Thank you to Zappos for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
Sometimes, when the alarm goes off, I think to myself, “Do I really want to start the day?” Yet, I also know that, at the end of the day, there is nothing more rewarding than to sit back and feel as though what I set out to do was accomplished (well, there are more rewarding things in life, of course, but you catch my drift…). With TJ and I both working from home… and my primary daily focus on little miss… it seems as though we’ve had to make adjustments to ensure we are efficient, and effective, throughout the day. So, we’ve put together our Top 5 ways that we increase our efficiency throughout the day…. in an earnest attempt to tackle that every growing “to-do” list. It’s not always perfect, but it’s certainly helped us feel more accomplished when our heads hit the pillow.
1. Schedule Yourself: Both of us agree, without a sense of structure to our days, things get a little hectic. We wake up at the same time daily, schedule in our workouts around the other’s day…. I have my “work hours” scheduled when Harper is down for her nap, and then again in the early evening when TJ is able to help out with little miss for another hour or so. TJ schedules his calls and meetings while I am out and about with Harper. We have dinner scheduled, Harper’s bedtime scheduled, and a little downtime worked in there as well. While it’s not always seamless, it really helps us move about the day effectively.
2. Dress Accordingly: If I’ve learned anything since juggling multiple roles, it’s that dressing appropriately makes life so much easier. In these transitional fall days, where mornings and evenings are cooler than the afternoons, I’ve learned that layers are critical. A warm layer for the mornings and evenings, and a lightweight piece underneath, allows me to move seamlessly from one activity to the next without waisting valuable time changing….
And, while the layers I wear are important, the kicks I wear on my feet are almost more critical. Both TJ and I need shoes that can take us throughout the day, whatever that might entail, effortlessly. Since no two days are the same for us, we’ve come to rely on shoes that are practical, yet stylish, incredibly comfortable, and, of course, versatile. Enter the Rockport Total Motion Trixie Shootie (for me) and the Rockport Wynstin Chukka (for TJ) both part of the Rockport collection from Zappos. The his and her pair are perfect for that work/life balance that we both strive to achieve. Since our work environments permit us to be relatively flexible as to what we wear throughout the day, the shoes allow us to toss them on an know that we will be prepared for anything…. an impromptu video conference call for TJ, or a last minute happy hour with girlfriends for me (likely much needed after a full day with little miss….). We are essentially assured that we can make it from point A to point B in style.
3. Make A List, Prioritize, Cross It Off: I swear by this method. It’s the only way I can keep myself organized throughout the day. The night before, I take 5-10 minutes to think about what needs to be done the following day. Then, I prioritize them in order of importance and create a loose schedule as to when each will be attended to.
4. Weigh Out The Opportunity Cost: If there is one thing I remember from my Econ AP class in high school, it was the concept of opportunity cost. I apply it to my entire life. In a nutshell, time is money, and in my world, time is incredibly valuable, something you can never get back. Therefor, I utilize services that help our family to be increasingly efficient… from same day delivery grocery services, to shopping at on-line retailers who can provide me with the same items found in store…. without me having to load up the car, drive to the store, unload the car, and then drive home (any on-the-go, I-wear-multiple-hats woman knows what I am talking about….). When I was ordering these shoes, it was my first time shopping at Zappos, and I was hugely impressed with the ease of navigating their site, and how quickly I received my items: next day, with no extra charge. Please + Thank You. And, in light of the tragedy, and senseless violence, that took place in Las Vegas on Sunday evening, Zappos will match up to $1 million in purchases to the victims. Shopping with a cause is always up my ally.
5. Team Work: For TJ and me, part of being efficient doesn’t mean operating as a one man show. It just can’t happen that way. So, we rely on one another to help out. I ask for help and TJ asks for help. If I can’t pick up a forgotten ingredient for dinner, often TJ can do so on the way home from a meeting. We delegate based on strengths… and work together on others. Regardless, team work helps the day feel more accomplished.
I’d love to know what you do to increase your efficiency throughout the day too!
