4 Ideas to Add Extra Time to Your Day

Author’s Note: This was an answer that I wrote on Quora.com in response to the question, What are some ways that I can save at least one hour of time at a cost of $20/hour or less?

 

1. Eat at your desk.

Lunch is usually a time-killer because you spend so much time waiting for an elevator or waiting in a big lunch line or talking with coworkers. And if you eat too  much during lunch, you’re probably going to feel sleepy later, so eat light (low glycemic index foods) and buy a snack for later.

 

2. Consider buying a motorcycle.

Back when I was a college student at the University of Hawaii, I rode my motorcycle to school. Motorcycles and mopeds are allowed to park right on the campus at various locations for about $25/semester. Meanwhile, cars have to park at the parking structure, which often time gets full and is $3/day or $200/semester. Also, parking at the structure means walking about 15-25 minutes to get to the business college building.

As for downtown parking, I get free parking. I know of at least 3 different parking lots in the busy downtown area that offer free parking for motorcycles.

Finally, if you live in California, you also have the benefit of “splitting lanes” legally, meaning that you can ride between lanes during traffic jams and make all the car drivers green with envy.

 

3. Find a young kid around your neighborhood that is competent and likes money. 

Need someone to walk your dog? Need your shirts ironed? Need your documents sorted through and filed? Want someone to update your website? You should consider contracting a young kid. Young kids like money and that work you ask of them would be reasonably easy for them to do. You will need to pre-qualify these young kids though and maybe talk to their parents about it. Tax Note: Young kids would be independent contractors in this scenario.

 

4. Travel during low-traffic times.

I work at home (I do websites) and I try to never go out except during the evenings and weekends. The reason being is that from 2-4, kids are getting out of school, and from 4-6, people are getting out of work and going to dinner. This equates to ridiculous congestion in the city during peak times and turns a short 10-minute ride into a 25-minute stop-and-go festival. If you work, you can consider staying a little later and doing more work or just relax and read the newspaper while the rush simmers down.