Do you ever wish your days were longer?

I know I do.

Imagine the difference 3 more hours a day could make in your life.

You could be better organized, never have to rush out of the door, do everything with plenty of time, be calm and composed. You would have time to listen to your kid(s), partner, friends without running your to-do list in your mind, in other words be present in all that you do.

Most importantly you would have time for the things that truly matter: looking after loved ones, learning, developing and taking time out for yourself.

You know what I think though?

That even with 30 hours a day we would not necessarily make good use of our time and just have a longer work day or get busy in some other way instead.

So what if, instead of wondering what our lives would look like with more hours, we learned how to regain control of our 24-hour day? What if we could be better organized, more present and calm?

It is possible with the strategies below. They have worked wonders for me and I hope that they will for you too.

 

1. Outsource cleaning

Cleaning is time-consuming especially if you’ve got a big home. Vacuum cleaning, dusting, cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, toilets…it can take up hours of your time on a weekly basis and is one of those things that (really) adds no value to your life.

So if you’re looking to save time because you want to spend (more) time with your kid(s), exercise, or simply relax, this is the first thing that I would suggest to outsource.

Yes there is a cost to it but it’s money well spent. You are buying time for yourself and your family.

 

 

2. Use Rolling Meal Plans

Meal planning is a wonderful time-saving strategy. Granted, you actually need to sit down and take the time to develop your meal plan but if you create a rolling one, you’ll only need to do it once.

And it’s well worth your time: you’ll be able to batch cook your meals and optimize your evening routines.

 

3. Do your grocery shopping online

Depending on your shopping habits, an effective shopping strategy can save you plenty of time.

We started shopping online recently and haven’t looked back.

On an average week, we biked 3-4 times to the supermarket. Between getting there, browsing through, lining at the cash register and the drive back home, we spent around 3 hours a week only on food shopping.

Outsourcing the food shopping helped us get better organized and save plenty of time.

 

 

4. Use a planner

I have tried using planners in the past but never seemed to be able to stick with it. I would use it for a few weeks and then just forget about it.

Earlier this year I decided to give another go and I’m so glad I did because:

1. I have been able to optimise my time (I can do more in less time)
2. By having everything important / urgent written down, my mind is clearer, which in turn helps me be more productive.

So, if like me, you haven’t found benefits in using planners in the past, don’t give up! Look for a planner that suits your needs and give it another go. When used properly your planner will help you regain control of your life.

 

5. Declutter

Possibly one of the best ways to make time in your life is to declutter your home.

 

 

Our home used to be a complete mess. We spent countless hours tidying and cleaning but nothing we did seemed to get the chaos under control. To put an end to it, we let go of half of our possessions or more. Now instead of spending our weekends tidying our lives away, we spent them doing the things we love.

Decluttering your home will allow you to:

1. Cut down your tidying time by half (or more)
2. Clear your mind so you can get more done

 

If you lack the time for what matters because you’re too busy with never-ending house chores, it’s time to come up with a few strategies so you can focus on more important things.

Outsourcing the cleaning and grocery shopping, planning your meals, using a life planner and adopting a more minimalist approach are all proven tactics that have allowed women (and men alike) to reclaim their time and live a more meaningful life.

Now tell me, what do YOU do to make time for what matters?