Winning Strategies

Time Saving Ideas to Help You Get It All Done

There are always ideas and new discoveries for you on time savings.  We have never thought of them all, or developed THE BEST efficient and effective use of our time.  I have a couple of ideas to start you thinking 'out of the box' that you may be trapped in.

• Evaluate the value of your time.  Often time we are doing things that would be better done other ways, or by other people.  It is best to evaluate the value of your time.  Does it make sense to figure out other ways to do some of the things that you are doing?  Here are a few ideas:
  • Hire a college student to help out with some errands
  • Hire an out of work mother or someone needing extra money to help you with some of your domestic duties.
  • Trade services- do something that you do easily and well for someone else in exchange for something that you struggle to do.
  • Accept that you cannot do it all.  Arrange for car share rides, and solutions for some of your responsibilities.
  • I love that in some cities grocery delivery service is available.

Don't stop there, you can outsource many elements of your life to enable you to get more done. I suggest you consider becoming a buyer of services.  Here are a few ideas:

• Conrad Creative    www.conradcreative.com
  Jenny Conrad- let her create fabulous
  gifts for you to give others when the need arises
   (one less thing for you to do)
• My Personal Valet  www.mpvalet.com
  Errands, Bill Paying, Shopping, Etc.  How would you like a few extra hours a month?  Wouldn't it be nice if someone could meet the plummer for you or run to the store and pick up perscriptions?  Imagine getting a few extra hours of help a month.  You'd love it, admit it.
• Long Lasting Gel manicures
  I'm loving the new Gel manicures that last for 3-4 weeks.  My nails look amazing and I spend much less time away from home or the office.  You might try them and see what you think.
• Lasers for Beautiful Results from New You Spa  http://www.thenewyoumedspa.com/
  With the new advancements in lasers, it isn't a bad time to try hair removal, laser skin resurfacing, skin tightening, or an amazing amount of other options.
• Snapfish Digital Photo Creation www.snapfish.com
  I cannot count the hours that I've saved by uploading my digital photos to snapfish and sharing them with family and friends.  I can request photos mailed to relatives, pick them up at the local Walgreens store, or have them mailed to my house.  I also adore the ability to make photo gifts.  Lovely gifts and options on this web site.
• Online Bill Pay tool www.paytrust.com
  Ever hate that you have to pick through your mail and sort through all those stacks of bills?  Yes, I can certainly relate.  Paytrust allows you to send all your bills to a PO BOX where they will scan all your bills, file them electronically, and store them in an electronic mailbox.  They will email you when the bills are due and you can even electronically choose to auto pay certain bills.  It is brilliant.

Write in with your ideas.  I'd love to hear them.  Pick a few ideas to try.  You can only do so much.

Pay Your Bills Easily with Paytrust

One of the greatest time savers that I have found is called Paytrust (www.paytrust.com).  I have been a customer for about 6 years, I believe.  With identify theft on the rise, and web browsers available virtually anywhere you are (even on vacation) - - I have loved the ability to handle my finances from anywhere; home, office, and even on vacation.

Step 1:  After you sign up, they assign you a PO Box in another state.  You re-direct your mail to the PO Box assigned to you.

            The Process

• They scan any bill that arrives for you.
• They enter the bills into your online bill paying mailbox.
• You are alerted when bills are due and when expected bill don't arrive.  I love the email that says, "Your Victoria Secret bill was expected on X date and has not arrived."
  
  Link Checking Accts
• I'm able to link accounts (even accounts from multiple banks).  This works for me and my complicated accounts.
  
  Pay Bills with the Click of a Button
• I am then able to pay bills with the click of a button. 
• I can pay electronic epay bills as well as 'paper' bills.
• They will cut a check and mail it for me if the vendor/payee doesn't accept electronic payments.
  
  Make Tax Time Easier
• Every bill from the entire year is scanned and available for me to purchase on a CD.  It has made end of year calculations so much easier.
• Easy reporting options allow me to see which vendors I paid and summarize my paid amounts.  It couldn't be easier
  
  Remote Access
• Best of all, you can pay bills from anywhere around the globe.  I can see the scanned image of the bill and easily access the details.
• I can set bills up to 'future pay', as well as ask the system to auto pay bills for certain vendors under X dollar amount.
• It is like putting your bill paying on auto pilot.

It is one way that I have alleviated stress and frustration and found a simple solution that makes bill paying easy.  Even when I was in the hospital, I was easily able to schedule and pay my bills with access to a laptop.  Try it, sign up for a free trial today.  You may be surprised how much time you save out of your month.  (and it makes getting the mail so much more enjoyable- no more bills in the mail)

 

 

 

What if I Gave You 20 Hours this Month? Productivity Experiment part III

My productivity experiment is kicked into full gear.  One month ago I hired a personal assistant in India.  Her name is Midhya.  She is amazing.  For the month of August, she has spent 20 hours of fully dedicated time working on projects and tasks that I couldn't get done.

She completed them.  She organized my schedule and followed up on things that I've been putting off for ages.

She created a marketing calendar of networking events in Dallas consisting of 3 organizations that I follow (ACHE, HIMSS, and HFMA).  It is a combined schedule of networking opportunities.  I can quickly glance across the schedule and determine where my time is best spent.  Ahhhh, it is a dream.

What if you were given 20 extra hours in a month?  What would you do with it? 

I'm giving my productivity experiment an A.  I am 4 weeks into the experiment and still loving it.  I'll keep you posted.  Still lovin it, yup, still lovin it.  I wonder if there is any way I could get her to yell at the kids for me when they don't clean their rooms?

New 'Gel' Manicures Designed for the Busy Woman in Need of More Time

Finally, they have developed a technology to save me valuable time on my manicures. There is a new 'gel' polish that lasts 3 weeks. I stopped into Posh Nail Salon (http://www.poshnail.com) on McKinney Avenue today in Dallas, Texas for a gel polish on my nails. It is a 'thicker' polish that doesn't chip and it is designed to last 3 weeks. As a way too-busy executive like MANY of you- this is music to my ears!

Kelly did a fabulous job on my 'gel' manicure. Find a salon near you that offers the new 'gel' manicure and save yourself a little time on your calendar.

Now if they could only make a clean house last 3 weeks. Laugh