Atinitonews.com : Philippine News Feature - How to Get 7 More Hours in A Day- Tips for the Overworked and overscheduled!

How to Get 7 More Hours in A Day- Tips for the Overworked and overscheduled!
by Marissa Buyco-Corpus

I read this article and I would like to share it with you, dear readers. Today in this world where everyone seems to be in mad rush to go to work, to have a quick bite, to run to the subway or the bus station, to grab a few minutes to make a phone call during lunch break, to run to the grocery store after work so you can cook dinner soon after, open your emails then open facebook then do your electronic banking all at the same time …everything seems to be in a mad rush all the time !

Here are ways to make more time for yourself.

1. Handle Things Once . When you open your emails or check your messages in your voicemail, answer them right away or call them right back so that you won’t have to go back to your messages again. Studies show that this saves you 15-20 minutes everytime. The accumulated time can add up to 10 hours a month.

2. Don’t Listen to The News the First Thing in the Morning! ( Saves 30 minutes !) Depressing news can distract you from efficiently accomplishing your morning routine. You can get the news while in the subway or on your way back home but not the first thing in the morning.

3. Make Good Use of Waiting. (Saves 30 minutes) Don’t go to the doctor without bringing something to do while waiting, write letters while waiting, or bring a magazine or a book that you have always wanted to read. You can also do something while on hold in the telephone like paying bills.

4. Think Half Time. (Saves 30 minutes). Arrange carpool with friends for picking up your child, wear a wireless headset while watering the plants so you can talk on the phone or pick up toys or do laundry while talking to someone on the phone. Cook for two meals and freeze half of what you cooked for another meal next week.

5. Be Decisive and Move On. ( Saves 60 minutes). When buying something like plane fares, do research for 30- 45 minutes and decide and take action. Then you can start doing something else ! Sometimes you spends hours looking for a better deal and end up saving $20 when you could have done more things that could save more than this amount. Time is money!

6. Lighten Up Your Cleaning Standards (Saves 30- 45 minutes). Aiming at dirt removal rather than perfectly spotless can free up a lot of time. An example is wiping the shower stall soon after you shower rather than a thorough clean up once a week. Or use washable area rugs rather than carpets that need regular steam cleaning and vacuuming.

7. Write It Down (Saves 60 minutes). Just trying to remember everything you have to do in your mind hinders productivity. Carry and pad and write down everything that needs to be done, clearing your mind so you can come up with solutions to the list.

8. Turn Off Technology During Your High Energy Time (Saves 90 minutes). Identify the time of day when your mind is fresh and remove all distractions like shut off your phone or put it in mute and also turn off the computer. This enhances your productivity and allows you to focus on what has to be done.

9. Monitor Time Sapping Addictions (Saves 60 minutes). An example is reducing your television time from 4 hours a day to 3 means 7 hours free a week! Similarly, reducing time for playstation or computer games will give you more time to do other more productive things.

Add this all up and you have more than a days work! Have a wonderful day!

Marissa Corpus has BSBA and MBA degrees from the University of the Philippines and post graduate studies in Financial Management from the Netherlands International Institute of Management. She is Managing Director of Philippine Multimedia Productions publisher of the Filipino Telephone Guide, MBC Immigration Specialists, Servicio Filipino Internationale and a licensed immigration consultant being a FULL member of Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants and CAPIC. Her company was 2006 Philippine awardee as the Best Immigration Consultancy Specialist by the NPQEA. To contact writer, email her at mbcorpus@yahoo.com , check her website at www.mbcimmigration.ca or telephone at 416-266-3838 or 416-264-7676.