SearchI love being efficient — I get a natural high from finding the most timesaving, least wasteful ways to do things. In a recent training that focused on workplace processes, I realized how much it applied to my everyday life. For example, getting ready in the morning, driving from point A to point B, cooking dinner and more. I’d like to share a few wasteful habits that could be compromising the efficiency of your day-to-day activities.
- Overproducing:
- making more than what you need. For example, cooking too much food and not saving the leftovers.
- Lack of clarity:
- trying to complete a task you don’t understand. Wouldn’t it be more efficient to have clear instructions upfront, so you don’t waste time trying to figure out what you should be doing?
- Inventory:
- taking more than enough. For instance, buying too much at the grocery store and the food goes bad or eating lunch and grabbing three napkins when you really only need one.
- Action:
- this one can be tricky. Examples include sending multiple texts back and forth when you could have made one phone call. Or trying to find something you misplaced. Think about what your spice cabinet looks like — I get so frustrated when I spend time rummaging through all the spices looking for the thyme.
I encourage you to start looking for wastes at home, work or when you’re out and about. When you notice one, challenge yourself to make it less wasteful and more efficient. Good luck and have fun!