Making simple changes to your daily regime can equate to hours saved per day, per week and ultimately, per year. Try some or all three of the recommendations listed here and realize the priceless value in making time to save time.
I'm no doctor, so this isn't about eating vegetables, exercising or even about drinking 8 glasses of water--though they all sound like logical advice. I'm a business person and business people plan, implement and measure things in real-time. And then we do it again. Do you want to see immediate results in time savings? Here are three ideas for you to consider.
1. Get up an hour early.
If you are a freelancer, you could even realize more profits if you take on an extra project during the early hours. Even if you just got up an hour earlier to eat breakfast, your energy level could be impacted positively. The key here is going to bed early enough to get adequate sleep so that you can wake up to being your best. You may want to start getting up 15 minutes earlier, and then 30, 45 and then finally an hour earlier. Always track what you have accomplished during that time. You could even try this out just a couple days per week to see how positively it impacts your life.
2. Stay up an hour longer.
If your brain sparks with creative ideas in the evening instead of the sunshine hours, try staying up an hour longer to finish a project, learn a new skill or schedule time with the family for a movie. One of the keys to success here is that you must accomplish something that is measurable, so that you can track your progress. Another important aspect is that you must get adequate sleep if you plan on staying up longer. This may not be a viable option for early birds; however, it could work extremely well for those who tend to enjoy the moonlight.
3. Telecommute or consolidate your travel time.
For various reasons, telecommuting once or more days per week may not be an option for some. For those who find it difficult to get the boss' seal of approval, try consolidating your travel time. On the way to work, leave an hour early to do your grocery shopping and eliminate the need to make a separate trip later on. Remember to view the weather and travel forecast and avoid those orange barreled routes that may impair your ability to get to your leisure or work destination on time.
Whether you decide to get up earlier, stay up longer, telecommute or consolidate your travel time, measure the difference in your attitude and accomplishments. Why not put our unmanaged time to use and turn those wasted hours into meaningful hours that not only add minutes to our lives, but increase our joy when we are at our very best?
And finally, do not forget to reward yourself by spending some of those "saved" hours on a well deserved vacation. I'm planning mine now. But for today, I decided to get up an hour earlier and write an article entitled, "How to Add an Hour to Your Life Every Day."
For more great information on time managment, read "Smart Time Mgmt Tips to Help You".
