Time saving tips for nurses when off work

I love the Swiffer mop and dusters.....it sure saves time rather than dragging the old mop out so frequently. Also, I don't hesitate to delegate some of those household tasks to others when you can.

This is what I had to do to stay sane:

I made of list of everything that had to be done each week (my laundry, grocery shopping, pay bills; you get the picture) and then I assigned a day that week for that task (or more than one). That way I always got around to each task and I didn't have to think about each one until the day for it came up. Make sense? Anyway, it really helped me.

I never iron anything... even scrubs come out the drier or off the washing line crease free if you hang them up straight away!

When I come home from work, the kids are tucked in bed, the house is clean and dinner is ready.

My husband and I do not work on the same days so there is always someone to look after the children and do housework.

Having enough uniforms to last at least a week reduces the number of times a week you do laundry.

I have my lunch packed, clothes laid out, and breakfast planned from the night before.

Laundry seems to take the most time with drying being the slowest so I plan the loads accordingly. Wash the stuff that dries the fastest first.

Hire a weekly cleaning person. Hire someone to mow your lawn. Work some OT if you can't afford to pay it within your current budget. I would rather work some OT than spend time cleaning bathrooms and mopping floors.

I go to stores where I can buy everything I need at once plus I make a list so I don't spend the whole time going round and round the store. I am doing this since one time I spent almost 2 hours at Walmart and only came out with a bag full of stuff.

I have a full time live-in nanny/housekeeper. Sounds foo-foo, I know but I work two jobs as a nurse and flight attendant. Having help in the house allows me to spend all my free time as 'quality time' with my family. It's worth every cent.

Lists, lists and more lists. I'm always having something that I will need to do later occur to me out of the blue so that goes on a generic "running" list. An item for this list gets crossed off as it goes on an "immediate action" type list. For instance, the bank, libarary and supermarket are all close and I will try to do all errands in that direction on a given morning or afternoon. The drugstore and garden center are in the other direction, on the way to a friend's house so I try to get anything I need there when visiting this friend. Also I "stage" things as I go along. Clothes set out for work, "brain" sheets and bottle of water by the front door before work, coupons and library books in the car so they're there when needed. I also have an ongoing lbag in the fridge for lunch type items so if I get a single serving sample of crackers or have a small amount of leftovers they go into the bag. Before work I just have to grab the bag, maybe add a cheese stick or piece fruit.

BTW-what a great thread this is!

I plan my dinners for the next week on Thursdays, shop for everything on Saturday, spend Sunday chopping vegetables and cooking a few things ahead. If I don't do that I end up getting take out. I also fold and put away all the laundry on Saturday and Sunday, and do all of the cleaning on those two days. I would love to find another way so I don't have to spend my weekends cleaning and cooking.

I agree with laying everything out the night before to make mornings run smoother. I have gone so far as to set a clean washcloth on the tub, my clean undies for the next day in the bathroom, put the cereal in the bowl and milk in a separate cup in the fridge. Anything that saves a step in the morning is good for me!

I like to save time, not necessarily to do more, but to have more time to relax or take care of myself.

I have found when it comes to shopping, one can save a lot of time if shopping in the morning or on days when many dont do their shopping (avoid thursdays, fridays, and saturdays).

I have always laid out things the day before whether it has been clothing, breakfast and a packed lunch.

I have a basket close to the door where where keys and cell goes right away once in the door, never have to search for keys.

I am not a fan of ironing, so if a garment is wrinkled and I have the time to let it dry overnight, I put the garment on a hanger, put it in the shower, hose it down, let it air dry - next day as good as ironed.

Cooking some meals in larger batches, to have left overs the next day and maybe to freeze some.

Usually the same amount of work.