Top Teacher Time-Savers at Home

Do you ever wonder how the teachers who seem to have it all together do it?  They have a secret:  They maximize their time at home as well as at work.  So if you're looking for some tips on how to do that, this post is for you!

I'm going to start with food because it's one of the most important parts of my life that can also be the most time-consuming if I don't use all my best time-savers.

Time-Saver #1: Our Groceries Shopping List App

This app is the best food-related thing to happen to my busy family!  For one thing, it's free.  It also allows you to add to your grocery list from any mobile device.  So, when my husband uses the last of the bread, he adds it to the list and it automatically shows up on my list on my phone.  No more lost handwritten lists.  We just add to it anytime we think of something we need.  It also has the capability to store your recipes so you can get all the ingredients you need if you suddenly remember that you want to make Grandma's Pumpkin Pie, but didn't write the ingredients down before going to the store.

Time-Saver #2: Meal Plans 

I collect recipes from magazines and search Pinterest for inspiration. I sit down Saturday or Sunday to pick some recipes we want for the week and make a shopping list.  We usually have at least one "breakfast for dinner" and a couple of leftovers meals per week.  On most weeks, I shop once for the entire week. This way I know what's for dinner even on nights when my creativity and energy are low. 

Speaking of saving time with groceries ...

Time-Saver #3: Walmart Grocery

After I've made my grocery list for the week, I often use this online shopping feature. You can shop for all your groceries and schedule a pick up day/time all from the comfort of your couch!  You just pull up to the front of the store and they help load the groceries.  Bonus:  It's FREE if you order at least $30, which is always true for me.  From start to finish, I'm usually out of there in less than 15 minutes. Not having to browse the isles also saves me money because I don't see things I "need" that weren't on my grocery list.  

Time-Saver #4:  An Instant Pot or Crock Pot

I've done other posts on why this thing saves my life when it comes to mealtime:
Italian Marinara Sauce
Pork Roast
Applesauce
Mashed Potatoes

If it weren't for my Instant Pot, I would eat fast food all the time. That causes all kinds of undesirable results for me: Sluggishness, weight gain, predisposition to sickness. I do a couple of hours of prep on the weekends and have dinners/leftovers for the week. I know a couple of hours sounds like a lot of time, but compared to the amount of time I would take to plan and make meals during the week, two hours is nothing.

Time-Saver #5: Salads in a Jar

I'm not kidding, I NEVER get tired of these. I make all five days of salad on Sunday and they are still fresh and tasty the whole week through.  They make packing a healthy lunch so much easier and I don't have to rely on the cafeteria, which seems to take at least ten of my precious 20 minutes of lunchtime. The secret in making these beauties is in how you layer them. Dressing and veggies go in first, then meat, and the lettuce goes in last. There are a million great recipes out there, but here are a few of my favorites.
Taco Salad 

Caprese Salad
Ranch Rotini Salad

Here's on of my favorites:  Black Bean Salsa

Time-Saver #6: Protein Bars

Protein bars are inconspicuous and can be eaten standing at a copier. Need I say more?  Primal Thin Protein Bars are my favorite because they have only four totally natural ingredients, no milk protein, and only 1 g of sugar. 

Time-Saver #7: Choosing Your Outfit the Night Before You Need It

I Pick out my COMPLETE outfit for the next day before I go to bed. This includes shoes and accessories. Why?  Because I'm not a morning person and I try not to wake my family by stumbling around while I'm searching for clothes at zero-dark-thirty in the morning. It saves time and energy to just have it all laid out the night before.

Time-Saver #8: Do a Load of Laundry Each Day

This includes washing, drying, and folding. Here's the part where I get lazy: I rarely put the clothes away after they're folded. I just pick out of the basket until  there's only a few pieces of laundry left and then I put them away. If I consistently do laundry this way, I usually only have one load to do on the weekends. 

What would you add to this list?
What are you already doing from this list?
I'd love to hear how you maximize your time at home!