Using short periods wisely

Most small chores can be don in small chunks of time. You can, for example, pay bills while you're waiting at the DMV, or riding the bus, or you can write out your shopping list, review your lists. If you have a cell phone (see finances) you can make short phone calls - to confirm your next appointment, etc. Here are some more ideas for what you can do when you have small amounts of free time.

Break large tasks down into smaller chunks. This makes them more manageable, less daunting, and you can work on them "in your spare time".

5 Minutes

• Water the plants
• Load the dishwasher
• Write your shopping list
• File your nails
• Make or confirm an appointment
• Sew on a button
• File your nails
• Order tickets to the play, ball game, concert, etc.
• Make out a guest list
• Load/unload the washer/dryer

10 minutes

• Write a short letter or note
• Re-pot or feed a plant
• Iron
• Organize your desk
• Exercise
• Read a few passages from the bible
• Spend a few minutes straightening the closet.

30 minutes

• Crafts project
• Vacuum a room or three
• Weed a small section
• Sort through magazines
• Write a longer letter

These are just a few ideas to spur your imagination, the idea is to use those spare moments to their fullest, so you get more accomplished during the day. Those few minutes can add up to a lot of time - and tasks.

More organization tips

• Lists Setting up a calendar and lists to assist in the organization process.
• Message Center Setting up a central place for messages and important information.
• Are you organized? A quick quiz to find out how organized you are, and how much you can do to make yourself more organized.
• Make your own organizer Making your own organizer to track tasks and dates.
• Telephone tips Ways to save time and frustration with the telephone.
• Errands and appointments Making the most out of errands and appointments.
• Using short periods wisely What to do when you only have a few minutes.
• Mail How to handle mail efficiently.
• Housework Make housework more productive and effective.
• Company Preparing for, and entertaining, company.
• Company Kit Setting up a kit for when company arrives on short notice.
• Each evening Preparing for the following day.
• Simple tidying Life can be easier if you set up areas for situations, tyding up the whole house.
• Laundry Ways to save time and money with the laundry.
• Distributing the Burden You don't have to do it all yourself, you can share the load.
• Delegation How to delegate effectively.
• Child's room Keeping your kid's rooms tidy.
• Storage Where to put things.
• Pack rat How to avoid being a pack rat.
• Messy Closet Cleaning out a messy closet.
• Garage Sale How to have a successful garage sale.
• Moving Sorting through your stuff for a move.
• Prevention Some ideas to prevent cleaning chores.
• Odds and ends How to deal with odds and ends that just kind of show up to clutter a room.
• Organizing Your Home Basics of organization.

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