Simplify things to save time

AS time is a precious commodity that’s always in short supply for most of us, we should design our lives in ways that will enable us to use less effort and time to carry out our daily tasks.

The key to saving time lies in good planning. Before you buy or do something, give it some thought first instead of jumping right into it.

Strive to be systematic

Whether it’s preparing meals, performing household chores, running errands or tackling work. Do things in an orderly fashion by making checklists, getting organised and focusing on the task at hand instead of multitasking haphazardly.

Opt for furnishings will minimal maintenance

If you are renovating, refurbishing or furnishing your home, pick furnishings, fixtures and appliances that will facilitate your lifestyle and require minimal maintenance.

For instance, if there are children in your household, don’t go for natural wood flooring, plush carpets or fabric sofa sets that can be easily soiled or worn out, and require a fair amount of maintenance.

Choose customised furnishings

Built-in wardrobes, storage cabinets and TV consoles not only neatens the look of the home, but also makes cleaning a breeze as there are fewer nooks, crannies and sides for dust and dirt to gather in.

Be systematic

Create as much storage space as you can and organise your belongings systematically. This enables you to find things easily when you need them, and leaves less clutter lying around the house and gathering dust.

Invest in handy home appliances Household chores like marketing, cleaning and cooking take up a considerable amount of time, especially if we are not privileged to have the services of domestic helpers.

If you have to work as well as prepare meals for the family, use home appliances like slow cookers, thermal pots and pressure cookers to help you whip up meals more efficiently.

Plan meals ahead

Prepare soup stocks during the weekends and freeze them in separate portions which you can defrost and use to make quick soup dishes and gravies. When planning meals for the weekdays, opt for ingredients like fish, broccoli, beans and frozen vegetables which are quicker to prepare and cook, as well as nutritious.

Don’t procrastinate

Tackle simple tasks immediately, like washing up used utensils while food is cooking on the stove or doing a quick cleanup after taking a bath. If you allow soiled items to pile up or gunk to accumulate, those cleaning chores will become much tougher and time-consuming to tackle later on.

Allocate a play and study area

Instead of allowing your children to mess up different parts of the home, allocate an area for them to play and study, and provide storage space for them to store their belongings afterwards.

Be smart in your shopping choices

Try to buy clothes that do not crease easily or require ironing, and get appliances (such as fruit juicing machines and ovens) that are easy to clean, or well-designed gadgets that can reduce the time needed to perform household chores.

Keep yourself in check

With the growing number of distractions such as Internet, Facebook, computer games and cable TV, time runs out faster each day. Strive to be more disciplined about curbing activities that are big time-wasters by setting aside a fixed amount of time to enjoy them. — Singapore Straits Times / Asia News Network