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prairiemoon2

15 Minute Jobs?

I'm making a list of jobs, tasks, activities that can be done in 15 minutes and wondered if anyone here has had success trying to get in the habit of squeezing in small 15 minute jobs throughout the week? And what kind of jobs have you found easy to do in 15 minutes?

I've been looking at lists online and some suggestions seem un-doable to me. For instance, vacuuming ONE room. Yes, that is do-able, but if I'm going to pull out the vacuum, I'm going to get a significant amount done. And not do one room and have to drag it out 8 times in a week. Someone suggested giving a dog a bath in 15 minutes and I was just picturing the mess after I was done that would take another 15 minutes.

I'm thinking....

Clean out a drawer

Wash the glass on the storm door

Wash one double hung window

Take a walk

Clean out my email box for 15 mins

Comments (17)

  • marymarymaryk
    11 years ago

    Most of these don't even take 15 minutes, but it's what popped into my head:

    Shred receipts
    wipe down kitchen appliances
    quick wipe down of bathroom
    file papers
    sweep the kitchen
    wipe down the kitchen chairs
    sweep/get cobwebs off front porch
    fold a load of laundry

  • camlan
    11 years ago

    Make your bed.
    Clean the toilet
    Clean the bathroom sink
    Clean the kitchen sink
    Empty the dishwasher
    Dust a room (depending on what's in the room)
    Clear off desk top
    Wash the cat's food bowl
    Hand launder unmentionables
    Tidy a room (put everything away, take things that belong elsewhere to the room they belong)
    Take stuff out of the freezer for dinner
    Sort recycling
    Go through 1 file folder and toss outdated papers

  • bspofford
    11 years ago

    Load the dishwasher
    Take out the garbage
    Send a greeting card
    Take the trash out of the car
    Start a load of laundry
    Change the bed
    Plan clothes for tomorrow and set out, along with accessories
    Make one lunch
    Take donation bag/box and put into car
    Pay a bill online
    Call someone you love and tell them so
    Make up a bank deposit
    Check in on this forum!

    Barbara

  • prairiemoon2 z6b MA
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Go thru the medicine cabinet and weed it out
    Iron one shirt
    Stretching to music
    Squats, Push Ups and Free Weights
    After soaking, clean the drip pans on the stove
    Fill one birdfeeder
    Deadhead flowers
    Rinse and refill birdbaths
    Go through photo software and weed photos you don't want, tag, rate, and describe photos

  • mommabird
    11 years ago

    Clean the cat litter box
    Change the kitchen trash bag
    Straighten a closet
    Throw in a load of laundry
    Sweep a room (hardwood floors)
    Swifter under a bed
    Dust a bookcase
    Clean a window

  • caroline94535
    11 years ago

    I timed my "salmon chowder" prep today.

    In 15 minutes I...

    - Set out the two pans (stew pot and saute pan)
    - Set out the spoon rest, wooden spoon, ladle, can opener, and chef's knife
    - Set out plate to hold raw veggies and bag for trash and scraps
    - Set out and opened canned salmon, condensed milk, and chicken brooth
    - Set out 3 cups water, butter, pepper grinder, dill weed, and celery seed
    - Set out potatoes, onion, corn, and leeks.
    - Put corn in microwave to defrost. (Home grown and frozen in a large container. Forget to get it out last night.)
    - Peeled and diced large onion and set it to saute in stew pot
    - Cleaned and sliced two leeks and tossed them in saute pan
    - Diced five potatoes

    The timer rang.----------

    In the next 15 minutes or less, I ...

    - poured the broth, water, spices, leeks, corn, remaining butter, potatoes, and salmon in with the browned onions, popped the lid on, and set it to simmer.

    - Tossed out the trash, set dishes to soak, put the spices and utensils away

    - and then poured the milk into the chowder.

    Supper is done!

  • prairiemoon2 z6b MA
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Oh....I'm so happy to hear someone is experimenting with timing tasks. I am planning on doing that this week too. Your Chowder recipe sounds good and I'm always looking for a new way to eat Salmon. Thanks

  • cupofkindness
    11 years ago

    Speaking of 15 minute increments for tackling small jobs, has anyone found a good timer besides the one on an appliance? Flylady's timer looks good, I especially appreciate the words "You can do anything for 15 minutes" on the timer, but would prefer a wind-up timer to an electronic one. However, I have found that these seem to break after a while.

    My Westminister chiming mantle clock is the best thing I've got right now... I must admit that it's wonderful.

    I can clean a fairly dirty kitchen in 15 minutes if the day is young... not so at nighttime which is an incentive to clean as I go or else I wake up to dinner dishes the next morning.

    Thanks for any recommendations about timers!

  • thankurnmo
    11 years ago

    What a great thread- and I too love using the timers. I have been amazed that one of my most dreaded tasks,(and I have no clue why but it irks me) is emptying the dishwasher and putting everything away. When I have timed it, it usually takes less than 5 minutes. (so now I don't hate it as much). Its funny because I used to procrastinate it and now I think oh its a nothing task.
    I especiallylike the timer for sorting through things like photos or a drawer. You really can accomplish something in 15 minutes!!
    Combined with the timer, I think it was flylady who also had a system where you would neaten by collecting a certain number of objects to either toss or put back in their correct places. (a nice one for me with reading materials, mail, stuff that "accumulates".)

  • prairiemoon2 z6b MA
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    cupofkindness, I've used a small digital timer in the past. I still have it. It is battery operated, and has a clip to attach it to your clothing or anywhere in a room to make it visible. It allows you to set it for 15 minutes or set it to start running at zero and shut it off when you are done to see how long something takes. I'm pretty sure I bought mine locally at a Target or such and it was about $5. I see they have a selection at Amazon. The link is for the one I have. I've used it for over 3 years, intermittently. I don't see the 'clip' part of it, but that is what the face of it looks like.

    If you don't like the digital timer, all I can think of is an egg timer?

    Here is a link that might be useful: Taylor Timer

  • talley_sue_nyc
    11 years ago

    -fold one basket of laundry

    a lot of these, though, are more like 10 minutes.

    I think I'm going to start timing some of the things I want to do in the house--it'll motivate me to actually do them.

    I may come back with a 7-minute list!

  • minnie_tx
    11 years ago

    I was just thinking about this yesterday what a great thread. Years and years ago Woman's Day or Family Circle had an article "twenty minute jobs" I never forgot the concept.Thanks all printing the suggestions out

  • minnie_tx
    11 years ago

    Couldn't resist compiling a list (5 minutes)

    After soaking, clean the drip pans on the stove
    Call someone you love and tell them so
    Change the bed
    Change the kitchen trash bag
    Clean a window
    Clean out a drawer
    Clean out my email box for 15 mins
    Clean the bathroom sink
    Clean the cat litter box
    Clean the kitchen sink
    Clean the toilet
    Clear off desk top
    Deadhead flowers
    Dust a bookcase
    Dust a room (depending on what's in the room)
    Empty the dishwasher
    file papers
    Fill one birdfeeder
    fold a load of laundry
    Go through 1 file folder and toss outdated papers
    Go through photo software weed photos you don't want, tag, rate, and describe photos
    Go thru the medicine cabinet and weed it out
    Hand launder unmentionables
    Iron one shirt
    Load the dishwasher
    Make one lunch
    Make up a bank deposit
    Make your bed.
    Pay a bill online
    Plan clothes for tomorrow and set out, along with accessories
    quick wipe down of bathroom
    Rinse and refill birdbaths
    Send a greeting card
    Shred receipts
    Sort recycling
    Squats, Push Ups and Free Weights
    Start a load of laundry
    Straighten a closet
    Stretching to music
    Sweep a room (hardwood floors)
    sweep the kitchen
    sweep/get cobwebs off front porch
    Swifter under a bed
    Take a walk
    Take donation bag/box and put into car

  • minnie_tx
    11 years ago

    Another idea
    Take a pic of the project/area first then take an after fun

  • minnie_tx
    11 years ago

    Have to add two which I did today

    Clear off top of Kitchen sink

    Clear off dining room/kitchen table

  • prairiemoon2 z6b MA
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Thanks Minnie for Compiling the List...good idea. :-)

    Ok, I'll add a few more I've done since I posted last....

    Soak & Scrub out the Wastebaskets
    Wash the computer down with alcohol
    Sew a button on a shirt
    Update the calendar and coordinate with a family member
    Clean the glass on a storm door
    Scrub & polish the tea kettle
    Soak the cutting boards in vinegar then scrub with lemon & salt
    Use an egg for a facial and lay down for 15minutes
    Water the houseplants
    Change the batteries in all the smoke detectors

  • minnie_tx
    11 years ago

    I'll add them to the list later .. having the list in front of me helps too..

    I have agreat one o add
    GET UP AND AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER FOR 15 MINUTES !! haha
    clean/rearrange things in the freezer (a cold job)

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