More with Less Effort

Augh, there’s too much to do!

So, how can I, and anyone else, work smarter, not harder? Here a a few ideas:

  • Purge, purge, purge. If you’re done with it, find a new home for it. This makes room for the future, eliminates stressful clutter, and reduces extra work.

  • Put things near where they’re actually used. I can now unload the dishwasher in two minutes or less.

  • Things not used often go somewhere farther away. The ice cream maker gets used twice a year or so - it’ll just be in the way 99% of the time if I keep it in the kitchen.

  • Real self-esteem comes from honest accomplishment. I’m letting my kids contribute to the well-being of the whole family and developing their work ethic by giving them chores. I do the deeper cleaning and organizing, but they can handle most of the daily tidying and surface cleaning.

  • Don’t squander small slices of time. When unmotivated, set a timer for fifteen minutes and race through a boring task as fast as you can before the alarm sounds. Or promise yourself you can take a break after ten small tasks. It’s amazing what can get done when you know the “pain” is going to be finite.

  • Do several things at once. Who says you can’t talk on the phone while wiping down the counters? Or boil water for oatmeal while loading the slow cooker? Or listen to a book on CD while organizing an eyesore. Knead bread in the stand mixer while loading the dishwasher. Get creative.

  • Keep a list of stuff that needs doing, no matter how trivial. Consult the list constantly. Break particularly onerous tasks into small bits that can be checked off.

  • Plan errands to increase efficiency. The other day, I hit the feed store for laying pellets, the restaurant supply place for baking powder, a thrift store for shoes, a grocery outlet for various deals, a copy shop, and a new/used sports store (struck out on goalie gloves), and a discount store - all along one short route that took about an hour.

  • Update your calendar as soon as you make a commitment. Make sure other family members have access to the master calendar. Stuff will get forgotten/double-booked if you don’t.

  • Routines help so that less has to stay in your brain. If it’s Monday, it’s time to wash the kitchen floor.

  • Don’t let someone else commit your time for you. Be willing to be polite but firm with NO.

  • Beware of time suckers: TV, video games, YouTube, joke emails, Tweets - all these can draw your attention and rob you of productivity while giving nothing in return. Replace with books, family board games, musical instrument practice, conversation, exercise....


Spending time is a lot like spending money. No matter how disciplined we may be, there’s always room for improvement.