When you are ready to do something you need done, check your list. Do whatever you have time for, whatever is most important, or whatever you feel like doing. Having a list cuts down the time that you think about what you have to do next or wondering if there is something that's more important that you have to do.

When you are cleaning at home, make sure you clean whenever you can. It doesn't take much time to sweep, wipe down the counters, or put a few dishes in the dishwasher. Don't let your dishes pile up. It will take you longer to rinse them off if they have been sitting in the sink for a few days. If you rinse them off right after dinner and put them straight in the dishwasher, you won't have to spend 30 minutes trying to clean the dishes when it would've taken 10 minutes total. Try to clean whenever you can. If you have 5 extra minutes, try sweeping the kitchen floor or wiping down the table.

There are many products now that will help make cleaning easier. They are usually really helpful but they can cost a lot, so if you are thinking about buying it, make sure that you will be able to continue to afford it, or you will be wasting your money.

To be more efficient at work, again make lists. At the start of the day, make a list of everything that you have to get done. You will have other things come up but when you are done with those, go back to your list. Pick the most important thing and then work from there. You probably won't get everything done on the list, but that's okay. Just continue the list the next day unless it is absolutely necessary to finish it that day.

If you are on your way to the break room to eat lunch and you have to drop something off at someone's desk or want to talk to someone real quick, then do it at the same time. If you can kill two birds with one stone, then do it. There isn't any point in making two trips when you only need to make one. The time spent in walking or doing something when you can do it while doing something else will take time away from doing something more important. Don't forget to cross off what you did after it's done. Never cross off something before it is completely done, because you will get interrupted and will forget about doing it.

When you have errands you have to do, it's always a good idea to make a list. I like making a list of things I need at a certain store, things I need that I can get at any general store, and then places I need to go. You cut down the amount of time spent thinking about what you need and can get everything right on your list right then. It will cut your grocery time at least by half.

Making lists is always a great way to be more efficient. You don't have to make lists for everything, but they help you decide what to do or how to get everything done without overloading your brain with remembering everything you need.