Do you often feel that there’s just not enough time in the day to get it all done? Even though we all have the same 24 hours each day, somehow it’s just not enough for you? If this is how you feel sometimes, you’re not alone, but don’t throw in the towel and give up just yet. Read on for some great tips and strategies, on how to utilize those 24 hours in the best way possible, while still getting a good amount of zzz’s in. If you stick with it, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how your home, and life itself will shine just a bit brighter. Here are five quick tasks to do around your home that will make a big difference!

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5 Quick Tasks to Do Around Your Home that Will Make a Big Difference

Magazines

Now let’s be realistic. Not every magazine is a keeper. If you have a subscription to a special magazine that you want to keep as a collection, then treat it with care. Keep those magazines in order in a special holder just for them. Other than that, it’s best to try and minimize what you keep.

My method is, I just sit down and pull out all of my magazines. I always feel like there are some articles in there that I have to read, so I just take my stack and take a quick look through, (and I mean quick! I tell myself that this is not the time for reading) and I pull or cut out the pages that look interesting to me, staple each article together and put them back in a rack to actually read later, it saves me so much space. They are the perfect read for when I have a little extra time while I wait in the car for my kids to get out of school or after school activities, or the waiting room at the doctor’s office, you get the idea.

Junk Drawer

There’s no shame in having a junk draw. Everyone’s got one, it’s inevitable. But, at least once a year (or more) it’s best to tame the lion and get it back under control. The first time you do it, it will take a bit more effort. After that, it will be easier because everything will have a home.

- First things first – Measure the interior of your drawer and buy some clear containers in many different sizes, these are my favorites.
- Now, take everything out and put all like things together on the countertop. Paper clips, garage door openers, rubber bands, scotch tape, etc. Throw out any broken or unnecessary items, and make a pile of things that don’t belong in there at all. Those take out menus can go, they’re all online anyway. Now see which of those size containers you need to fit the items you have decided really belong in there. It’s just like putting a puzzle together. I like my most used items in the front and then I work my way to the back. It takes all of 10 minutes!! DONE!!

HERE’S A PICTURE OF A JUNK DRAWER BEFORE AND AFTER. This can be you!!

Soon you will be saying…Aaaaaahhhhhh…..!!!!! That feels good

The Car

Such a game-changer. Getting into a messy vs a neat car can set your mood for the day. The thought of cleaning out your entire car can seem like a big job, and sometimes it is, but in the end, it’s all do-able. I don’t know if you can relate, but we refer to my husband’s car as the black hole. Things have disappeared in there many a time, I’ve cleaned it out myself and it definitely seems daunting to start but if you do it piecemeal and then keep up with it you’re golden, keeping up with it is the key. It’s now time to create a new habit! Here are a few tips that will help get you on track.

- You have two options to clean your car. The first is in one fell swoop. To do this just treat it like your junk drawer – in reality, your car is basically just one big junk draw. Separate things that don’t belong and put the things that do belong in there in their proper place.
- If you’d rather do it piecemeal, it’s so simple. The one rule to follow is, every time you leave the car, everyone should carry something inside. It’s intimidating to carry up a lot at once, but if you do it one by one soon enough you’ll be able to see your car floor again.
- The 2 best times to clean out your car, is on the carpool line or at the gas station. Either throw any garbage that you have in the car into a bag or straight into the garbage can that is always next to the gas pump. While you’re waiting, wipe down the seats, dashboard, and cup holder with a wet wipe.

Helpful items to keep in your car

A few scented dryer sheets under your car seats
Pen, paper, a bottle of Advil, and mini hand sanitizer in the door compartment
Wet wipes
A little bag for garbage
A zipper pouch to keep your coupons
A mini umbrella
A car phone charger
3-5 napkins (not to be confused with 35 napkins) in the center console
Car registration and insurance cards in the glove compartment

Now for the trunk

Trunk dividers to keep things from sliding around
Reusable bags for the supermarket
Any items to be returned, cause you never know where you’ll wind up in your travels – but still always keep a list!
Flares
Jumper Cables
Small first aid kit

Pens and pencils

Alright, this is an easy one. You can even do it from your couch while watching your favorite show. Go around and collect all your pens and pencils from around the house. You’ll need 2 ziplock bags, a garbage pail, and a sheet of paper. Now sit down, and put your favorite show on.

Try each pen out, if it works and you like it, put it in the keep pile. If it’s out of ink, toss it. If you’re not loving it, then put it in the donate pile. With the pencils, toss any that are chewed up, or teeny-tiny. Keep a few for yourself and put the rest in the donate pile. Keep around 20 pens and pencils in one of the ziplock bags to save. The rest go in the other ziplock bag and spread the love. Usually, your local school would love to have them. Don’t worry about running out in the future; your “collection” will somehow replenish itself. Try and do this about once a year.

Handbag

This is a necessary one to keep up with. Do this once a week or every other week. I find that when I’m out rushing around, I just take my receipts and try and stick them in my wallet or sometimes just right in my bag, thinking I’ll just take them out later, but later just doesn’t always come.

The best way to keep up with your ever-filling-up purse is to just take it all out. Sometimes you can get lucky and find some change or even dollar bills that you didn’t know were there! And who doesn’t like “free” money?

The rest will probably be mostly junk or duplicates. My guess is your purse contents look something like this:

A bunch of receipts, a few packs of gum, too many pens, 2 lipsticks, some crumpled up tissues, sunglasses, ½ a protein bar, and some crumbs from who knows what.

Take everything your of your bag, and turn it upside down over a garbage can and give it a good shake. Then take a damp cloth and give it a good wipe down inside. Now with a discerning eye, be selective about putting things back, all the while remembering your shoulder and back- this is the time to be tough so you’re not carrying around a giant boulder all day. My suggestions are: wallet, keys, phone, lipstick, 1 pack of gum, tissues, sunglasses, a pretty pillbox, a mini make up bag, and a mini hand sanitizer.

What small tasks do you do that bring you huge results? Let me know in the comments below! If you’ve mastered these tasks above, check out another one of my posts on quick To Do tasks that you might find helpful.