29 Ways to Get Things Done Faster
By Woman's Day Staff
Be a Super Timesaver
From doing house chores to shining at work, knowing how to save time does wonders for your stress levels-and can even save you money. Find out the best ways to get more out of your day while enjoying life-from morning to night-with these great tips from Woman's Day's past 75 years. Photo credit: Thinkstock
Make the morning a breeze
1 | Start the day right. When the alarm goes off, take a moment before you jump out of bed to close your eyes and picture yourself calmly going through your day. February 2006 Photo credit: iStock
Related: Boost your mood with 7 quick moves.
2 | Skip washing your hair if you did it yesterday. You don't actually need to wash it every day. August 1961
3 | Plan out more than your clothes the night before. Decide on shoes and jewelry, too. February 2006
4 | Rise and shine a half-hour earlier than the rest of the family. You'll feel less frazzled. October 1982
5 | Limit yourself to five weekday makeup products-three is even better (mascara, concealer, lipstick). September 2011
6 | Stagger wake-up times if there is only one bathroom. October 1982
7 |Designate a single convenient location for "out-the-door" essentials, such as your purse, school bags and keys.September 2001
Zip through chores
8 | Slip old socks onto your hands for an inexpensive and fast way to dust. It's an especially great way to clean venetian blinds. May 1943 Photo credit: Thinkstock
9 | Set a time limit and use a timer to finish a task. You'll be surprised by how much you can accomplish when you're racing the clock. September 2003
10 | Shop when stores are at their emptiest-early morning or late evening. The weekends are the worst time. August 1977
11 | Color-code each person's bedsheets for instant recognition. October 1982
12 | When taking wet clothes out of the washing machine, give them a shake before putting them in the dryer. They'll dry faster and with fewer wrinkles. June 2003
13 | A home that smells fresh looks cleaner automatically. Is the kitchen reeking of fish or is the laundry room musty? Set out a bowl of white vinegar to soak up odors. November 2007
14 | Instead of lugging out the vacuum, pick up pet hair on upholstered furniture by running a damp sponge over its surface. September 1998
15 | When mopping the floor, place the bucket of water on an old piece of fabric and slide it along as you work. This saves lifting and never marks the floor.
September 1956
Succeed at work
16 | Plan to tackle your most difficult problems at your peak time of day when you're fresh and alert. January 1982 Photo credit: iStock
Related: Find out 9 things you should never say during an interview.
17 | When you're under deadline pressure, close your email program and turn off the ringer on your phone. February 2006
Conquer the dinner rush hour
18 | Keep tortillas in the fridge. Practically everything you make with them is fast: quesadillas, burritos, wraps. October 1998 Photo credit: iStock
19 | Save time defrosting ground beef by dividing it into 1-lb patties and freezing flat. April 1968
20 | Cooking pasta? Choose angel hair. It's the fastest noodle to cook. May 1986
21 | For quick cleanup, use fewer dishes when you cook. Mix the salad dressing in the same bowl you'll use for the salad. Grate cheese directly onto food. September 2000
22 | A chilled onion is easier to slice and chop-and causes no tears. February 1982
23 | The skins will practically slip off garlic if you plunge the head in boiling water first, then soak it in cold water. October 1949
24 | Make a marinated vegetable salad ahead of time and serve it straight from the fridge. June 1986
25 | Number the lids and bottoms of plastic containers with a permanent marker. They'll be easy to match, so putting away leftovers is a snap. September 2005
Wind down at night
26 | Establish a routine to signal your mind and body that it's time to rest. Try a cup of chamomile tea or a warm bath scented with lavender. February 2006 Photo credit: Thinkstock
Related: Fight signs of aging while you sleep.
27 | If you exercise in the evening, do it at least 3 hours before going to bed. Your raised body temperature needs time to return to normal so you're not too revved up to fall asleep. September 1994
28 | Dim the lights about an hour before bedtime. It will prepare your body for sleep. April 2005
29 | Make your to-do list before bed. Getting it on paper helps you relax and avoid waking up 2 hours later because you're worried you forgot something. February 2006
Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.
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