If you’re looking to free up some time in your schedule – and who isn’t? – it’s time learn how to batch at home. Given the current situation, I’m positive that all the mamas are nodding their heads right now!

Batching is, quite simply, grouping tasks together that you do often so you can get them all done at one time instead of constantly switching between tasks. 

In addition to saving you time, you’ll also find that you are doing things better because you can focus all your thoughts on the task at hand. When your mind is scattered thinking about all the different things you’re doing at once, it’s easy to forget things and spend even more time or money.

You might already know that I’m a huge proponent of batch cooking, but it’s a concept that can be applied to so many other aspects of our lives, too. 

Consider these 10 things you can batch at home and watch your free time pile up!

1. Planning

In our previous lives, every Sunday evening, I like to review the week ahead and plan everything that is going on. Recurring activities, like my kids’ extracurriculars, are already on repeat in my digital calendar, but I like to remind myself what’s happening and plan appointments all at once.
How do I make this work now? Well, I still like to review my week. The little time I get for work needs to be as well-planned as possible, as well as my other tasks for the home and a few fun activities with the kids. Oh, and the shopping and meal planning – which brings me to my next point.

2. Meal planning

Normally, I meal plan weekly, but you could even do this bi-weekly or monthly if you’re really brave or your plans don’t tend to change much. Figure out what you’re going to cook and eat and which groceries you’ll need, and make a list so you can batch at home. That way, you won’t be running around trying to track down ingredients at the last minute several times a week.
Now that we’re cooped up inside and our plans don’t change, I am meal planning bi-weekly or monthly.

3. Cooking

I like to use batch cooking to keep my kitchen time to a minimum. There are several styles and ways to batch cook depending on your needs and preference. I’ve got a great blog post you can read about how to find your style and tips to get the batch cooking done. You can read it here.
PS: I’m still a ‘combo batcher’ but mostly rely on once-a-week batch cooking now!

4. Meal prep

My motto is, “Why chop one veggie if you can chop two and use it for something else?” It’s silly to get out the food processor to chop one onion and then wash and dry all the parts, only to get it back out the next day to chop another onion for another dish. If you’ve done your meal planning, you know how many onions you’ll need for the week, so chop them all at once!

5. Outfits

Pick out your outfits for the week ahead in one sitting, using a weather forecast app if necessary, and hang everything together in your closet in order so your mornings will be a matter of grabbing and going!
If you’re staying home, this might help alleviate some of the gloom and doom. Try not to hang around in your PJs all day, getting into a comfy but nice outfit and getting ready is a huge game changer.

6. Laundry

I know some of us have so much laundry that we can’t practically do it all at once, but you could at least dedicate one day of the week to sheets and one to towels, for example. And definitely batch ironing because it’s no fun to pull out that ironing board and wait for the iron to heat up when you need to be out the door in five minutes.

7. Budgeting

You can easily batch budgeting, and it’s something you can even do once a month once you get into a good rhythm. A lot of your bill payments can be automated, and setting this up is worth its weight in gold.
If you’d like to know how I set up my budgeting system you can read all about it here, or watch my YouTube video.

8. Shopping and errands

You might not realise how much time you lose going back and forth to different places throughout the week, but it really does add up. Is the bank near the pharmacy? Go both places on the same trip and hit the grocery store on the way home. When you get all your shopping and errands for the week over with at once, you’ll free up some much-needed time to yourself or with your family!
Of course right now, the likelihood is you’re doing much of this online. Batching online shopping is also a great idea! Make sure you’ve got lists ready to go not to waste time browsing aimlessly.

9. Email correspondence and filing

If you’re answering each email you get as it comes in, you’re doing it wrong. Emails are something you can easily batch at home. Depending on how many emails you tend to get, I suggest setting a time once or twice a day during which you’ll read and reply to your emails – remember, people lived a long time without getting immediate answers. It’s the same for filing, which I like to do once a week. You can find more details on organising your paperwork in my post, 4 simple steps to organise your paperwork once and for all.

10. Bulk buying consumables

There are some things you’re probably buying over and over again, week after week, like paper towels and toilet paper. Buy your consumables in bulk to save time, and this will often save you money, too. This works well with things that don’t go bad, like the aforementioned paper goods, stationery and brown paper (which I like to use for wrapping presents), toothpaste and other toiletries, printer ink, and even dried or canned foods like beans.

Once you get into these routines, you’ll probably find even more ways you can batch at home to save yourself time and money!

Love,

Nakita xxx