If you’re busy, you can always benefit from the best productivity hacks. I’ve learned many ways to save time and money, so I’ll share them with you.
Try These Best Productivity Hacks
When it comes to the best productivity hacks, one quote says it best: “Time is money.” – Benjamin Franklin. I can’t think of a more appropriate way to describe how valuable productivity hacks can be. So, while some ways to maximize your time and others save money, the best ones save both. Here are six of my favorite hacks that I invite you to try.
Use the One-Touch Method
The first time I heard about the “touch it once” approach, I wondered how it could work. A few experiments later, I was a believer. Now, it’s almost automatic to get through mundane, repetitive tasks as efficiently as possible. In other words, touch it once and be done with it. Think of this method as how to simplify your life, another example of conscious clearing.
- This method works wonders for handling email. However, first set up filters so you keep your inbox clear of spam, junk, or ads. Use filtering for newsletters and emails you want to refer to later, such as SEO tips, trusted vendors, family, and friends (even if you’re managing work emails, because family may try to reach you there).
- How do you touch it once for email? Read it through and decide if you must reply now, should forward it to someone else to handle, it’s information only, and you can delete it, or you need to work on it now. The less time you spend on emails, the more time and money you gain.
- While you’re at it, unsubscribe from all those newsletters and vendor ads that clutter your inbox. You’ll be amazed at how much time you’ll save not having to pore through these.
Make Routines Your Friend
You may think routines are boring, but they are extremely valuable in boosting efficiency. Besides, anytime you can do something as part of a healthy daily habit, you streamline the flow. This applies to how you prepare for the day, what you handle at work, how you manage cash flow and the family budget, your workout regimen, and so much more.
- What constitutes a routine? This is something you do regularly in sequence. Think of routine as a series of steps to complete a necessary task. For example, consider the order in which to prepare the nightly family meal, or when and how you set out the trash bins for weekly pickup.
- But suppose you don’t like the activity? You can make a necessary routine your friend by thinking about the ultimate benefits. For example, if you’re in physical therapy, the exercise regimen helps you regain your strength and return to your normal activities.
- Also, while you add and perfect your routine to streamline it further, remember that you’re saving time and money. Thus, you make routines your friend. Here are more tips on how to do this.
Best Productivity Hacks: Use Tech to Work for You
One of the simplest ways I save time and money is using technology, specifically apps, to work for me. I’m always on the lookout for deals, and tech is great for this. It’s also helpful when someone mentions an item they need. So, I constantly use shopping and wish lists, as well as price or sale notifications.
- Amazon has both shopping and wish list categories that you can create. Since I use Amazon Prime and also have a Business account, I linked the two. I have shopping lists that work for both, and further split them by shopping list-work, shopping list-home, shopping list-garden, shopping list-beauty, and so on. When we were looking for deals on reformers, I created one specifically for that.
- Another huge time and money-saving tech hack is ordering groceries and other items for pickup. Besides, who has time to dawdle in the store when you can shop online, put it in the cart, schedule a date and time for pickup, and you’ve scored a terrific productivity boost.
- However, if you want an item but don’t care for the price, use an app that notifies you of a price drop. Microsoft Edge shopping is excellent for this, as are other apps. I regularly use this to jump on a deal for something I want (and sometimes simply because it’s a bargain).
Develop a Plan – But Remain Flexible
It’s too easy to get bogged down in everyday activities, to the point where the end of the week arrives and not much is complete. Here’s where it pays to have a weekly plan in place. But you’ll also want the flexibility to change when something comes up or schedules must be altered. So, this is another of my best productivity hacks.
- Your weekly plan should have open-ended days, if possible. This gives you breathing room, and your time doesn’t feel so rigidly structured.
- Besides, when you allow yourself a free day (all things considered) to do what you want, you’ll naturally try to accomplish more on your scheduled plan days.
- How does a plan save you time and money? When you know what’s on the schedule, you’re not wasting time or money (since money is time and time is money) trying to figure out your next move. Plans also allow you to gather the necessary materials, resources, or help to get the job done.
- Remember that all goals need good plans – and that includes a weekly plan.
Spend Your Idle Time Wisely
Did you know that Americans average more than 5 hours of daily free time? You can refer to this as spare time or idle time, yet much of this bonus doesn’t get good use. For best productivity hacks here, let’s think of the few moments between meetings, while the pot boils, when waiting for an appliance to finish a cycle, and the like. You can save time and money by trying these out:
Jot Down Notes
Besides ensuring you don’t forget something important, notes can jumpstart creativity for other tasks. Suppose you want to write a paper and need a strong title for SEO purposes. Experts suggest coming up with a few and picking and choosing words from them to settle on the best. Using your idle time to brainstorm and jot down titles is smart, saving you time and potentially money.
Get a Few Steps In
If you’re like me, there’s precious little time for a full daily workout or going to the gym to do some serious reps. I like stepping in place, walking the stairs, going in and out of the house to get the mail, papers, flyers, whatever. The point is you move, do something productive while you’re waiting. It’s a way to maximize idle time easily, but how it saves you money depends on you.
- Besides, you may save on blood pressure medication or some other meds (or prevent the need to take them).
- Another money-saving possibility from this hack is how much gas you save by not going to the gym or elsewhere for exercise today.
Meditate or Self-Reflect
My favorite idle time hack is closing my eyes to meditate or do some self-reflection. This is particularly helpful to calm stress, restore a sense of balance, and clear my head. Also, see my tips on how to be calm and relaxed.
One of the Best Productivity Hacks: Delegate More Often
Too much time working on what others can and should do is a waste of time and money. However, when you delegate appropriate tasks to others, you’re saving both time and money. Avoid the tendency to think only you can do it best, because that robs others of the opportunity to learn, grow, and show what they can do. Delegating is a simple way to increase your productivity.
- Start with small tasks if this feels uncomfortable at first. I promise that you will feel more at ease when you see how much your productivity improves when you alleviate some of the burden and can focus on more complex matters.
- Remember that persistence pays off and matters, in this and all of the best productivity hacks. If you want to get better and see efficiencies, keep at it.
