Work smarter, not harder. You’ve heard us say it during class, but this mantra applies to life beyond your barre3 workout, too. So many of us live in a constant state of overwhelm, never quite tackling our mile-long to-do lists and feeling like we’re in a perpetual time famine (“If I only had one more hour, I’d…”). It doesn’t have to be that way! Today we’re sharing eight super-effective ways to get organized and streamline your life so you can spend more time doing the things that matter the most.
- Lose the Clutter.
There’s a reason the world is obsessed with Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. It WORKS. Her approach is both simple and revolutionary: Get rid of anything that doesn’t spark joy. Whereas other decluttering methods have you buying storage boxes and creating file systems, this one gives you permission to let go of anything unnecessary and keep only the things you cherish. It’s a valuable lesson in living deliberately rather than excessively, and it brings an incredible sense of calm to your life.
- Go Paperless.
Stacks of paper don’t just create clutter, they also create stress. Set up your banking and health insurance so you can get statements via email. Toss your pile of physical magazines and subscribe to the digital versions instead. And give your mailbox a makeover by opting out of junk mail lists—no more circulars, catalogs, or credit card offers to deal with.
- Automate.
Setting up online bill-pay is a great place to start. You can also automate your schedule by creating standing appointments for things like friend dates and workouts. Maybe you run with your neighbor every Wednesday, or you meet your mom for a barre3 class on Thursdays. Get it on the calendar! And what about your other to-dos? Do you go to the pet store once a month to get more cat food? Set up a subscription order on Amazon so the food is sent directly to your home. Also, many charities and nonprofits like the amazing Every Mother Counts will allow you to schedule giving by setting up monthly donations.
- Create systems.
Think of the areas in your life that make you feel scattered and inefficient, and create systems to take control of them. Do you find yourself running to the store for dinner ingredients several times a week? Create a weekly meal plan and a master grocery list, and shop once a week. Do you get home too late to make healthy dinners on weeknights? Set aside a couple of hours on Sunday to make a big batch of food so you have easy meals all week. When it comes to your work life, consider using a management app Omnifocus—a favorite at the barre3 Home Office. As our Tech Director Peter Marks puts it, “it allows me to quickly and efficiently capture my thoughts and make important notes during meetings without distracting me from the larger task I’m focusing on.”
- Prioritize.
Most of us are overly ambitious about our to-do lists, which leaves us feeling like failures when we don’t finish every task on them. Instead, be realistic and strategic. Ask yourself, What do I really need to get done right now? Then tackle the things that will really move the needle or bring you the most joy. Many of us at the barre3 office avoid scheduling meetings in the a.m. so we’ll have the morning to focus on our most important projects. It’s a simple fix that has a huge impact. This kind of prioritizing goes for your personal life, too. When you try to spend a little time with everyone, you can end up spreading yourself too thin. Instead, focus on quality over quantity. Lingering over dinner with a close friend for a few hours is going to fill you up more than making a quick appearance at three different gatherings.
- Delegate.
You don’t have to do everything yourself. Start with family. Can your mom pick up the kids one day a week? Can your roommate take on breakfast duty? And if you can make it work financially, you may want to consider hiring someone to clean your house, or opt for pick up/drop off service for your dry cleaning. When we’re really crunched for time, we like to have groceries delivered using Instacart. While delegating can cost more money, it will also save you valuable time.
- Learn to say no.
Saying no gives you more time to say yes to the things you’re passionate about. If you get a request to do something that doesn’t truly support or inspire you, just say no—and don’t feel guilty about it. At barre3, we call this “flexing your ‘no’ muscle.” Don’t be afraid to give yours a workout!
- Bunch your tasks.
When you group several similar tasks together, you get them done much faster. Return all your phone calls, one after the other. Answer those emails, one after the other. Barre3 Founder Sadie Lincoln carves out two-hour chunks of time on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for administrative work. “Instead of dealing with my inbox all day every day, group tasking allows me to tackle it far more efficiently. We all have different systems, but that was a game changer for me.”
Turning these tips into habits won’t happen overnight—just like practicing balance, streamlining is a process. But stick with it, and you’ll be rewarded with the most precious resource of all—time.
Are there any habits that you’ve found helpful in streamlining your own life? Share them below!
