Tuesday Timesavers - The Small System That Saves Me Hours

Oh, and it's actually a lot of fun to do this daily

There’s a point in the week where everything starts to feel like too much. You haven't been productive, and you haven't made inroads into all those things you needed to do. The personal bits, the business bits, the things you meant to do yesterday, the things you promised someone last month… it all sits in the same headspace. And that’s usually when the day starts to feel more stressful than it needs to be.

I used to try and keep most of it in my head. It felt quicker at the time, but it never actually worked. Things slipped. I’d forget something small, then spend the rest of the day feeling like I was chasing myself. You probably know that feeling — that low‑level feeling of “I’m missing something”.

You can't keep everything in your head

So I changed it. Nothing major. Just two simple lists: one for personal, one for business. They live side by side, and I add to them whenever something pops up. No structure, no categories, no clever high-tech system. Just a place to put things so they stop taking up space in my head.

The real change happens first thing in the morning. Before I open emails or messages, I sit with those two lists and decide what actually needs doing that day. Not everything. Not a set number. Just the things that matter right now.

And I usually start with the hardest ones first. The awkward jobs. The ones I’d normally avoid. They’re never fun, but once they’re done, the whole day feels so much better and frees up time for other things. It’s strange how something so small can change the rhythm of a week. I’m not rushing as much. I’m not bouncing between tasks. I’m not losing time to the usual faffing. I’m getting more done, but it doesn’t feel like I’m pushing.

You don't have to juggle everything at once

It feels calmer.

More focused.

More productive overall.

And that’s the bit I didn’t expect. It’s not just about saving time. It’s about feeling like you’re actually moving things forward, instead of reacting to whatever shouts the loudest. Two lists. A few minutes in the morning. Hardest tasks first. It’s simple, but it works. And if you’re struggling with juggling a lot right now, it might help you too.

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Disclaimer

Whilst every precaution has been taken to ensure this information is accurate, I, Stuart Ashley take no responsibility for any errors contained within. Please conduct your own research before making business or financial decisions.