Second Cup: Use templates to save time

Don't start from scratch on everything

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.
Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Today's tip is for all those tasks you do regularly,
make a template, that is something that serves as a model.

(00:24):
Templates help us get things done efficiently and successfully. You
don't have to approach familiar situations as though you've never
seen them before. Instead, use a template to make getting
started easier. For instance, in a past episode, I suggested
creating go to gifts. This is really a gift giving template.

(00:45):
For instance, you decide that you'll narrow the universe of
baby gifts down to a monogrammed rattle, a canvas tote
bag with the baby's name, or a favorite children's book
from your own childhood. You decide which of these gifts
you give to any given family, and the personalization makes
it less cookie cutter, but the choices are simple, which
makes the process straightforward. You can make packing templates too.

(01:09):
Maybe you realize that every time you spend a week
at the beach, you need two bathing suits to cover ups,
four sets of exercise clothes, two dinner out outfits, five
casual tops, five casual bottoms. Flip flops, running shoes, and
dressing sandals. It can be helpful to make a packing
list before you pack, and then after you get back
from the trip, edit the packing list with notes about

(01:31):
anything you'll do differently next time. Grocery shopping and meal
planning are more efficient with templates too. Make a recurring
grocery list. Start with the items you buy every week,
like milk and salad greens, so those are already typed in.
Then have sections for various categories like fruit and vegetables,
and write the items you need that week in the

(01:51):
appropriate category. The sections guide you to think about what
you'd like in each category, so you end up with
enough of everything, but not more than you can end ay.
As for meal planning, a template for the week means
this chore is much less overwhelming and my family these
days we're cooking up something simple on Monday. This week
it was salmon with broccoli. We make meal kits from

(02:13):
sun Basket on Tuesday and Wednesday, meaning those nights are
pretty mindless too. We order in from an area restaurant
on Thursday. Friday is pizza night. There are very few decisions,
and that's a good thing. During the week, all we're
really deciding is Monday night and which restaurant we order
from on Thursday. Now, you may be thinking that using

(02:36):
templates sounds boring and repetitive, but think again. We don't
eat the same thing every Wednesday in my house. The
meal kits provide some variety. Even with removing the decisions.
The weekly menu is pretty varied, but a template provides
basic structure. This saves us from facing the metaphorical blank page,

(02:58):
the overwhelming feeling of owing that you can choose anything
and having no idea what you want. Templates give you
a starting point within which you can make creative choices.
And if you decide to disregard your templates sometimes, well
that's totally fine. Templates are designed to help you, not
to limit. You feel free to give some new baby

(03:18):
a really cute outfit, or go out for dinner on
Tuesday just because. But every mundane choice doesn't have to
consume as much attention, and that saves all kinds of time.
What do you use templates for in your life? I'd
love to hear about it. You can reach me at
Before Breakfast podcast at ihart media dot com. In the meantime,

(03:40):
this is Laura. Thanks for listening and here's to making
the most of our time. Hey everybody, I'd love to
hear from you. You can send me your tips, your questions,
or anything else. Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook
and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod. That's b E the

(04:05):
number four, then Breakfast p o D. You can also
shoot me an email at Before Breakfast podcast at iHeartMedia
dot com that Before Breakfast is spelled out with all
the letters. Thanks so much, I look forward to staying
in touch. Before Breakfast is a production of I heart Radio.

(04:28):
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