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Top 5 Tips to Optimize Your Time

I don't know about the rest of you, but I like to maximize the value of my time since that is one thing money can never buy more of! My favorite phrase around our house lately has been "There just aren't enough hours in the day!"

I have found over the years that there are indeed tips to maximize the value of your time! This is how I was able to balance getting a Master's degree, having a full time job, serving in the church, and spending time with my wife all without going insane every single day.

1. Multitask during your workouts. Hands down, this is the biggest tip I can offer to you, in my opinion. Read while on the exercise bike. Watch videos on the elliptical or treadmill. Listen to podcasts while lifting weights or running outside. You can pretty much multitask every workout, and this was my biggest help when I was studying for my Master's degree.

2. Sit down at the beginning of each week and plan out all regular tasks. And when I mean all regular tasks, I mean ALL regular tasks. Meals, workouts, when to pay specific bills, mowing the lawn, doing the laundry. Heck, I literally plan out what I'm going to wear to work each day of the week. (The screenshot below is proof!) Typically when you go about your week, your mind is thinking about other things, so you may not realize how much time you waste trying to think about what's currently on your mind and, for example, trying to remember if you wore that outfit last week. I have multiple lists created within the default Reminders app on your iPhone. Find whatever system works best for you and stick to it!


3. Create an electronic, synchronized family calendar. This has been a HUGE help to my wife and me since it feels like we have things going on all the time. I have it setup between our iPhones. How it works is that she can add an event to the family calendar, and my phone receives a little notification that it was added (works vice versa, too). Then, I can go back at any time to look and see if we're booked any day. Granted, it is possible for a family to have a physical calendar to write stuff down on, but I find this process is so, so, soooooo much easier and convenient. (Plus, you can't whip out a physical calendar at any time like you can with a smartphone!) I expect most of you have smartphones, so get this setup for your family.

Bonus tip: We have a similar sort of deal setup for a grocery list. Synchronize any list you want!

4. Explore the idea of digital media instead of physical media (specifically with books). This tip may not be for everybody, but if you find yourself technologically inclined, I would definitely recommend it. Aside from the fact that they were cheaper, I found in my Master's program that I found much more value in having electronic textbooks instead of physical ones. If I ever found myself in something like the waiting room of any business, I could just pull out my phone and get some reading done instead of sitting there doing nothing. I still do the same even though I'm no longer in school anymore. The same can really be said of movies, music, and more. Books are probably the most divisive amongst people, but I almost always go digital instead of physical anymore.

5. Don't waste your time trying to think about something if your mind is currently blocked. Probably not a surprise to you, I don't write these blog posts in one sitting. Just like my "Fashion" task list, I note down topics I may want to cover in future blog posts and then may jot down additional notes on heavier topics. But there are also times were I get halfway through writing one of these posts and get writer's block. I have learned that it is almost impossible to squeeze productivity out of any person when their mind is like this, so it's a waste of time to sit there trying to do so. Instead, I suggest going and doing something else. I usually find that inspiration will hit me when doing something else and then come back to finish these posts.

So there you have it. What ways do you optimize your time? I'm always interested in hearing what works best for others!
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