Time-saving hacks: 8 ways to make your life easier in 2024
Maximize your efficiency in 2024 with our 8 top time-saving hacks. Embrace quick task management, decluttering, and smart delegation. Utilize ReturnQueen for hassle-free shopping returns. Simplify life, focus on what matters.
Happy New Year, everyone! ✨
We know you’re ready to start 2024 strong by ticking off all of those start-of-year to-do lists.
But what if there was a way to make life that little bit easier while still smashing all your goals? Well, we’ve thought of a few!
Here are our top tips for making 2024 the year of ease. So you can spend your time on achieving your New Year’s goals and focusing on what matters most this year.
- Meet your new best friend: the two-minute rule
This first tip is pretty straightforward: if a task takes less than two minutes to complete, do it immediately. This simple rule prevents small tasks from accumulating and becoming overwhelming.
It's a quick way to clear your to-do list and maintain a sense of accomplishment throughout the day.
- Give your workspace a clutter-free makeover
This may sound like a strange one (an extra cleaning task on a list about saving time?!) but we honestly believe that studying or working in a clean, decluttered workspace will save so much space in your head and make you way more productive throughout the day… saving you a whole lot of time in the long run!
So why not Marie Kondo your desk space in time for the New Year? Remember the golden rule: if it’s not useful, sentimental, or beautiful, throw it away!
- Delegate, delegate, delegate!
Recognize that you don't have to do everything yourself. Delegate tasks that others can handle, whether at work or at home. That might look like asking your boyfriend to help you hang up the laundry, or asking the new intern in your office to help you print out your notes.
This will lighten your workload and help the people around you feel useful. Just make sure you’re happy to return the favor too!
- Get your returns picked up from your door!
We obviously couldn’t help but mention ReturnQueen; the app that makes returns effortless. If you’re an online shopping addict like us, you’ll know all about the hassle of taking back unwanted clothes and other items every month. With ReturnQueen, you’ll have no more post office trips, no more packaging, no more labels - and no more missed refunds! That’s hours of time saved every week, so much less to think about - and there’s a plan to suit everyone.
Just download the app to give it a go - your first 7 days are free, no strings attached!
- Get comfortable with saying no
The best way to save time and get your priorities straight is to make sure you’re only spending it on the things that matter. That means that sometimes, you’ll have to be comfortable with saying no. If you’re invited to four social events in one weekend, you don’t need to feel pressure to say yes to all of them. Just prioritize and go to the events that matter most to you.
And if you’re asked to help out with babysitting or picking up a colleague’s shift, but you’re already busy, you don’t need to feel guilty about it!
- Write to-do lists
Keeping all the tasks you have to do in your head can feel a bit overwhelming. You can use the notes app in your phone to get your thoughts down digitally, or a handy tool like Notion.
It means you waste less time stressing about what you need to do, improve your prioritization, and it helps you organize your time better as you can sort your tasks into ‘what needs to be done today’ and ‘things I need to get done this year’.
- Use AI and automation to speed up daily tasks
You may already be using Alexa to help you with setting timers and reminding you about doctors appointments, but you can also use free AI tools like ChatGPT to get quick answers to questions, help you plan trips abroad, help you brainstorm ideas and even weigh up the pros and cons of tricky decisions you’re making! AI is a fantastic time-saving tool, and it’s well worth incorporating it into your everyday life.
- Prepare for the next day the night before
You want to start every day feeling stress-free, and one of the best ways to save time at the start of the day and make sure you’re feeling organized and ready to go is to pack your bag for the next day the night before. That means prepping your lunch in the evening (a great time-saver throughout the week!) and packing it into a cute lunch bag like the ones from Modern Picnic.
We also recommend laying out your nicest gym clothes ready for that run you said you’d go on the next morning (a great way to stick to that New Year’s resolution!) and packing your office bag the night before you commute in. You’ll thank yourself the next morning!
Happy New Year, and enjoy all your newfound free time!
We hope you have a fabulous New Year, and that these tips help you have more time for yourself - and your goals - than ever. 💜
To find out more about how ReturnQueen can help you save time, save money, and focus on what matters most in 2024, download the app on the App store or click here to find out more.