Jeremy Kaplan
We all want more time. Whether that is more time to complete work tasks or projects, have more activities with loved ones, or simply to dedicate to yourself, you will probably benefit from freeing up some more time. But is it possible to do this?
Of course it is! It just takes a bit of time (ironically), effort, and determination. Often, there is the “so much to do, so little time” mentality that prevents us from boosting our productivity. The following tips will help you get rid of this thought and make it a bit easier to complete your daily tasks and free up more time.
- Control the distractions
We all know that getting distracted is probably the biggest culprit when it comes to low productivity. And with our smartphones, social media, the internet, and the availability of information in general, it is now easier than ever to be easily distracted. This makes it so much more difficult to stay focused on the task at hand, which ultimately drains your time. These distractions are often crucial to determining how much free time you have.
You need to take control of these distractions. It is much easier said than done—after all, how many times have we fallen for the trap of “just quickly” checking social media, only to find yourself doing so for an hour or two. Luckily, there are apps that temporarily block your access to these digital distractions. Try using these apps and you’ll be surprised at how much you boost your productivity.
- Improve your organization
Organization also plays an important role in freeing up time for yourself. By setting up your home or office in an efficient manner, you’ll greatly improve your productivity and thus open up more free time. You don’t have to be a control freak, but with a bit of tweaking, you can be organized.
Organize things logically and make life easier for yourself. For example, store items you use on a regular basis in places that are easy to remember and reach. Also, group things together in sensible ways, such as storing writing tools together or cooking utensils in its own drawer. You can even go one step further and create labels for everything. By having a logical, easy-to-use system, you’ll make working, cooking, cleaning, and any other activity so much more efficient.
- Declutter
You might not know it but clutter can take up a lot of your time. Just think about how much time and effort you devote to cleaning your home. Cleaning is so much more difficult if there’s a ton of stuff lying around here and there. By decluttering, you’ll reduce the time it takes to clean and it’ll all be a breeze. For example, you can get the dusting done much more quickly now that there are fewer surfaces for dust to collect on. And if you decide to move house, you’ll save yourself a bunch of hassle since you’ll need to pack less.
And clutter is not all about cleaning. It also relates to how much time you spend on repairing and sorting your items. If you keep plenty of items that degrade over time, you’ll be devoting quite a bit of your valuable time maintaining these things. And don’t forget how much time it takes to sort through paperwork if you’re inundated with mail, files, and magazines. But what is the point of that if all these items do is collect dust?
- Ask for help
Don’t forget that you’re not alone! You don’t have to do everything on your own especially if you feel overwhelmed by your tasks. Getting assistance, no matter how small it might be, can significantly reduce your workload and make everything much easier. And when you just want to have a bit more time, getting help is often the easiest way of doing it.
Hire a babysitter so that you have some time to yourself, for you and your partner, or for your friends once in a while. Ask a coworker to assist you with a task to speed things up. Enlist the services of a moving company when preparing for a big move. Get help from friends or a professional when completing a home improvement project. Usually, when there is a task to be done, there is also someone who can help you.
These were a few tips on how to free up more time. Whatever your reason for wanting a bit more time, take action now to improve your productivity, organization, and living space to have more free time on your hands!
