I’m currently in the midst of a busy travel season, so that means I’m looking for all the time saving tips and strategies that I can find.

At the same time, I’m also trying to remember to slow down when I can to really savor a meal, a good book, or a conversation with a friend or colleague.

All the juggling isn’t easy, but I’ve found that saving time in some areas means that I can devote extra time in others.

Here are four of my favorite ways to save time:

  • 1Password. A couple years ago, my partner introduced me to the 1Password app, which let’s me use a master password to store all of my other passwords in one place. I definitely want to stay secure online, and 1Password allows me to create randomized passwords (with various lengths and settings) whenever I need to. The best part about this app is that it’s on my phone and tied into my browser, so it’s easy to access my 200+ passwords anywhere I go. I don’t mean to sound like a commercial — I just love the convenience of this app and that it keeps all my profiles and accounts secure.
  • A saved grocery list. Since we never know who is going to have time to go to the store when, and because we don’t always go to the store together, my partner and I created a shared grocery list that we can both update whenever we need to. We use the Reminders app on our phones to store the list, which also means that we can look at items that we have previously added and add them back onto the list without having to type in the item again each time. As long as we keep it up-to-date, we each have a reference whenever we go to the store of what the other person needs and it saves us a lot of extra trips.
  • Library holds. I love the library so much, but I don’t usually have time to browse. I love that I can search for a book online (whether it’s a physical book, ebook, or audiobook) and put it on reserve at my library so that I’m notified when it comes in. I often pick up half a dozen books at a time, so I just wait for the next batch to build up before I schedule a quick trip to grab them. I also can’t say enough about how easy it is to reserve and download digital materials from my local library’s website and via various apps like CloudLibrary and OverDrive. It’s a great option for when I’m traveling and don’t want to carry extra physical books with me on the plane.
  • Short hair. Okay, I know that not everyone can take advantage of this one, but having short hair is one of the best time-saving strategies I can offer. Although I have to schedule haircuts a little more frequently, the time that I save in the mornings when I can dry and style my hair in about 3 minutes makes it completely worth it. I also use less hair product, which means I don’t have to carry as much with me when I travel. Short hair has been a win-win all around for me.

Do you currently use any of these strategies in your own life to save time?

To think on:

  • What other strategies are currently working to help you save time in your life?
  • What are some areas of your life that deserve taking it slow?