I would like to put in a petition for a 30-hour day. I truly believe that six extra hours per day would enable me to get everything done that I need to accomplish … and I might even have time to sit and read a book, or do something else relaxing. Yes, six more hours would be just great.

I know that there are some people out there who have managed to find these additional few hours without having to actually slow down the earth’s rotation. These amazing individuals can get 4-5 hours of sleep each night and still be safe behind a wheel.

Alas, I am not one of these people. I would definitely be considered a public hazard, if I were to regularly skimp on half of my daily sleep requirement.

I feel like I’m already cutting every corner to manufacture extra minutes in the day. Here are some of my time-creating tactics that might work for you, too (although you’re probably already doing half of them):

Eat and drink on the run.

Morning coffee is rarely sipped from a mug, but more often slugged from a silver thermos. And just today, I found myself eating a leftover bagel in the front seat of the car after my 3-year-old daughter reached out from her car-seat and said, “here, Mommy.”

Shower every other day.

I figure that saves me some time, too. It’s summer – I’m just going to get dirty again, anyway. And a friend of mine has a really clean pond. It’s the perfect natural bath.

Stop folding and putting away laundry.

This activity is just far too time consuming. My kids have now started fishing their clothes out of the laundry basket. They’re much easier to get to than if they were in a drawer, anyway.

Lose the brush.

I honestly don’t know where ours is. It has been missing for months. No, really, I’m serious. I cut my hair recently under the guise of fashion. But it was really because I don’t have time to brush.

Stop making the bed.

This one doesn’t even require an explanation. It makes perfect sense.

And finally, let the clutter collect.

I find that it’s much easier to locate what I’m looking for if it all stays out in the open. You tuck something neatly away in a drawer or cabinet, and you’ll never find it (on purpose) again.

There you go. Follow these suggestions, and you’ll create at least 2-3 NEW hours for yourself every day.