Time is incredibly valuable, and once it’s gone, you can’t get it back. You probably have a lot of things you’d like to do, but often, there just doesn’t seem to be enough time. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, which might not feel like much, but it’s what we’ve got.
The problem is, that we often waste this precious time on things that don’t really benefit us or help us achieve our goals. This can limit our potential and hinder our chances of success. So, here are five common time-wasting activities I’ve observed, along with some easy ways to save time.
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5 common time-wasting activities to avoid right now
Cleaning
Cleaning is essential, but spending hours on a weekly deep clean is not the most efficient use of your time. Instead, try tidying up as you go. Put things away immediately after using them, and clean up your kitchen right after cooking. This ongoing maintenance will keep your space clean and save you from the need for marathon cleaning sessions.
Some tasks like vacuuming can’t be done in small increments, but you can still optimise them for efficiency.
Multitasking
While vacuuming or doing chores, it might be tempting to multitask by listening to a podcast or trying to remember what you’ve learned that day (known as Active Recall). Doing multiple things at once can seem productive, but it’s important to stay focused and not spread yourself too thin.
Sleeping Late
Your sleeping habits have a significant impact on your daily energy levels and overall productivity. If you struggle with your morning routine, it’s likely linked to an irregular sleep schedule.
Staying up too late can leave you feeling tired the next morning, leading to less efficient and effective work throughout the day. In some cases, you might even have to redo tasks, wasting precious time.
Additionally, hitting the snooze button can be a counterproductive habit. Those extra minutes in bed could be used for meditation, reading the news, or other beneficial morning activities. To avoid morning stress and lateness, aim to go to bed earlier and train yourself to get up promptly.
Fixing your sleep schedule and establishing a positive morning routine may not be easy, but it’s an investment in your future that will set a productive tone for the day ahead.
No Prioritising
Often, it’s the little tasks that, when added up, consume the most time. Think of it like spending money on small daily expenses, such as buying bottled water instead of refilling a reusable bottle or grabbing coffee on the go. Individually, these expenses may not seem significant, but over time, they can accumulate into a substantial amount. Similarly, those small daily tasks, while not individually time-consuming, can end up being the only things you accomplish.
Instead, tackle the big, challenging tasks first—the ones you might be tempted to procrastinate on. These tasks are usually more crucial than all the small ones combined. Personally, I’ve noticed that when I delay important tasks, it causes me stress throughout the day, sapping my energy and leaving me overwhelmed.
So, there’s no reason to put off those major items on your to-do list. You’ll have to do them eventually, so why not start right away?
Waiting for Motivation
Motivation often doesn’t come when we wait for it. In fact, the only thing you’ll realise after waiting is that you’ve wasted valuable time.
Feeling tired or worn out is one thing, but waiting for the “perfect moment to begin” is a trap. I’ve previously discussed how many people mistakenly believe they need a fresh, flawless start before taking action.
Avoid falling into this mindset of needing an ideal beginning or closure to start. It’s a time-consuming pitfall. Don’t fret about motivation.
Success arises from routine, not sporadic bursts of energy. Motivation, in my view, is simply the passion for what you’re doing or about to do—it’s excitement.
Trust me, once you start seeing results in your endeavours, motivation will naturally follow. It may help you keep going, but it’s seldom the catalyst for getting started.
Starting something can be challenging, but it’s through overcoming these challenges that we grow. Find the beauty in stepping outside your comfort zone.
Final Thought
As you can see some things can save you a lot of time if applied to your daily life.
Of course, these are just the things that I do. They might work for some, for others this list won’t work.
Let me know in the comments what you think of my post and if you yourself have your own techniques to save time.
