Do you want to save time in your busy schedule?

Are you looking for some creative tips to help you shave hours and minutes from your calendar?

Time management doesn’t have to be dry and boring.

In fact, if you want to better manage your time, then you should expand your horizons and think outside the box!

In this post, you’ll find five creative ways you can save time in your schedule.

Hopefully, these tips will help you think creatively the next time you’re strapped for time!

Get an early start.

What happens if you’re dressed and ready to go early in the morning?

For one thing, there will be fewer people in stores, less traffic on the road, and less chances for long lines and delays.

Try getting an early start for one scheduled item in your calendar.

Could you shop early at a store, run to-do errands a few hours earlier than you normally do, or shave a few hours off your work commute?

In some situations, even a mere five or fifteen minutes can make a world of difference.

Make it easy to get dressed.

This tip is all about getting down to details.

You may have some pieces in your wardrobe that are not-so obvious time suckers.

A shirt that takes a long time to iron, a blouse with a long row of several tiny buttons, and a pair of boots with extremely long laces can make getting ready in the morning a chore.

If you’re pressed for time in the morning, consider sorting work or school outfits into low- and high-maintenance outfits.

A low-maintenance outfit is one that requires very little preparation on your part. High-maintenance outfits require more of your time and attention.

With a low-maintenance outfit, you can literally get dressed and head out the door.

An example of this would be slacks and a pullover blouse or shirt with no buttons.

Finish a task and schedule it for tomorrow.

Get into the habit of scheduling tasks for yourself throughout the week.

It doesn’t matter if you use a paper planner or digital calendar.

Here’s how it works. You work on a task and complete it.

Immediately afterwards, add that recurring daily, weekly, or monthly task to your schedule for the next occurrence. If you use a digital planner, set recurring task reminders for yourself.

This time-saving tip is helpful because you won’t have to backtrack figure out what to do next.

When you get into this smart habit, you’ll always be one step ahead!

Bulk up your routines.

Do you work on similar tasks at different times of the day throughout the week, such as scheduling appointments, preparing menus or running reports?

Try consolidating tasks into bulk session during the week.

By combining similar tasks, you’ll be able to work more efficiently. You’ll spare yourself from having to stop, think about, and take care of many single tasks during the week.

Pay someone to complete a task.

Time is money. If you can afford it, consider paying someone to complete a job or task for you.

Removing rote or routine tasks from your schedule can give you back some time.

For example, you could hire a dog walker to walk your dog when you have a long day at work, or pay someone to clean your home while you organize your home office.

How about you? What are some other creative ways that could save you some time? What has been your experience using any of the above tips? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!