Time Management Tips that Save Me Money

As a freelance writer, any way I can find to make more efficient use of my time means better productivity, and in turn a bigger payday or more time with my family. Either way, it behooves me to make efficient and effective use of my time, and certain time management techniques can assist me in doing so.

Whether it's just a quick, five minutes here and there that I can pick up through more efficient work habits, or the pairing of particular activities that can save me large chunks of time, proper time management can mean the difference between a profitable or an unproductive day.

Knowing What to Work on and When

I typically work best on stuff that requires real brainpower during the morning hours and later at night. Therefore, I try to make use of this valuable time by prioritizing my hardest tasks for these periods. Then I can leave simpler items such as organizing my schedule, running errands, outlining, brainstorming, and other activities that don't require much mental power, for the afternoon and early evening hours.

Bundling

Multitasking, or "bundling" as I like to call it, enables me to accomplish several things at once. I often do this by getting certain projects started at the same time -- for example getting the dishes and laundry going so that they can run while I work on something else. This way I can increase my productivity while reducing the time involved.

I often accomplish this when running errands or with my son. Now that my boy is almost four, I can have him work on his workbooks (learning his letters, numbers, words) while I work too. He finds this fun since he's "working" with daddy, and it accomplishes several things at once -- allowing me to be productive and earn money, while at the same time entertaining and teaching him.

Pairing Work and Family

Depending upon your schedule and various other constraints, pairing work and family may or may not work out for you. In my situation, since I'm self-employed and a stay-at-home dad, it works pretty well. However, you might be thinking to yourself, well that's great since you're self-employed, but it's easy to make time for family when you're at home all the time. That's not necessarily always the case, but I did the same thing when I worked a typical 9-5 job.

I already explained how I paired some of my son's educational activities with my own work, and when I worked a regular job, there were ways to combine family time with work. I often took my wife to company outings or involved her in certain perks that I received through work such as going to sporting events. We also combined quality time driving to work together, which not only saved money but provided a chance for conversation. So you see, whether you're self-employed or not, there may be ways to pair work and family, saving you time and strengthening bonds in the process.

Divide and Conquer

Knowing how to divide and conquer can make life easier and save you a lot of time in the process. Being able to split tasks with a spouse or partner can significantly enhance your ability to make better use of your time.

My wife and I tend to split activities and tasks based upon our interests, skills, and abilities. Since we divide such work based upon what we are good at and don't mind doing, it often saves us time since we typically get these activities done quicker than we would if we dreaded doing them.

I even throw my son into the mix occasionally, giving him small tasks to complete. I do this not only in hopes that it will keep him occupied and save me a little time, but that it will teach him responsibility and work ethic.

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Disclaimer:

The author is not a licensed financial professional. The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. For financial advice, readers should consult a licensed financial advisor. Any action taken by the reader due to the information provided in this article is solely at the reader's discretion.