Updated: 10/21/24
In today's fast-paced world, finding ways to save time has become essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Husbands, like everyone else, often find themselves juggling multiple responsibilities. This blog post aims to provide ten fast and practical tips for husbands to save time in their daily lives.
From efficiently handling chores to streamlining meal preparation and managing work schedules, these tips can help husbands reclaim valuable time and focus on what truly matters.
1. Divide and Conquer Chores
Work together with your partner to divide household chores. Allocate specific tasks to each person based on their strengths and preferences. By sharing the responsibilities, you'll finish tasks more efficiently, leaving extra time for relaxation or pursuing personal interests.
2. Optimize Cleaning Routines
Implement time-saving strategies when cleaning. For example, group similar tasks together, such as dusting all rooms at once or vacuuming the entire house in one go. Utilize efficient cleaning tools and techniques to expedite the process, and consider using cleaning services periodically to free up even more time.
3. Embrace Technology
Take advantage of technological advancements to simplify your life. Use smart home devices to automate tasks like adjusting the thermostat or turning off lights. Explore digital tools and apps that can help you manage your schedule, make grocery lists, and set reminders, allowing you to stay organized and save time.
Here are ten digital tools to consider to organize your life.
Google Calendar: A versatile calendar app that allows you to schedule events, set reminders, and sync across devices. It offers features like sharing calendars with others and integrating with other Google services.
Our family relies heavily on Google Calendar. My wife works a lot, travels some, and has three active kids. We created a "family calendar," which we all rely on.
Related: How to Use Google Calendar for Time Management to learn more.
Microsoft To Do: An app that integrates with Microsoft's ecosystem, allowing you to create tasks, set reminders, and access your lists across multiple devices. It offers a clean interface and supports smart suggestions.
Todoist: A popular task management app that lets you create to-do lists, set due dates, and receive reminders. It also supports collaboration, making it ideal for managing personal and shared tasks.
Trello: A flexible project management tool that uses a visual board system to help you organize tasks and track progress. You can create boards, lists, and cards to manage different aspects of your life efficiently.
Any.do: An all-in-one app for task management, reminders, and to-do lists. It includes features like smart suggestions, voice input, and integration with popular productivity tools.
Evernote: A powerful note-taking app that lets you capture ideas, make checklists, and save web articles. It offers robust organization features and can sync across devices for seamless access.
AnyList: A versatile app designed specifically for managing grocery lists. It allows you to create shopping lists, share them with family members, and organize items by store aisle for efficient shopping.
Cozi Family Organizer: A comprehensive family organizing app with shared calendars, to-do lists, and meal planning. It helps coordinate schedules and activities for all family members in one place.
Remember The Milk: A feature-rich task management app that offers robust reminder options. It allows you to create and prioritize tasks, set due dates, and receive reminders via various channels, including email, SMS, and mobile notifications.
Coexist: Say goodbye to sticky notes, scattered texts, and the mental load. Meet coexist — the stress-free way to plan and remember.
These digital tools and apps can significantly enhance your organizational skills, help you stay on your schedule, and save valuable time in managing tasks, grocery lists, and reminders. Experiment with the free versions to find the best fit for your needs and preferences.
4. Plan Meals in Advance
Save time in the kitchen by planning meals in advance. Set aside a specific day each week to create a meal plan, make a shopping list, and do grocery shopping in one go. Consider using meal prep techniques like batch cooking or utilizing a slow cooker to save time on busy weeknights.
Related: Meal Planning Like a Man
5. Quick and Easy Recipes
Opt for quick and easy recipes that require minimal preparation time. Look for one-pot or sheet pan meals that simplify cooking and minimize cleanup. Explore options like stir-fries, salads, or simple pasta dishes that can be whipped up in no time.
6. Delegate and Outsource
Don't be afraid to delegate or outsource tasks when possible. Hire a house cleaner, use laundry services, or consider getting groceries delivered. By offloading these responsibilities, you'll have more time for activities that align with your priorities.
Read Our favorite meal delivery kit: Gobble. We purchase up to 3 full meals a week, and love it!
7. Sync Work and Personal Schedules
Coordinate your work schedule with your personal commitments to maximize efficiency. If suitable, communicate with your employer about flexible working hours, remote work options, or compressed work weeks. Aligning your schedules can help you achieve a better work-life balance and save commuting time.
This has been a challenge for our family. My wife has a job in the financial industry that has strong security prohibitive from syncing her work calendar to our family calendar. I have the same issue in my capacity as a Visiting Scholar at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (one-year term). We must manually add those commitments to our family calendar if they interfere with a family obligation.
8. Efficient Commuting
If commuting is a significant time drain, explore alternative transportation options. Carpooling, public transportation, or biking can help you utilize travel time more effectively. If feasible, negotiate flexible working hours to avoid peak traffic, further reducing commuting time.
We recently hosted on the Modern Husbands Podcast Rudy Salo, the Forbes Contributor for their transportation section. He shares in detail ideas for capitalizing on the efficiencies of public transportation. Be on the lookout for the episode.
9. Utilize Downtime
Make the most of idle moments throughout the day. Use your lunch break to catch up on personal tasks or engage in a hobby. Listen to audiobooks or podcasts during your commute or while doing chores to maximize productivity.
That said, downtime can increase your productivity if you actually use your downtime to relax. Everyone is different, but there is evidence that trying to be an ongoing productivity machine can be counterproductive.
When a person works more than 50 hours a week, productivity per hour drops sharply, according to a Stanford University study. After 55 hours, productivity drops so much that putting in more hours would be pointless. And, even those who work 70 hours a week do not produce any better results than those who put in 55 hours.
10. Practice Time Blocking
Implement the practice of time blocking to enhance productivity. Set aside specific blocks of time for focused work, family time, relaxation, and personal pursuits. By allocating time slots for each task, you can ensure you accomplish what needs to be done and avoid wasting time on distractions.
Dr. Whillans is a world expert in the relationship between time, money, and happiness. She teaches at Harvard and serves as a Modern Husbands Advisory Board member. We hosted her on the Modern Husband Podcast, where she shared helpful ideas for managing our time, including the importance of avoiding time traps. Time traps are often what we prioritize over blocking personal and family time, which over time creates problems.
Saving time is crucial for husbands seeking to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Time is a precious resource; using it wisely can bring more joy, fulfillment, and quality time to your life.
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