Time Saving Tip: Use a timer to save time and get motivated!
I’m a big fan of using a timer to help myself save time. A timer helps me set time limits on tasks where I normally might lose all sense of time. (Pinterest anyone?) And it also helps me stay focused for longer blocks of time on tasks where I might typically distract myself. This works particularly well for writing projects. I set the timer for thirty minutes and then focus solely on writing. If something pops up and distracts me, I jot it down on a nearby distractions pad and deal with those things after the timer dings. It’s amazing how much more gets done when you allow yourself to focus on just one thing at a time.
A timer is also a great tool when you’re procrastinating on a task. Set your timer for fifteen minutes and make the agreement that you’ll simply get started on the task you’re avoiding. When the timer goes off you have permission to stop…but usually I find I don’t want to. I’m over the hardest part of all: getting started. 🙂
Finally, I love using a timer to declutter, especially with my kids. It’s so much easier to get their buy in on fifteen minutes of making progress decluttering their bedrooms, than it does to say “let’s go through your closet, dresser and desk this weekend.” By working in these smaller focused sessions, I find that we actually make greater progress—more unneeded stuff walks out the door.
Now it’s your turn. I’d love to hear how you use timers to get things done, or if you have another time saving tip, please share it in the comments.
Remember, every comment you leave is good for one chance at a spot in It’s About Time, and you can share as many tips as you’d like. Thanks for sharing! Here’s a quick recap of all the ways you can enter to win.
1. In the comments, share a favorite time saving tip. OR…
2. For a second chance to win link to this giveaway on Facebook. OR…
3. For a third chance to win, tweet this giveaway with a link on Twitter. OR…
4. Do all three for three chances to win!
Make sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do—posting your time saving tip, linking on Facebook, or Tweeting. You’re welcome to enter everyday—so keep the tip sharing, Facebooking and tweeting coming. 🙂 Tomorrow I’ll wrap up this series with one last time saving tip…and we’ll draw the workshop winner! So be sure to check back here tomorrow.
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I’ve got 3 young kids, so the clutter piles up and I don’t get a chance to clean until they’re in bed and I’m exhausted. We often use timers to make everyone happy: I’ll set the timer for 10 minutes, and during those 10 minutes one of my older girls gets to play a computer game while the other helps me pick up clutter. When the timer beeps, it’s time to switch… the cleaning sister gets computer time, and the one who just played gets to help. It keeps me from being the “bad guy” all the time, and they love the timer!
Oh, the timer is a big friend of mine as well – and I found another great motivator: my sleeping baby! I just noticed the other day that I am a big fan of the “let’s do this-one-more-task before she wakes up”-approach, haha!
As for time-saving-tips: that would have been better yesterday with everyone writing about travelling, but anyhow: I keep a kit of toiletries ready to go – this way, when we go out of town, I just have to grab the bag and everything is in there: toothpaste and -brush, floss, showergel… – and by the way, it’s a nice backup-kit in case I run out of something… ;->
…tweet, tweet…
…and I put it up on facebook as well…
Timers… my kids love them! Timers keep me honest because I get totally sucked into the task at hand and my kids know that about me so they hold me to it with the timer.
A different time management tip I got a couple of years ago from an article about Hillary Clinton. An interviewer asked her how she stayed organized on the campaign trail and her response was colored bags. I snagged that idea for my purse and now I save tons of time digging around my purse looking for asprin… it is in the blue bag, sanitizers/wipes = red bag, memory stick & headphones (anything technology related) is in the purple bag. I found the bags @ Target in the travel section. This is one tip that I have been able to stick with.
Another holiday timesaver … when packing up to come home again, I pack all the dirty laundry into one holdall. Then when I get home, I can throw a load into the washing machine as soon as I walk in the door!
I have a two-story house and to avoid running up and down to get something I use on both stories, I have duplicates. Upstairs- cleaning supplies, scissors, pens, notepads, towels for baths, etc. Downstairs- same sets of items needed for baths, desks, etc. And I have a basket on the landing in-between floors to gather items that go up or down.
Another fan of timers!
I often set one to limit my time on facebook, emails, blogs I follow,etc. I like to have a few minutes to myself each day but can spend hours if I don’t watch it. It keeps me honest and allows me to get more done.
I also do the basket on the stair thing for my kids. I have a small basket for each. At the end of the day each child is responsible for taking their basket to their room and putting things away.
Since I can’t hear the washer or dryer signals from my office, I use a timer function on my phone to alert me to when my clothes need to be dealt with. I’m a lot more likely to get the clothes done and put away, rather than have them sitting and getting mildewed or wrinkled.
I use the timer to try to get things completed faster than usual – like beat the clock. I could spend days working on a single scrapbook layout, but sometimes I decide to see if I can complete it in an hour. The challenge makes it fun, and I usually finish whatever project I am doing in less time because I want to beat my time.
I think the tips you gave today were wonderful. I do that in the kitchen. I hate cleaning dishes!!! I turn the timer on the microwave on and try to beat the clock.
I set ten-minute timers for three rooms every day to clean within that time. I have been doing this regularly, and it has helped me to keep my house neat and clean.
I havent used timers for cleaning but I will often have the tv on and need to get something over before the show ends or a one I have been wanting to watch begins