As the year draws to an end, many of us suddenly realise how quickly time has simply flown by. It feels like the celebrations to usher in 2010 were just a few weeks ago, and here we are, already planning how to welcome 2011.

Fact is, we inadvertently waste a lot of time each day without even realising it. Simple activities like waiting in between appointments and our leisurely morning rituals take up a great deal of time, but it does also allow us to squeeze in a few other activities as well. With some creativity added to your existing timetable, you do actually have the ability to shave valuable minutes off your schedule that can then be used to do better things — spending time with children for example, or reading.

Do it now
When it comes to email, voice mail, or paperwork, take instant action — read, answer, delete, file — so you don’t have to come back to it later. That email that you’ve been trying for days to word correctly is probably much easier than you thought, procrastinating over it is doing you no favours. Write it, read over it once, and then it’s a go. The faster you attend to something, the less time it will take to attend to later on.

Morning news
It can wait, really. Stopping to read the newspapers is a leisurely activity you should save for a spare moment in your schedule. Taking time off in the morning eats into time better spent exercising, or perhaps catching up with family.

Wait efficiently
Don’t go to the doctor or any other appointment without taking something to do, like work papers to read, correspondence to catch up on, or even that newspaper you skipped this morning. If you have an Internet-enabled smartphone, you can achieve even more — pay bills online, for example.

Double time
Doing two things at once isn’t always a bad thing. Next time you’re in a conference call, reorganise your desk — after all, it’s a fairly mindless job that won’t be too distracting. If you’re at home, make double batches of cookies to save for later, so you don’t have to spend time baking again. With the festive seasons coming up, this is something to keep in mind.

Be decisive
Every minute spent waffling can slow down your ability to take action. For example, rather than spending six hours researching the best round-trip airfare deal — only to save RM50 in the end — give yourself a short time frame to make the necessary comparisons, then make a decision.

Lighten up on your cleaning standards
This doesn’t mean compromising on your hygiene standards at all, but spreading it out better. Quickly wipe down the shower stall each day instead of spending time on a big scrub down every week, and replace rugs that need steam cleans with cotton washable dhuries.

Write it down
Constantly cycling through a to-do list in your mind hinders productivity and creativity. Carry a notepad with you (you can also use the note functions on your phones) and jot down what’s got to get done, clearing your mind so you can come up with work solutions and new ideas more quickly.

A tech-turn off
Pinpoint the time of day when you are at your freshest, and remove all distractions. Close your email inbox and put your phone on silent so you can get the maximum amount of work done. You’ll be much more productive this way.

Monitor time-sapping addictions
Watching television can be really absorbing and before you know it, a five-minute breather has turned into an unnecessary hour-long break. Reducing your television-watching time by five hours a week adds up to 11 extra days a year, so there’s a compelling enough reason to switch off the telly. If it’s the noise you find comforting, switch the TV to a music channel, or better yet, play some music.


This article appeared on the Live it! page, The Edge Financial Daily, October 26, 2010.