We’ve talked about it many times, trying to weigh the value of your time versus how much money you’re making. Are you wealthier making 40K per year working 30 hours per week or making 80K working 60 hours per week? It’s an ongoing struggle for most of us, desperately trying to find a balance that makes us happy while still making us enough money to live comfortably. I don’t have the answers, but I’ve been trying to incorporate a few very simple things to give myself a little more time during the day.

• Don’t Watch Commercials
  In today’s world of Tivos, DVRs, and inexpensive movie rental options like Netflix and Blockbuster, there is really no reason to sit through commercials, which account for nearly 30% of a typical hour of prime time programming. Record your favorite shows or simply rent full seasons and watch everything without commercials. It’s much more enjoyable and you’ll save tons of time.
• Work From Home
  Not everyone has this option, but if 20 minutes of work from home on a Sunday evening means you can leave work an hour early on Friday, it’s probably worth giving it a shot. Obviously, if you have the flexibility to actually work from home on occasion, it’s usually a good idea.
• Exercise Regularly
  As opposed to drinking that morning cup of coffee or three, exercise for 15 minutes, even if it’s just walking around your neighborhood. Yes, this requires time, but your energy level will increase and you will be able to get more done faster for the remainder of the day. That should leave more leisure time for you.
• Pack Your Lunch
  Again, this requires time, but will save you more in the end. Use the commercial time you saved by recording your favorite shows to pack a healthy (or unhealthy) lunch for yourself the next day. I’m not saying you have to eat at your desk or anything crazy like that. But don’t waste 30 minutes running to Applebee’s when you can eat your lunch in 5 minutes and spend the rest of your break doing something fun or productive.

Tags: saving time at work, time saving tips, work from home, work life balance

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