Time Saving Tools + Tips
We are all busy juggling a million different things at once, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. I have acquired some tools and strategies over the years that have helped to set myself up for success and cut back on stress that inevitably comes from maintaining a household along with an otherwise full plate.
In this blog, I will share my top tips for staying organized with a busy life and busy household. I will also share my favorite time-saving tools that make my life easier.
I’ll share more details below, but here’s a quick list of some of my favorite household items that allow me to get more done in less time and with less effort.
Here are a few tips to stay in control of the day to day craziness:
Use a planner or calendar. For years, I used to use a paper calendar only, then I transitioned into a digital calendar only. Now I like to use both - I print out a paper calendar at the beginning of each month - this allows me to see the big picture and identify openings that I can fill with family, friends or fun, while the digital calendar helps me stay organized and gives me reminders of where to be and when.
Create a to-do list each day. This will helps me prioritize my tasks and stay on track- plus there’s no better feeling than crossing off each item as you go.
Delegate tasks to family members. My girls have been doing their own laundry for years now -why add that to my stress? They need to learn how to do it and if it doesn’t get done, they have a natural consequence (no clean underwear). Not my problem!
Take breaks. It's important to take time for yourself, even if it's just for a few minutes each day. Or carve out a day of the month to recharge your batteries. We can’t be in hustle / GO mode all the time. Eventually we will get burned out.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. There are plenty of resources available such as babysitting services, meal delivery services, and house cleaning services. I used to feel shame around using these types of services - I guess I wanted to do it all. But not anymore! Why not get help where I can? This frees up my time to do other things that are a better use of my time and talents.
Here are my top time-saving tools:
This vacuum is a game-changer for me! I love a clean house, and we do use a cleaning service but between cleanings, I like my floors and carpets to be spic and span. I used to grumble every time I had to get out the vacuum and find a place to plug it in. The cord would inevitably get all tangled up - just a pain! Until Dave came home with this beauty! It hangs in our storage closet on a charging station (so it’s off the ground which creates more storage and less hassle). It works really well and you can grab it for a quick little touch-up with ZERO headache or hassle!
I will never go back to a crockpot that doesn’t have this feature. Many recipes call for sauteeing your onions, garlic and meat prior to putting ingredients in the slowcooker. This means you have to use a pot/pan and that means extra clean up duty. This crockpot allows you to do everything in one pot! I actually want to get a second one of these tools for when I do batch cooking for freezer meals. It’s so efficient!
I love these containers for food storage. If you are still using random tupperware containers that don’t match or stack, I highly recommend getting rid of everything and starting over from scratch. This system is great because the lids and bottoms are interchangeable, and all the pieces easily stack together which makes storage simple. This saves time and headache when trying to food prep for the week, or deal with nightly leftovers.
This is probably the most commonly used item in our kitchen. We have a family of five and every one of us makes some sort of blended meal/snack daily. From protein shakes to smoothies to dips like hummus or guac, we use this tool all the time! I love that I can purchase several cups and blades, so that we don’t ever have to wash or wait for one to get out of the dishwasher. The Ninja is the only single-use blender that can keep up with the large demand that we have. I love this time-saving tool!
This is a great hack - a time-saver in the kitchen for sure. Instead of using a fork in one hand a knife in the other hand and sawing to cut your food, this tool alone does the trick! From chicken breasts to sandwiches to pancakes, this tool does the trick! It’s original use is for cutting pizza, but we use it for just about anything under the sun, and when we finish, it goes right in the dishwasher! It’s safe to use, easy to cut and a cinch to clean.
Planning is the key when it comes to family dinners. I love to use this board to help me outline the week’s meals and also let the family know what to expect. I have gone through phases of using this board to track kids’ chores etc. I also ask that when we run out of a staple pantry item or household item, that a family member writes down that item on this board so that I can quickly glance and know what to add when I make the grocery list.
Having protein cooked and ready to go is a key to healthy eating. Carbs and fats are found without much trouble or effort - just open your pantry and you’ll see both of those macronutrients are found in abundance. Eggs are one of the best sources of protein, and having hard boiled eggs on hand makes for a great addition to a breakfast, lunch or snack. Often when I boil eggs, I tend to overcook them because I get distracted and leave them on the stove too long. I love this rapid egg cooker because it perfectly boils the eggs to perfection and all 6 are ready at one time. You can peel them and keep them in the fridge for several days or use them on a cobb salad or egg salad!
To recap, here are the Household Tools that help me stay organized and make my life easier:
