First of all, look for the “life hack” thread. I know people who spend the whole Sunday tidying up the house, get tired, arrive to work on Monday late and stressed, and never get enough rest.
There was a time when I did 3 jobs, took care of my daughter all by myself, and still had time for friends and hobbies. The trick is to use up as many of the 24 hours in the day as possible. Here’s a crude example.
A typical weekday.
7.00 alarm starts ringing (but you’re too sleepy)
7.30 start getting up
7.50 hastily make breakfast, while trying to brush your teeth
8.13 realise you’re running late, leave everything and grab a toast to eat in the car.
8.22 assuming you didn’t drop the toast in the car or had an accident, you’re happily stuck in traffic.
9.07 Get to work late and have a row with your boss
5.10pm talk to a colleague
5.30 get home
5.45 turn on the telly
8.01 realise you have nothing to eat, go to the supermarket but find it closed
8.34 find a corner store after half an hour driving around, buy things at double price
8.57 start preparing dinner
9.26 eat in front of TV
11.00 realise it’s 11, then start the washing up (including the plates of dry eggs and the coffee stains from breakfast).
11.45 go to bed knackered.
12.00 hopefully fall asleep for 7 hours
Alternative:
7.50 alarm goes off, get up immediately and turn on kettle
7.55 come back from the toilet, make the tea, drink a couple of cups, have some bread and butter whilt it cools down
8.10 drink up, wash up, leave kitchen clean
8.18 go to work
8.48 by starting off only 4 minutes earlier, you actually got there a lot faster, because in your town there’s heavier traffic around 8.45
8.50 walk into work with a smile, taking your time, chatting with your colleagues. Take a breath before work starts. Maybe even a coffee.
5.01 leave work straightaway. No matter what (strict rule of mine)
5.06 stop on the way home and get everything you need (list prepared during lunch break).
5.38 get home, prepare for your 6 o’clock date with your friend.
6–8 two hours to spend with your friend whichever way you like
8.10 get back home, make dinner
8.30 wash up pan while your meal is cooling.
8.40 eat up and also wash that plate.
9–11 another 2 hours to spare
11.00 have a nice relaxing bath, go to bed at 11.40 for 8 hours instead of 7.
Saved 5 hours in the above example out of nowhere. Yes it’s crude, and yes it’s not the same for everyone. It’s just an example. But I find that saving seconds here and there (eg taking the rubbish on my way down anyway, or putting my clothes straight into the washing machine instead of dropping them on the floor) saves enough time to do anything you want. Mutlitasking is also very important. I am writing this while a kid I’m taking care of is playing next to me and I’m waiting for my biscuits to cook in the kitchen next door. Gotta go now :)