It seemed like you had only gotten home from work 30 minutes ago, and after going through your daily routine a quick glance at the clock reveals a shock: “11PM?! I’ve only had dinner, checked my email, etc.” Want all the time in the day to do what you wanted to do?

If you’re looking to save some time, you’ll need to identify the time-wasters in your day - the black holes of time that take more time than you thought it should have taken. I’ve made 5 handy hints on how you can have more time doing fun stuff

1. Don’t check work email at home - We’ve all been guilty of it at some point, especially if work email and personal email are mixed into the same inbox. Separate the two types of mail into different folders, since there’s little you can do outside the office anyway. Also, don’t keep a regular eye on your inbox - you really only need to check it 2-3 times a day to keep current.
2. Kill your commute - Your personal routine doesn’t matter much if you get home and only have a few hours before bed. Shorter commutes mean more time for fun, sometimes as much as the equivalent of 12 weeks of vacation!
3. Video games and television (use moderation!)- I’m a big fan of video games, and they seem to be the new social lubricant these days. But some games end up being a replacement for having a real life, or become such a burden that they cease being fun. If you find yourself spending 6 hours a day playing World of Warcraft or Mafia Wars, try curbing it down to just a few hours. No one is saying you have to quit, but that you should make sure that it isn’t negatively affecting your social life. Same goes with television - see if you can squeeze just an hour of television of day out of your schedule, and it will pay off in dividends.
4. Sometimes you really do need a new computer- I’m a firm believer in keeping a machine for as long as it is up to the task. Linux is great for turning “old” machines into useful workhorses once more. But once the hardware is simply not cutting the mustard, it is time to e-cycle it. You shouldn’t have to spend more time maintaining the machine than using it. Too many people waste their time on ancient hardware (15+ years old) that would be very cheap to replace. The amount of time you can save not playing hospice nurse with your machine can be used elsewhere.
5. When shopping, have a list - Making a list seems like such an easy thing to do, but most people just don’t do it out of habit. If you’ve ever wandered around a supermarket, you’ll quickly find the time, money, and stress you can save by buying exactly what you need makes this 1-minute activity well worth it.

If you have more time-saving tips, I’d love to read them in the comments section!