10 Time-Saving Tips that Could Save an Hour Per Day

Wish there were more hours in the day? Get back at least an extra hour per day with 10 time-saving tricks:

1. Schedule social media. Yes, it’s tough to miss out on all the tweets, but social media can be a huge time waster. Try this: Check social networks three times a day, for five to ten minutes each time.

2. Work out at work. We can’t all spend two days a week at the gym. Work exercise into the daily routine by running up the stairs or skipping around the building before heading through the front door.

3. Double recipes. It only takes a little extra effort to make two batches in the same time it takes to make one. Freeze half and save it for an easy lunch tomorrow.

4. Learn to say no. Big social events and even favors for friends might earn some brownie points, but is it worth the extra few hours you could spend recharging after work?

5. List everything. Groceries, tasks at work, birthdays – Write everything down and save time later trying to remember it all. List it your way – old school pen and paper or simple, organized smartphone apps like Wunderlist, Packing List, or Toodledo.

6. Automatic deliveries. The best-kept secret is scheduling monthly deliveries like shampoo, paper towels, toilet paper, and other household essentials. Save a trip to the store, gas money, and hassle!

7. Less is more. A cluttered life can mean precious hours searching through junk, endless cleaning and frustrations piling up. A good rule of thumb: When something new comes in, something old goes out.

8. Learn while listening. In big cities, people spend more than 50 hours a year stuck in traffic. Put that drive time to good use. Catch up on news, ideas and interesting topics by streaming content on an iPod, mp3 player, or even straight through the car.

9. Call instead of text. Texting might seem more convenient and conducive to multi-tasking on the surface, but sometimes things can get lost in translation and it might take hours to try to sort it out. A short call can do the trick.

10. Ask for help. It can be hard to relinquish control, but asking for help at work and home can save a lot of time and worry.

How do you swipe spare minutes throughout the day? Send us a tweet @ACISpecBenefits to share how you #buildbalance.