How to make things in life more efficient?

M

mr_norris

Expert Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2007
Messages
4,567
Reaction score
2,387
Location
Kloof, Durban
Being single and in my own place, I try maximise my time for studying. Although more gaming and watching movies / shows lately :/

I suppose the goal is to maximise free time, and minimise cooking and cleaning.

Here are a few things I've come up with:

* Using paper plates on top of normal plates. Hectic waste of paper, but you minimise dishes!
* Washing the same cup / plate / utensils after use, in preparation for use again. Unfortunately, me being me, I have this nasty habit of using everything and building up this massive amount of dishes until I have nothing left and I have to stand and wash for ages :/
* Microwave meals - although this gets a tad expensive. Does it save time? Yes. Is it economical? No.
* A meal for 4, which turns into a meal for 4 days! I can post my usual "recipe" if anyone is interested.

What idea's do you have?
 
At this point, I would like to recommend a Slow Cooker.

Preparation in the morning. Come home later in the evening. Profit.
 
mr_norris said:
* Microwave meals - although this gets a tad expensive. Does it save time? Yes. Is it economical? No.
Click to expand...

Use a dinner delivery service instead, not only is it cheaper but also offers more variety.

Also have less dished to wash, if any, due to not cooking and not necessarily needing to mess any plates to eat.
 
Hmmm... that could work, but I fear that I'd be adding to my collection of appliances I don't use :P Good tip though, they make boss food (if you know what you're doing).
 
1) Learn to enjoy cooking. It's not burdensome when you're good at it. If you're efficient, you can clean 80% of the dishes while you're in the middle of preparing the food.
2) Minimise gaming/watching time and actually study.

Frankly, as a single person, you've got eons of free time. You just aren't using it well because you've got so much that you waste it all. Having more won't help you all that much because you'll just play an extra half hour, or watch one more episode.
 
cerebus said:
Frankly, as a single person, you've got eons of free time. You just aren't using it well because you've got so much that you waste it all. Having more won't help you all that much because you'll just play an extra half hour, or watch one more episode.
Click to expand...

^ this.
 
Relieve yourself/brush your teeth/shave your chin or nuts while you are taking a shower.
 
Optimizations I use or have used:
- Move closer to work/uni to shorten your commute and save time/petrol (assuming you're renting)
- If you like to exercise regularly, and live close to work, combine the two and run or cycle to work (assuming there are showers)
- Cook in large quantities and freeze in meal-sized portions for later consumption
- Get a pressure cooker - these things are damned fast and save a lot of time in the kitchen
- Combine bathroom activities (though I don't advocate urinating in the shower)
- Hire a trustworthy domestic once a week; it's not that expensive given the prevalence of unskilled labour in SA
- Is there anything you do repeatedly on your computer? Automate where possible.
- Do all your grocery shopping online. Woolworths and Pick n Pay both deliver.
 
Compton_effect said:
Eew. Clean one room each day. Even if its only dusting.
Click to expand...

Why "eew"? :confused: I always pee while taking a shower every morning. It saves time. You should try that. Oh for your information, pee is purely sterile, so no worries about losing your feet.
 
FuLL_MeT4L said:
Optimizations I use or have used:
- Move closer to work/uni to shorten your commute and save time/petrol (assuming you're renting)
- If you like to exercise regularly, and live close to work, combine the two and run or cycle to work (assuming there are showers)
- Cook in large quantities and freeze in meal-sized portions for later consumption
- Get a pressure cooker - these things are damned fast and save a lot of time in the kitchen
- Combine bathroom activities (though I don't advocate urinating in the shower)
- Hire a trustworthy domestic once a week; it's not that expensive given the prevalence of unskilled labour in SA
- Is there anything you do repeatedly on your computer? Automate where possible.
- Do all your grocery shopping online. Woolworths and Pick n Pay both deliver.
Click to expand...

I moved closer to work almost 2 years ago. I can walk to work, plan to once I'm a bit more better - I'm quite lazy I'm afraid, but I regret it now. I'm sure Captain Hindsight would also say I'd be more healthier and immune to lame ass throat infections if I'd applied myself more. My company doesn't have showers though, so the heat is a real killer in summer.

As for cooking, I'd thought of that before but man I suck at planning meals. Definitely a good idea.

A domestic will have to come later, on a bit of a tight budget at the moment :P

As for automation, I do what I can at work, but at home it's all manual stuff (like responding to posts, etc). Can't think of much I can do here.

I do like the occasional shopping though, but yeah, would save time getting things delivered. I'm still trying to get to the stage where I know what I want before I go shopping!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X