Quick and sometimes obvious time savers..

One thing I try and stick to is "time and motion study" on things.

So I write down my shopping list in the order I'm going to come to shelves in the supermarket/shops etc in town - so I'm not "doubling back" on myself if I can help it.

When I got my new kitchen recently - I spent time standing in my old kitchen visualising how I'd do common tasks (eg doing the dishes/making bread etc) to have the kitchen done in the most "time and motion conscious" way possible.

So yesterday's breadmaking session in it, for instance, went:
1. reach to wall cupboard containing breadbaking tins and immediately put them on worksurface beneath ready for filling with dough.
2. move hand further downwards to cutlery etc drawers to get utensils I use.
3. other nearby cupboard for measuring jug.
4. Into larder - where I picked up weighing scales from left-hand side and then reached to right-hand side for ingredients I need.
5. As I use each ingredient its put on nearest bit of worksurface to larder and then, when all ingredients have been used and are there, transfer them all back into larder.

I've worked out a weekly housework timetable (not yet being firmly adhered to - but I'm working on it:rotfl:) - which includes things like doing the hoovering in a time and motion conscious way, ie:
- taken out of hallway cupboard to sitting room 2' feet away and hoovers the sitting room and then down the hallway to the bedroom to do that
- left in bedroom overnight (only me to notice it)
- next day it does the next room to bedroom (ie my study) and then hoovers the hall as it's taken back down the hall to put back in its cupboard there.

JackieO wrote: »

Last thing at night before going up to bed during the cold weather I measure my porridge and water into the saucepan, so when I make it in the morning it takes me a couple of minutes to bring to the boil and its piping hot and ready to eat.I prefer proper porridge ,not the ready-brek sort of instant mush :):)

My porridge and milk is put in a small bowl and goes onto a fridge shelf overnight.

Next morning I haul it out and put it in saucepan on hob and add a bit more milk (as required). Couple of minutes heating and = job done and put the toppings I want on top of it (fruit/seeds/etc).

I start the kettle boiling for water for the coffee I will have with toast after my porridge as soon as I've got the porridge heating up on the hotplate. During that couple of minutes it gives enough time to be able to wipe up/put away a few of the dishes I washed the previous evening - whilst I'm waiting for my porridge to cook. Yep...more time and motion stuff, as the crockery has been arranged as far as possible in my wall cupboards in accordance with being as near as possible to where I'll want it. Eg my drinks and mugs are just over bit of worksurface kettle and toaster are on. Glasses for cool drinks are in nearest cupboard to fridge and so on.