Daily Time Management Routines

Once you proactively DECIDE that you’re going to start working out on a consistent basis, the next logical question is WHEN?  There is so much we have to get done in a day that it can make our heads spin and utterly exhaust us.  Did you see this on Pinterest?  

That totally feels like me some days.  I am back to work now, so time management is especially important these days.  I’m going to share some time savers that I’ve been employing lately in my quest to make time for the gym.
Television is the first thing to go and I find it’s the easiest to cut out.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m still watching every episode of The Voice, but I used to keep the t.v. on all the time, even as background noise when I was blogging.  Now, I find I really prefer the sound of silence and then I can concentrate and give my full attention to what I’m doing.  
Pre-bed preparations are the checklist of things I do before going to bed that help ensure the mornings run smoother and more efficiently.  Some of these things are “little” but, when you’re rushing around trying to get out the door in the morning, it all helps.  The list includes:
  • Doing the dishes and quickly wiping the countertops in the kitchen.  It’s so much nicer to wake up to a clean kitchen and empty sink.  I feel that when I get up in the morning to be greeted with a sink full of dirty dishes, I’m not starting my day off with the best energy.  
  • Laying out the dishes and utensils we will be using in the morning (plates, forks, cups and the syrup for our pancakes).  Our kitchen is large, and if I don’t do this, I feel like I’m opening 15 cabinets and walking back and forth to get everything we need for breakfast. 
  • Setting the coffee to brew (essential).
  • Packing my son’s lunch.
  • Laying out my son’s clothes (I actually set out 5 outfits for the week).
  • Laying out my clothes (and accessories, if necessary) but I usually wear the same watch, ring and earrings everyday.  
  • Paperwork/necessities ready and in the car.  I go ahead and load up my car the night before so I’m not busy packing up in the morning.  For instance, sometimes I’m bringing my laptop somewhere, James’ freshly washed blanket and pillow to school, or 5 rolls of paper towels that need to be brought to the classroom. 
  • Packing the gym bag.  In mine, I always have my iPod, workout worksheet and pen, gloves, and water bottle.  But if you are going straight from work, obviously pack your gym clothes or leave a few sets in there – and don’t forget the shoes and socks!  
If I know the morning is going to be especially tight (or I just know I need a little extra sleep), I wash and dry my hair the night before and put it in a pony tail or wear it half up/half down the next day.  Styling my wet hair (drying + curling) takes a good 30 minutes.  You can also just shower at night and skip it in the morning, but I find I need to get at least a quick shower in the morning to help wake me up.
I’ve mentioned this before, but allowing some time twice a week to prepare several meals in advance is a life saver.  Since I’m eating several small meals a day, I couldn’t do without it.  I pack my lunch and snacks for work the night before and bring them with me.  But, there are other food preparations I like to do to save time as well.  This includes washing my fruit and vegetables and portioning them out when I get home from the grocery store.  It’s so much easier to eat some carrots and hummus when the carrots are already washed, peeled and sliced.  
We often feel that there just aren’t enough hours in the day, and truthfully, some days there aren’t.  I hope these tips help you find some “extra” time in your day.  Do you have tips you can share? 
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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

15 Comments

  1. I also get our stuff ready for tomorrow and I shower and dry my hair at night. It's a life saver with a toddler. I will have to remember to set everything out for breakfast…I always feel like I'm in a rush so that would really save some time and aggervation!
    One thing I do is completing a full load of laundry every day. I usally run the washer, then dryer, then fold later. Yes, most of the time the clothes are wrinkled and have to be ironed (which I usaully do when I'm laying out outfits) but it saves me from having a big mound of laundry to catch up on.
    Thanks so much for sharing.

  2. One thing I need to do better is food prep and meal planning. I know if prepare my food in advance I would have so much more time!

    Thank you for sharing these tips. It's always nice to see how others divide up their day. My son is 15 months old and I am still trying to figure out how to fit everything I can in my schedule.

  3. Hi Megan! I grabbed that Pinterest quote from you already – it's so true!! 🙂

    Prepping food in advance is SO important. When I cook dinner, I always cook enough for the next days lunch (sometimes 2).

    One of the ways I save time is washing all my fruit as soon as I bring it home – grapes, strawberries, etc. That way I can just grab it from the fridge at lunchtime (I'm a SAHM). It saves SO much time this way; and I'm certain the fruit lasts longer, not getting moldy! Ewe!

    I also prep hubby's lunches the night before. He works so hard for us that it's the least I can do to help him in the morning as he leaves super early. I put his foods/snacks in a drawer in our fridge so he knows that's where he needs to go to assemble everything. It saves so much money too – packing those lunches and snacks! 🙂

    Laura

  4. Yes, yes, yes to all of your tips! After my maternity leave ended 5 months ago, I quickly realized that I had to do some prep work before going to bed at night- getting baby's bottles ready, wiping counters, taking care of dishes in the sink, even putting my english muffin in the toaster! Otherwise, the next morning was a disaster!

  5. I am loving your new blog Megan!! I don't know how you do it. I need to get started on a workout and eating right plan. We are always on the go and playing catch up. I like how you're thinking through the whole week. Maybe that's a good place for me to start.

  6. Thanks for sharing your tips Megan! I am not at all as organized as you are…but it is motivating to read how things can be done. Reading blogs like yours keeps me motivated and inspired to do some of the things that apply to my life. One thing that works well for me is the home management binders to keep track of paper work.

  7. These are some awesome Idea's I have a hard time staying organized and since I started trying some of these out I find i have a lot more time and feel a lot more organized

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