Tips for saving time at Christmas

As Christmas rolls around it seems that the list of ‘things to do’ starts expanding beyond belief while the number of hours in our already busy day stays exactly the same. While some people enjoy the frantic frivolity that Christmas can bring, others find it to be a very hectic and emotional period when much of their attention, time and energy is focused on everyone else. Unfortunately, this means it can become almost impossible to find a few hours of spare time to enjoy the things you love.

So basically…Christmas can be exhausting!

If this sounds all too familiar and you find yourself getting caught up in the hype of the silly season, then try of a few of these time savings tips and hopefully you can reclaim back those few hours of relaxation you deserve.

Tips at work

Limit your hours at work
Try setting a limit of how many hours you would like to work each day and stick to it. This works best if you prioritize your tasks in the morning and get the most important things finished first. Not only will this make you feel more relaxed for the rest of the day (by getting the big jobs done) but you are also less likely to stay back at work that extra hour or so if you have all of the most important tasks out of the way.

Work harder, not longer

Once you have started a project or task put all your energy and concentration into completing it, rather than chopping and changing between many tasks. It may be difficult at first, but you will get a lot more done by tackling each task individually. This also works most effectively if you clear your workspace of anything that might create a distraction such as mobiles,internet, magazines, etc.

Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’

If you are starting to feel like your work commitments are piling up, learn when to say no to requests, or delegate them off to someone else who is happy to help. While this is something many people find difficult, it is important for your wellbeing not to take on too many things at once. If you find that you are already struggling to get everything done in your day, don’t hesitate to say no when people make extra requests of you that take up your time. Whether the person is asking for you to do an extra piece of work or take on an entire extra shift, politely explain that you would love to help, but are simply too busy to make time for that right now. In fact, this tip can (and should) be applied to every aspect of your life, not just at work.

Tips for home

Try to keep everything organized and clutter free
By keeping your home free of clutter it is much easier to relax and not feel guilty about needing to clean. Also, if you just take a few seconds to return things to their ‘place’ when they have been used then it will save you having to spend an hour doing a big clean at the end of the week. Additionally, you will save even more time by not having to search for things in the clutter!

Get your kids to help clean up too

It is great to get the little ones into the habit of cleaning up after themselves and helping you clean up main areas such as the living room and kitchen. Try making it a game by seeing how quickly you can all clean up together or singing a song while cleaning. Not only will this save you cleaning up their mess, but you can also save time cleaning up your own mess with your kids help.

Prepare things the night before

Whether you have to get yourself ready or the whole family, preparing things in advance can save a lot of stress and rushing around in the morning. Making lunches and preparing clothes are easy to do the night before and can even be done during the ads of your favorite shows.

Don’t waste too much time watching TV

Watching a few favorite shows each week can be a very relaxing way to wind down. However, if you find yourself flicking through channels with no real purpose, or watching repeats of shows you’ve already seen three times, maybe you could spend that time better on something else, such as reading or catching up with friends and family.

Plan meals ahead (and make them easy)

If you have a rough idea of what meals you would like to prepare that week you can save yourself time by doing one big shop rather than rushing to the shops every evening for small amounts of food. Also, when you are preparing meals, cook large batches so they can easily be frozen and reheated when you don’t have time (or can’t be bothered) to make dinner another night. If that doesn’t suit search on the internet or in cookbooks for meals that can be prepared quickly…they do exist.

Try to get errands done all at once

If you have some time during the week that you can allocate to all those little errands that involve driving around then try to get them all out of the way at once so you don’t waste time doing them separately.

Keep a diary or calendar

This will make it much easier to keep track of how much you are actually taking on. If you see that your diary has several days in a row that don’t have an inch of space for free time, then make sure you leave some time free on the next day and don’t overbook yourself. Also, this means that you can avoid making extra commitments when you already have more than enough things planned.

Consider hiring someone

Although sometimes it may seem cheaper to tackle jobs around the house on your own rather than hiring someone, this may not always be the case. If you attempt to fix something but do so incorrectly you may end up spending twice as much as planned. Furthermore, you may be better off spending that time working, especially if your pay is more than the amount you would have to pay someone else. Finally, if you really are finding life to be far too hectic and stressful because of the time of the year, then it makes sense to hire someone to help out because it will save you a lot of stress, even if it doesn’t always save you money.


Preparing for the big day

Christmas shopping - Make a list or shop on the internet
Christmas shopping can be truly overwhelming. First you must try to find time to do the shopping then get a parking space, navigate through the huge crowds and finally choose presents that will suit everyone! It seems like a lot to think about but there are ways to ease the stress of present buying. Firstly, it is 2010 so if you can’t think of anything worse than entering a shopping centre before Christmas, have a go at shopping online. Not only will it save you time and energy by not getting caught up in the crowds, but there are also some great bargains around on the internet and it can be lots of fun looking for them. However, if you prefer the traditional way make a list before you go, look in catalogues for specials and get a good idea of exactly what you are looking for. This means that your shopping will be more focused and you’ll get in and out quickly (hopefully with all of your presents!)

Suggest a Kris Kringle

In addition to draining our precious time and energy, Christmas shopping also drains our wallets. The best way to get rid of all three of these problems is by suggesting a Kris Kringle with your family, friends or work colleagues. By doing this each person only has to buy one present, so not only is it convenient for you but also for everyone else involved who is probably having just as much trouble fitting everything in around Christmas time. It’s cheaper, easier, involves much less shopping and is a lot of fun.

Cooking

Once again, try to find meals that are easy to prepare and/or desserts and snacks that can be prepared before the day and frozen. BBQ meat and salads are very quick and easy for lunch or dinner and socializing with people while getting the food ready is basically part of the process. Also, ask your guests to bring something. There is no law to say that the Christmas host has to prepare everything! People are usually more than happy to chip in and bring along a salad or dessert and this prevents one person putting in all the time and money.

Decorating made easy

This one is simple: If you don’t have time to decorate…then don’t! A little pre-decorated Christmas tree and a few bon-bons with your meal are enough to create the Christmas spirit.

Finally, remember to enjoy your day

This one may not be a time saving tip but it is very important. With all the stress and preparation that comes with Christmas sometimes we forget that it is meant to be a joyous time, so I hope everybody has a wonderful day!

By Amanda Lamont – ADAVIC Volunteer – December 2010

http://zenhabits.net/the-essential-time-saving-guide-for-busy-people