Time-Savers for Busy Parents

The routine is familiar. You get up early and help the kids get ready for school while you prepare for work. Then you load everyone into the car for drop-off, grabbing a cup of coffee on the way. When you get to the office, you answer e-mails and if you're lucky, run an errand at lunchtime. Then it's a rush to get the kids to sports practice before heading home to whip up dinner in 15 minutes or less. After the meal it's time for homework help and then just one more story before bedtime.

It's tiring just reading about a hectic day for a typical family. How can you get everything done and still be able to relax and enjoy your kids? Sorry to say, wishing for extra hours in the day hasn't worked yet. But this is where clever time-savers and multitasking tips can help. It might not seem like much, but over the course of a day or a week, these tips can save you precious hours so you can spend more time with the family.

• Use a Rolodex. Say goodbye to the ratty old phone book that's so full of crossed-out names it takes forever to find what you're looking for. Instead, take a tip from the office and save time by keeping numbers at your fingertips.
• Avoid the bank and post office. Buy stamps and get cash back at the supermarket during a shopping trip. Or go to usps.com online to order postage for home delivery.
• Limit how long you work on tasks at home. Don't be vague and say you'll do something until it gets done, or commit to spending a day cleaning the basement. Instead, give yourself a block of time for each task. You'll work more efficiently when you know you're on a deadline.
• Making a return? Leave the shopping bag in your car. Once you know an item has to go back, don't leave it sitting around the house. Keep it in the car so you can take care of it right away if you happen to pass the store.
• Let go when it comes to housekeeping. If you can live with a little dust and dirt, try scaling back your cleaning schedule. Or better yet, spring for a twice-monthly cleaning service. This way you can pursue a hobby or share a special activity with the kids in the time you'll save.
• Double-book your kids' appointments. Whether they're going to the dentist or to get a haircut, schedule back-to-back visits on the same day. It's a bonus if you can get your own teeth cleaned (or hair styled) at the same time.
• Make stations for homework, crafts and paying bills. When everything you need is in one organized place, you'll save time chasing down paperwork and supplies. Use a basket to hold the monthly bills, stamps, pens, envelopes and a checkbook in the kitchen or office. For kids, stack art supplies and homework materials (notebooks, calculators, pencils) in divided bins.
• Prepare the night before. Sure, it's tempting to head right to bed when you're exhausted. But spending a few minutes getting things organized at night makes the morning go smoother. Set the breakfast table, pack lunches, lay out clothes, gather coats and umbrellas and charge your cell phone so you can grab and go in the morning.
• Use the grill, even when it's cold out. If you can bear a few minutes outside, cook dinner on the grill for speedy cooking times and faster cleanup.
• Do your shopping alone. You'll get it done in half the time if you don't have the kids in tow. Try to run errands at lunchtime or before you pick the kids up from school or daycare.

Once you start to cut corners here and there, you'll be surprised at how many other ways you'll find to do things more efficiently than before. Taking a step back and looking at things in a new way can be a real eye-opener and a time-saver.

Related Articles Juggling Your Job and Your Kids? Finding a Good After-School Program

External Sources American Academy of Pediatrics. Parenting Corner Q&A: working mothers. Accessed November 19, 2007. University of Illinois Extension. Sharing household work. Accessed November 19, 2007.

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