GON Reader Question
"I always hear people say that everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, but I feel like I’m constantly running out of time. Between work, family, and daily chores, I barely have time to sit down, let alone give back to others like I’d love to do.
How do people manage to find the time to volunteer or spend quality time with their loved ones? Can you give me some tips on how I can save time so I have more to give?"
-- Sue in Tamba Bay, FL
Maria's Response
Hi Sue,
I get it. We’ve
all heard the saying that everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. But the truth is, everyone’s 24 hours look a little different. Some of us have kids to take care of, some are balancing two jobs, and others are caring for aging parents. Life can pull us in so many directions that it feels like there’s no time left for ourselves, let alone for giving back or spending quality time with loved ones.
But here’s the thing:
It’s not about having more time—it’s about finding ways to use the time we have more
efficiently.
When you’re already juggling so much, it might seem impossible to carve out an extra hour or two, but with a few changes to your routine, you can save those precious minutes—and it all adds up. Whether it’s 5 minutes here or 15 minutes there, you’ll start to find more breathing room in your
day.
Here are 20 simple ways to save time, so you can create a little extra space for the things that matter most:
1. Plan your meals for the week—no more last-minute runs to
the grocery story or fast-food stops.
2. Cook double batches of meals and freeze half for later. There will then be plenty of nights you don't have to cook; just heat and eat.
3. Use grocery pickup or delivery services to avoid time-consuming trips to the store.
4. Set a timer for daily chores to keep yourself on track.
5. Make phone calls while folding laundry or doing other easy tasks.
6. Keep a shared family calendar so everyone’s appointments are organized.
7.
Lay out your clothes (or your kids’ clothes) the night before to save time in the morning.
8. Use voice memos to capture ideas while driving or exercising.
9. Create a
"desk day" to handle all paperwork and bills in one go each week.
10. Combine errands so you’re not making multiple trips out during the week.
11. Set a timer for social
media—it’s easy to lose an hour scrolling without realizing it.
12. Automate recurring bills so you don’t have to worry about them.
13. Use meal kits or pre-chopped veggies
for faster dinners.
14. Do a 10-minute evening tidy-up to keep the house manageable.
15. Set up auto-refills for prescriptions and essentials to avoid last-minute
trips.
16. Delegate tasks to your spouse, kids, or other family members.
17. Pre-treat laundry stains right away to avoid extra scrubbing later.
18. Use reminders on your phone to stay on top of important tasks and appointments.
19. Prep for the next day before bed—whether it’s packing lunches, setting out bags, or writing a quick to-do
list.
20. Batch similar tasks—respond to emails, return phone calls, or run errands all in one block of time instead of scattering them throughout the day.
Also keep in mind
that while another person’s life may look perfect, we’re unaware of the challenges they’re facing.
We all have our own struggles, but by making a few small tweaks to how we approach our daily routines, we can find a little extra time here and
there.
So, once you start saving that time, how can you use it to give back or do something meaningful for yourself? Maybe it’s as simple as volunteering at a local food pantry or taking a long walk with a loved one. Or perhaps it’s dedicating an hour to a personal hobby that brings you joy.
