Making life more simple

1. Paying your bills
Do you spend hours each month paying your bills? Set up a direct debit to make sure everything is paid on time: many companies offer a yearly saving if you pay your bill immediately.
Time saved: 6 hours a month

2. Beauty tips
Having your hair cut and coloured can take hours, and most of the time you are sitting around reading magazines, waiting for your stylist. Ask for an eyelash tint or eyebrow tint to be done while you're waiting, or treat yourself to a manicure or pedicure.
Time saved: 30 minutes

3. Social exercise
Meeting your friends in a bar for a drink may be all well and good, but can have a bad effect on your waistline. Instead, arrange to meet friends at the park for a brisk hour's walk. You'll catch up on each other's lives, and burn calories at the same time. Afterwards, instead of a fattening glass of wine, enjoy a cup of herbal tea, but treat yourselves to a (carrot) cake!
Time saved: 2 hours

4. Shop smart
Too busy to do your groceries each week? Take advantage of today's technology and order your groceries online. Most supermarkets remember your last order, so you can delete or subtract within minutes. Plus, this means you'll always have healthy food in the fridge, so you'll be less likely to order a fattening takeaway.
Time saved: 2 hours

5. Have a focus
"Deciding what you want to achieve each day can save hours of time," says life coach Rosie Walford, director of the Big Stretch, www.thebigstretch.com. "Write down how much time you want to spend on a project and what your objective is. Busy women are expert multi-taskers, but can get caught up in trying to solve other people's problems," she says. "Being clear, focused and honest about your goals will make you a happier, healthier person."
Time saved: Immeasurable!

6. Take some me-time
"Being busy is not necessarily a bad thing," says Dr Elspeth Reid, Life Coach and Career Coach (020 8879 7676 or www.elspethreid.com). "But making time for yourself gives you a chance to recharge your batteries and assess your emotions." Dr Reid suggests scheduling in me-time in your diary, just as you would a doctor's or dentist's appointment and "don't break it!" she says. Make the most of this hour or day and try to do absolutely nothing. "Don't do the washing, cleaning or tidying," she says. "Learning to live in silence and stillness helps you to lower your stress levels and achieve higher in other areas of your life."
Time saved: At least a day per week

Six tips to make your life more simple