably have to talk to your boss about this, but many people have flexible hours and many bosses would be happy to let you go early if you get your work done. If you set your own hours, set an earlier time to leave and you’ll ensure that you get your work done by that time.
Get the kids to help out. At home, if you have kids, it saves huge heaploads of time if you let the kids help with cleaning and other tasks. At first, of course, it will cost you time because you have to teach them to do things. But once they learn … it’ll free up much of your time. My kids can help clean the house, reducing by 2/3 the amount of time I have to spend cleaning. Of course, they made the mess in the first place, but that’s another story.
Educate others. Is there something that other people submit to you that you routinely have to edit or reformat? Teach these people (maybe with an FAQ or tutorial) how to do it right or how you need it so you don’t have to make changes. Are there mistakes people are doing that you routinely have to fix? Are there things you have to do yourself because others don’t know how to do it? Educate them, and save yourself tons of time. It takes time at first, but the payoff is huge.
Automate things. If people submit stuff to you, or if you routinely have to do routine work, find ways to have the process automated. Technology works wonders these days.
Just say, “That’s enough.” Often you are overloaded with information and tasks. But if you don’t respond to all of your emails today, or don’t read all of the posts in your RSS reader, or don’t get to all the tasks on your to-do lists … what will happen? If nothing drastic will happen, consider stopping when you’ve gotten to enough.
Start work early. If you work before everyone gets in the office, you won’t have constant interruptions and distractions. You’ll be amazed how much you can get done between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. I used to do it when I worked in an office, and because I didn’t take a lunch break — I at ate my desk while working) I could get off at 2 p.m. and spend time with my kids.
Give others authority. If you have to approve things or make decisions, you might be a bottleneck — things move slower if they have to be channeled through you. Instead, give others the authority to make decisions — with clear instructions about what decisions should be made under what circumstances, and what the limits of their authority are. That’ll remove a bottleneck and free you up from having to make a bunch of huge decisions. Just have a way to monitor things as necessary.

—
If you liked this article, please share it on Yahoo Buzz, del.icio.us, StumbleUpon or Digg. I’d appreciate it. :)

25 Painless Ways to Free Up an Hour a Day for Your Goals

“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” - Henry David Thoreau

What would you do if you had an extra hour a day?

Well, it’s time to make time.

By using some combination of the following, you can free up an hour or more a day. Find the ones that work for you (not all will work for everyone), and then carve out that hour a day.

Make an appointment right after work. Whether it’s exercise or working on some other goal, make an appointment to do it right when you get out of work (at 5 p.m., for example). This works especially well if you have to meet someone else, such as a workout partner or other group or team or coach or partner. You’ll be sure to meet the appointment, which means you won’t stick around work too long, and you’ll be sure to finish all your tasks on time so you can leave on time. This makes you more efficient in the afternoon especially.
Wake up earlier. I’ve written about this before, of course, but I’ve found time for goals that are important to me by waking a bit earlier. Exercise, writing, reading — I do those now early in the day, so it doesn’t interfere with family time. Early in the day works well for me and many others, simply because there’s not much going on to distract or interrupt at this time of day.
Turn off the phones. You don’t have to turn off phones all day long, but you should have some unbroken blocks of time when you don’t take calls, so you can concentrate on your important tasks. This allows you to get more done in less time, as phone calls can eat up chunks of your day if you let them.
Stop checking email. This doesn’t work for everyone, but if you can stop checking email except at one or two times during the day, you can free up a lot of wasted time. Checking email constantly takes up a lot of time.
Brown bag it. Many people I know take an hour or more for lunch. While a relaxing lunch can be a good thing, if you take lunch to work, you can eat quickly and either spend the extra time 1) working on a goal; or 2) getting work done so you can leave earlier. Plus, brown bagging it saves money too.
Figure out your core work activities. What is it that you really have to do each day? I mean, the stuff you have to do or your job would fall apart. If you really think about it, a lot of the tasks you do each day (and phone calls and emails, mentioned above, are included in these tasks) don’t really need to be done each day. Sometimes you can do them less often, sometimes you don’t need to do them at all. If you can learn to focus on your core activities, you can get your work done in less time.
Cancel a meeting or two. Think about the last 4-5 meetings you’ve gone to. How many of them were really valuable? How many of them did you need to be at? It depends on your job, but sometimes you can beg out of a meeting — or just outright cancel it if you have that power — and accomplish the same thing through an email or two. You just saved yourself 30-60 minutes per meeting canceled.
Delegate. Not everyone has this option, but if you can give some of the tasks on your list to others who are better suited to doing those tasks, you’ll free up time. Do you really need to be doing everything you do, or can some of those tasks be delegated?
Consolidate errands. If you routinely do errands throughout the week, you’re spending a lot of time driving. Instead, try to do all errands on one day, and plan out an efficient route. Most people will save at least an hour a week in total.
Know your priority. What is the one thing you need to do today? Get that done, above all else, and do it first. After you do that priority task, the rest is extra really. Cut back on some of the rest to free up time.
Shrink your task list. Once you’ve identified your core work activities and your top priority for the day, go over your task list and whittle it down to the essentials. Put tasks you don’t need to do now on a someday/maybe list, delete others, delegate others. Keep your task list down to the essentials, to keep from wasting time.
Say no. One of the biggest groups of time eaters is requests from other people. All day long we get requests, in person, on the phone, in email, through paperwork. Meetings, assignments, requests for information, requests to be on a committee or team … these are all requests that will eat up your time. Say no to all but the essentials.
Get to the point. While I’m a fan of long, slow conversations, if you’re trying to make time for goals, you need to whittle down needlessly long conversations — especially if it’s just with a co-worker who isn’t a close friend. In person or on the phone, you need to get straight to the point with a minimum of chit-chat, and if the other person isn’t getting to the point, politely ask what he needs from you.
Watch less TV. Many people watch hours of TV a day. You can easily save an hour a day if you cut TV out, or just watch your single favorite show each day. Don’t channel surf.
Read less online. If you’re like me, you can spend hours a day reading online. Limit your online reading and focus on your essential tasks.
Don’t talk long on the phone. Long phone conversations can eat up a lot of your time. Instead, know what you want to accomplish and try to get that done quickly. If someone else is calling you, encourage them to get to the point, and then wrap it up when you’re done. Tell them you have to go because you’ve got something else to get to.
Avoid IM and Twitter and the like. I’m not saying these types of instant communication don’t have their uses, but if they’re always on and you’re always available, you’re always at the mercy of others. Instead, just make yourself available at set times if necessary, or not at all if it’s not necessary. (And yes, I know the irony of giving this advice after I just started Twittering.)
Search, don’t file. I used to spend a lot of time filing all my computer files and all my emails into nice, organized folders. I’d spend time every day doing this. Now, I just archive everything, on computer and email, and search when I need something. With Quicksilver on the Mac, every file is within a few keystrokes. With Gmail, every email is accessible instantly. No time spent filing!
Leave early. If you’re using these time-saving tips, you should be able to finish your essential work early. If so, don’t use the extra time to just do more work … leave early! Of course, you’ll probably have to talk to your boss about this, but many people have flexible hours and many bosses would be happy to let you go early if you get your work done. If you set your own hours, set an earlier time to leave and you’ll ensure that you get your work done by that time.
Get the kids to help out. At home, if you have kids, it saves huge heaploads of time if you let the kids help with cleaning and other tasks. At first, of course, it will cost you time because you have to teach them to do things. But once they learn … it’ll free up much of your time. My kids can help clean the house, reducing by 2/3 the amount of time I have to spend cleaning. Of course, they made the mess in the first place, but that’s another story.
Educate others. Is there something that other people submit to you that you routinely have to edit or reformat? Teach these people (maybe with an FAQ or tutorial) how to do it right or how you need it so you don’t have to make changes. Are there mistakes people are doing that you routinely have to fix? Are there things you have to do yourself because others don’t know how to do it? Educate them, and save yourself tons of time. It takes time at first, but the payoff is huge.
Automate things. If people submit stuff to you, or if you routinely have to do routine work, find ways to have the process automated. Technology works wonders these days.
Just say, “That’s enough.” Often you are overloaded with information and tasks. But if you don’t respond to all of your emails today, or don’t read all of the posts in your RSS reader, or don’t get to all the tasks on your to-do lists … what will happen? If nothing drastic will happen, consider stopping when you’ve gotten to enough.
Start work early. If you work before everyone gets in the office, you won’t have constant interruptions and distractions. You’ll be amazed how much you can get done between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. I used to do it when I worked in an office, and because I didn’t take a lunch break — I at ate my desk while working) I could get off at 2 p.m. and spend time with my kids.
Give others authority. If you have to approve things or make decisions, you might be a bottleneck — things move slower if they have to be channeled through you. Instead, give others the authority to make decisions — with clear instructions about what decisions should be made under what circumstances, and what the limits of their authority are. That’ll remove a bottleneck and free you up from having to make a bunch of huge decisions. Just have a way to monitor things as necessary.

—
If you liked this article, please share it on Yahoo Buzz, del.icio.us, StumbleUpon or Digg. I’d appreciate it. :)

Posted on 18 August 2008 in Productivity & Organization, Simplicity |
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Comments (62)

maurice Says:

August 18th, 2008, 9:49 am

Nice list, but I don’t agree to point 5. I think this leads to more stress.

Jen Says:

August 18th, 2008, 9:52 am

Leo (or anyone) … any suggestions on how to find more time when you have an infant? LOL … I used to think I didn’t have time to do stuff for myself before a baby, and now that I have a tiny one, I can’t find time for anything, let alone exercising, reading or working on a hobby! Agh!

Jin Says:

August 18th, 2008, 9:58 am

Jen, as the father of 3 young kids, I feel your pain :)

I’d take advantage of every minute your baby is sleeping. Then do what you enjoy. Also, when having a baby, “time to yourself” doesn’t mean you have to be alone. Sometimes you still can read a book while having the baby in your arm. (Providing he’s calm). Eventually you’ll get the hang of it.

The good news is that it only gets easier from now on. Until you have another baby :)

Adam Sicinski @ Study Matrix Art Says:

August 18th, 2008, 10:01 am

This is a good comprehensive list Leo. I think when it comes to freeing up time for goal setting, it’s more about what we refrain from doing rather than what we regularly involve our minds with.

If your readers are interested, on my blog I have posted a Goal Setting Mind Map that focuses on the process of effective goal setting and how we can utilize it to establish motivating and inspirational goals.

Writer Dad Says:

August 18th, 2008, 10:19 am

13) Get to the point! This is a big one for me. I could talk forever, especially to my wife. This is a problem when every day is packed with a hundred thousand more things to do than I possibly can. I’ve learned to get to the point, and save the long conversations for after the children are tucked in.

Fit Bottomed Girl Says:

August 18th, 2008, 10:23 am

Fantastic list! Although I can’t seem to get up and workout, I love coming into work earlier while the office is still quiet. I enjoy a cup of tea, get through e-mail and lay out my day.

Shanel Yang Says:

August 18th, 2008, 10:27 am

Getting up an hour or two earlier is the surest way to have uninterrupted extra time and I love the silence of the wee hours of the morning! It just gets me in the perfect frame of mind for a super productive day to have gotten so much done before most of my neighbors even get up. I wrote about how to do it in “How to Wake Up Early, Refreshed, and Excited!” at http://shanelyang.com/2008/04/21/how-to-wake-up-early-refreshed-and-excited/

Lauren Says:

August 18th, 2008, 10:41 am

JEN!! I hear ya - I don’t know how much useful advice I can give… when my baby was smaller, I managed to exercise by walking with her in a sling… not great, but better than nothing. (she liked it though).
Apparently some children will sit in a jogging stroller (not mine).
It does feel like you’re always playing catch-up and the best you can hope for is to catch up on sleep once in a while…
My husband and I take turns - so that one gets the chance to do something while the other is with the baby. This is not ideal (because it excludes any couple activities). The only thing that can help, in my opinion: Grandparents!! I wish we had that option more often…

Zendad Says:

August 18th, 2008, 10:56 am

Labour saving devices have led us to having even less time. I think the reason for this is that it gives us time for distractions. A prime example is when you unplug and go camping and only bring the essentials. You have gobs of free time even though you have to do dishes by hand, clean up…etc etc. Cutting out the nonessential crap is mandatory to creating more “time”.
My 2 cents.
Zendad
http://www.zendad.net

Hakan Says:

August 18th, 2008, 11:02 am

You should also put one additionnal point:

stop stumbling :)

janelle Says:

August 18th, 2008, 11:13 am

some really great advice here..thanks!

Chris Says:

August 18th, 2008, 11:14 am

I find that reading blogs take up a lot of my time. So, I made a conscious effort to include it in my schedule. I also cut down on watching t.v…I agree with you about waking up early. You get so much done when you wake up early.

What it comes down to it is your ability to prioritize. If you know how to do this, then you won’t have any problem with not having enough time.

Evelyn Lim Says:

August 18th, 2008, 11:25 am

Great list!! Time is a resource to be treasured; so it is important to spend it wisely. I’ve cut down on watching TV drastically so that I can have more time in the things that are more important to me. Attracting more visitors to my blog is definitely a goal that I’m working towards!

www.singlewrench.com Says:

August 18th, 2008, 11:27 am

Good list..Thanks

Lynn Says:

August 18th, 2008, 11:34 am

#18 would drive me nuts!

Scott McIntyre Says:

August 18th, 2008, 11:41 am

Very useful points for getting more out of our day, Leo.

To me, point 10 is one of the most key- “Know your priority”.

If you can judge every task you must achieve against its priority, then most other aspects of time management will naturally fall into place.

Of course, there is no magic formula with regards how to prioritize. Everyone will have their own system.

However, if we apply our individual system consistently, we usually can find that our numerous tasks become a little less overwhelming.

Stephen Martile Says:

August 18th, 2008, 11:42 am

I’ve found that writing a list is helpful. I’ve written my list and headlined with:

6 Most Important Actions for Today

I place this list in a location where I can see it all hours of the day and continue to work the list in priority of the most important to the least important tasks.

Glen Allsopp Says:

August 18th, 2008, 11:54 am

Where are you getting your ideas from Leo, I found a great post on the topic yesterday ;)

http://www.quicksprout.com/2008/08/17/10-efficient-ways-to-save-time-so-you-can-follow-your-dreams/

Never the less, good stuff

Pete Says:

August 18th, 2008, 12:02 pm

@Glen

You know Leo gets all his stuff from me ;)

…

The info in this post is so important to living a healthy life. I think, the bigger picture though, is the fact you can take the time to plan out some of your day. Many people allow their day to control their lives rather than vice versa. It can leave you feeling like you are constantly a step behind.

Instead, try taking Leo’s advice, and begin to plan out your time. Slowly, but surely, you will begin to plan out larger chunks of your day. I think it is a key to accomplishing any and all goals.

http://yinvsyang.com/

Caribstarr Says:

August 18th, 2008, 12:04 pm

Absolutely LOVE this list!

It really gets to the heart of how to manage a high stress environment where it IS easy to become the bottleneck or it is too difficult to distance yourself from the minutiae to see the bigger picture. Wow, I see so much of what I’ve been doing wrong (or not successfully) in this list.

Thanks!

Christy Says:

August 18th, 2008, 12:20 pm

Good list, but it seems geared towards people with flexible schedules who aren’t already waking up at 5AM every morning. I’d love to have TV in my schedule to cut out.

Mythokia Says:

August 18th, 2008, 12:36 pm

I manage to make more time by using the tips provided here, and then I just spent the extra time I got from that perusing here in even greater detail. It’s a catch-22 situation.

"Motivate Thyself" Says:

August 18th, 2008, 13:15 pm

My wife and I got rid of cable TV a few years ago and now just watch On-Demand TV/Movies off the Internet as well as DVD’s. We were amazed at how much less time we spent in front of the tube after that. It’s just WHAT we want, WHEN we want entertainment. Zero surfing.
I’ve also been getting up earlier and that’s given me more time to work on my blog. Even if I have the exact same amount of time in the day (because I now go to bed earlier) I feel I get more done in the morning than I do at night so it’s more useful time to me.
Anyway, great post!

Homemaker Barbi (Danelle Ice) Says:

August 18th, 2008, 14:03 pm

Hi Leo. Great quote about losing time through the details. I find that to be true, especially if you look back on your day before bed and try to recap what you accomplished. If you can’t think of anything, that’s a sure sign that there are too many details and not enough time for projects or goals!

I also find that my desire to get to the point and accomplish the prime directive is often not matched by others (in emails, telephone conversations, visits, meetings, etc.). It takes practice to be able to guide people towards getting their point across without being rude or hurting their feelings. I still work on this ability daily!

Thank you for the article.

Homemaker Barbi (Danelle Ice)

Jenn Says:

August 18th, 2008, 15:01 pm

I’m printing these out so that I can do a weekly review. formerly an internet marketing professional, I can spend way too much time online. It’s not to say that it isn’t productive time, but it’s not always as high a priority in theory as I make it in reality.

Overcoming Lifes Obstacles Says:

August 18th, 2008, 15:07 pm

Love the post! I like all the tips on saving time on your computer. It’s so easy to waste a lot of time on your computer doing Absolutely Nothing. Setting aside time to work and only work made a big difference between me achieving my goals or not.

TennZen Says:

August 18th, 2008, 15:10 pm

#13 is part of “Right Speech” in the Eightfold Path. In other words, say what you have to say, then be silent.

Glad to have discovered your blog.

Laura Says:

August 18th, 2008, 15:36 pm

The email thing is huge. I now only spend an hour on email in the morning and an hour after lunch or at the end of the day. I find that the people who are really desperate for an answer will call or email again. I tend to skim through headers looking for the really important stuff.

Another thing that’s working for me is hooking myself to an iPod. I’m in an area that many people pass by and will just stop and chat. If I have headphones on, they tend to walk on by. I also find it helps me focus for some reason.

Tiera Says:

August 18th, 2008, 18:09 pm

Starting work early is probably the biggest help of all. I have a full-time job as well as own my own business, so by getting an extra early start at home, I give myself time to get through my most pressing projects for my business — which leaves me less distracted throughout the day. I used to try to work during the afternoon/evening, but I find I’m much more effective during the morning hours.

The Daily Minder Says:

August 18th, 2008, 19:49 pm

Great post!

Leo Says:

August 18th, 2008, 19:52 pm

Great feedback, everyone. A couple of responses:

@Jen: Making free time when you have an infant is tough, but a few suggestions:

* Ask your husband/boyfriend to give you an hour of free time a day while he watches the infant. You can each do this for each other, so you can keep your sanity.
* Ask one of your parents, siblings, other relatives or friends to watch the baby for an hour a day.
* Exchange sitting duties with a fellow mom in the neighborhood.
* Hire a sitter.
* As another commenter suggested, do some work while the baby is sleeping.
* And yes, it does get easier!

@Glen Allsop: Thanks for the link to Neil’s similar article. I hadn’t seen it. I got the idea from this post from some feedback from a few readers who said they don’t have time for some of the changes I’ve written about. The specific ideas were mostly taken from my own experience — things I’ve tried.

@Lynn: Yeah, archiving instead of filing isn’t for everyone. However, you might be surprised — I was a filer once, and now I’m so used to archiving that I wonder why I ever filed. It’s a matter of preference, of course, but as with other things, preference can change with time. :)

Edward Says:

August 18th, 2008, 20:02 pm

Nice post!

in the physical aspect of #18 I think organizing really saves up time in the future and contributes to the state of the mind. Seeing organized folders in the office just motivates me to work but seeing a cluttered desk just tires me :D. setting up a time for it is worthwhile.

—-

I agree with number #14 watch Less T.V.
I always get caught up with channel surfing

—-

“there is time enough for everything in the course of a day if we do but one thing at a time, but there is not time enough in a year if we try to do two things at a time.”

MikeWhobikes Says:

August 18th, 2008, 20:43 pm

Great post! I’m with you 100% on #14. I stopped watching TV about 5 months ago now and I don’t miss it at all. That’s opened up around an hour a day for me and that’s a noticeable difference.

Tim D Says:

August 18th, 2008, 21:42 pm

Another great post. I just started the exercise habit again because of your fantastic website (it’s motivating in and of itself). I’m working out 20 minutes everyday for 30 straight days alternating between running and strength training. I just wake up 30 minutes earlier that’s all it takes. My first goal and hopefully many more to come. My 4-5 most important things mirror yours (reading,writing, running, lifting and family) Thanks again Leo..

Helena Denley Says:

August 18th, 2008, 22:07 pm

Hi,
I’m new to this blog.
Today’s post is an interesting read.
I just posted about item number 8 “Delegating” yesterday, as I had my first appointment with my new personal assistant.
Very worthwhile, I’m looking forward to so much more getting done now.

The Baroness Says:

August 18th, 2008, 22:10 pm

This is a great article! It made me realize how much time I waste on a regular basis.

"Motivate Thyself" Says:

August 18th, 2008, 22:13 pm

In regards to #13 Get to the point: I can’t stand small talk! It’s the whole, “How’s the weather?” kind of thing. I have too many things that I want/need to do than to shoot the breeze with someone. And if I do want to relax, the last thing I want to do is have a “go nowhere” conversation. So I would have to agree that this is key to having more time and being more efficient. I’m a passionate person with many goals and dreams. I just feel that there’s too much out there waiting to be experienced. The last thing I want to do is talk about the cost of cantaloupes at the local supermarket. But that’s just me. : )

Susan Says:

August 18th, 2008, 23:15 pm

Hi everyone,

One evening about two years ago I heard myself say to my (then) seven year old ‘I don’t have time to hear about your day’. That was such a shock that I immediately decided to make some changes.

I now work part time and live more simply. In 20 hours per week I earn enough to meet the necessities of life for myself and my two boys. All the essentials are covered and I have the time and energy to listen to my kids and they love that I can come to their sports carnivals and special assemblies. I also have time to bake, walk, read, potter in the garden, chat to neighbours, daydream. My days are far from ‘efficient’ but they are certainly relaxed and informed by my priorities.

Jen - my recommendation is when your baby is sleeping you should rest and relax too, so you have the energy to enjoy your baby. All that busy work will wait.

tadeusz Says:

August 19th, 2008, 2:43 am

I switched from bus to bicycle commute. The bus took about 2.5 hours a day. Now I’m down to 1.5 hours (What was that thing called traffic jam again?) and I get exercise for free. That’s exactly 1 extra hour a day, which I now use to write my masters thesis.

Childless Dude by the Beach Says:

August 19th, 2008, 3:13 am

Those of you with kids but think you have less time or the kids keep you from your goals, you may not know how lucky you are. There are many people out there with no families, no kids, and wish they had such.

The grass is always greener, eh — I work for myself, have survived as a freelance writer for more than 12 years, have my first movie coming out, publish books, yadda yadda, but I’m childless and family-less and it is something important missing from my life, so much so that it makes my accomplishments almost meaningless besides the pay checks that pay rent and get food — for who else do I have to share it with, to whose benefit are my future royalties and foreign rights money…no one.

And that sucks.

Glen Allsopp Says:

August 19th, 2008, 3:23 am

It’s cool, I didn’t really think you would have copied the idea ;)

Ru Says:

August 19th, 2008, 4:52 am

I thought 25 was great, but what if I do not have any authority to give away?

Regular Dad Says:

August 19th, 2008, 4:58 am

I do all but about four of these. The biggest thing that helped me was to only answer emails and phone call at specific times during the day. Allowing me to focusing on the priorities of my job really reduced my stress levels.

Tdukes Says:

August 19th, 2008, 7:02 am

Perhaps we just free up the moment and accept life as is, now, as it unfolds into consciousness. And maybe it happens again, moments stringing together as we energize the gift of the next breath. Just a thought from an old grouch: http://www.thisoldgrouch.com.

Joe | A New Band A Day.com Says:

August 19th, 2008, 7:38 am

The way I waste SO much time is by flipping through channels and just reading reams of interesting stuff on the internet, which is all very enjoyable on the surface, but ends up leaving me frustrated because I don’t have time to do things creative that really satisfy me.

It’s a hard nut to crack, that one, but really worthwhile if you can manage it. Great ideas there - thanks!

Joe - http://www.anewbandaday.com

Elizabeth M. Johnson Says:

August 19th, 2008, 8:44 am

Terrific list! As a general timesaver philosophy, I would suggest asking yourself one of the essential questions: “What’s in it for me?”. If you can determine that there is little or no reward in the activity for you, you can and should eliminate it. Additionally, it becomes easier to prioritize –and therefore save money–when you are mindful of the value (or lack thereof) in daily activities.

Lisa | Holistic Treatment for Depression Says:

August 19th, 2008, 9:41 am

Now, I’m certainly not “overly efficient” — but it does seem that my struggle is being too focused on getting things done, and I can overlook just enjoying my kids. So, at least three times a day I just throw myself on the floor and let them jump all over me. It reminds me how lucky I am and puts things in perspective.

Letting go of the need for the house to be perfectly clean (ha ha) certainly frees up time, as well.

Todd Says:

August 19th, 2008, 11:29 am

I love the tips. I have been trying to urge my readers to find that one hour out of the day to exercise and these tips are great to follow.

-Todd
http://www.fitnessatlunch.com

Ryan Says:

August 19th, 2008, 12:12 pm

It’s amazing how much time you have when you stop watching TV! (Except for this week…curse you Michael Phelps!)

Making the commitment to cut back/eliminate on your TV watching allows you to pursue you goals definitely, but once you get deep into those activities and consumed by them, TV become less and less interesting.

Great advice Leo!

EscapeVelocity Says:

August 19th, 2008, 17:10 pm

One thing I haven’t seen yet–ban reading material from the bathroom :).

Roxanne Says:

August 19th, 2008, 21:41 pm

What a great list. So simple, but so effective.

Gloria Says:

August 19th, 2008, 23:51 pm

Getting up early works best for me. It’s quiet and peaceful, and I accomplish my best writing early in the day.

daisy Says:

August 20th, 2008, 10:43 am

http://www.surfingdaisy.com/2008/08/todays-feature-finding-time/

Dave Dragon Says:

August 20th, 2008, 13:26 pm

Thanks for a great list on how to recover some time for yourself in this way-too-busy world.

We all need to slow down and smell the roses, or plant some.

Thanks Again!

-Dave Dragon

Matt Says:

August 20th, 2008, 15:29 pm

Great List

All too often we say we don’t have the time to do something when the reality is we don’t really care to do it enough to find the time.

bayuadji Says:

August 21st, 2008, 7:16 am

I use https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4476 to block some website during office hours, and it double my productivity.

Santhosh Says:

August 21st, 2008, 12:56 pm

I follow your blog quite regularly. This post really makes sense to me. Most of the points you have raised apply to me. I am still trying to get into the action mode, but is taking time.

Good post.

sofia Says:

August 23rd, 2008, 0:04 am

nice blog and the most i love is the picture. i imagine i and my love sitting their. ohhh how romantic.

Riffkirt Says:

August 24th, 2008, 17:00 pm

This has inspired me and I have now cancelled my subscription to cable television.

Thanks

Andrew Mason Says:

September 1st, 2008, 3:16 am

Great post, totally agree on the email distractor. I am just blogging about my little experiment to reduce my email usage as I counted that I checked email 84 times a day! Far too much,.,

Steve Shapiro - Random Gong Says:

September 2nd, 2008, 19:42 pm

26. Read fewer blogs.

Just kidding, ever since using Google Reader, I scan blogs really quickly, and I love reading them.

Autumn aka "Thoughtful Mom" Says:

September 9th, 2008, 13:39 pm

Just wanted to send you a quick thanks for the tips on successful blogging. I am new to the whole blogging world and found your tips very helpful. Love your site. Thanks for taking the time to put so much effort into it.

Thanks again!
Autumn aka “Thoughtful Mom”
http://momsmakingadifferenceeachday.blogspot.com/

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