I’d like to see a similar list involving time rather than money. What are things that you can spend a chunk of time on upfront, which will save more time than that within one year?
The question can also be parsed into a cluster of overlapping prompts, some of which transition into general efficiency:
Learn how to do a single task faster.
Ex: Touch typing. Keyboard shortcuts. Find a shorter path. Automate bills. Use a flashcard program like anki.
Figure out how to do a task less frequently (minimize “in-between” time, set-up and tear-down time).
Ex: Learn what items you can buy in bulk. Cook in larger quantities. Schedule errands together.
Identity something you can stop doing, or do significantly less of at modest cost.
Ex: Procrastination? Apply the 80⁄20 heuristic? This category is probably quite personal.
Learn how to better schedule or overlap tasks.
Ex: Learn to cook multiple things at once. Learning to schedule errands at low-traffic time. Listen to an audiobook, or call a friend, or practice singing, etc. while doing mentally undemanding things like chores.
I’d like to see a similar list involving time rather than money. What are things that you can spend a chunk of time on upfront, which will save more time than that within one year?
No specifics, but xkcd has a nice chart on how much time you should invest to automate something.
These probably aren’t the best ones out there, just what came to mind easily:
For people who take a few different medications, those weekly pill box things—it takes less attention to do it all at once when non-groggy.
Keeping one’s workspace clean and organized might be an example; a lot of people say they can pay attention more easily when things are clean.
Keep bicycle tires well pumped—makes you go a lot faster. (Also, having the correct kind of tires. Mountain bike tires are slow on pavement.)
Set up the computer/browser to automatically open the tabs/programs you use the most. (I know some people who do this on their work computers.)
“no ’poo” hair washing makes hair less oily so you need to wash it less often. Also cheaper. (baking soda + vinegar is the usual method.)
buying two weeks’ worth of groceries at once so you don’t have to shop as often
Dvorac and other alternative keyboard layouts
email inbox automation things (I’ve not used any, but people seem to like them)
The question can also be parsed into a cluster of overlapping prompts, some of which transition into general efficiency:
Learn how to do a single task faster.
Ex: Touch typing. Keyboard shortcuts. Find a shorter path. Automate bills. Use a flashcard program like anki.
Figure out how to do a task less frequently (minimize “in-between” time, set-up and tear-down time).
Ex: Learn what items you can buy in bulk. Cook in larger quantities. Schedule errands together.
Identity something you can stop doing, or do significantly less of at modest cost.
Ex: Procrastination? Apply the 80⁄20 heuristic? This category is probably quite personal.
Learn how to better schedule or overlap tasks.
Ex: Learn to cook multiple things at once. Learning to schedule errands at low-traffic time. Listen to an audiobook, or call a friend, or practice singing, etc. while doing mentally undemanding things like chores.