The 5 Easiest Ways to Save Time

Pressed for time? You could fly west at 1,050 mph, saving an hour every hour. Or try these time-tested tips.

Trim the Workout Fat

Many men work out too long, says Ed Laskowski, M.D., codirector of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center. Use the "15-Minute Work-out" in every issue of MH. If you're just starting out, train your full body three times a week with 1 set of 12 to 15 reps per exercise. That's enough to build muscle, he says.

Fly Direct

With 30 percent of all flights delayed, even one stop makes it likely that at least one leg of your trip will be late. A delay during your two-stop to Tulsa is as good a bet as a Steve Nash free throw. Smart flyers pay up to 50 percent extra to go nonstop.

Pool It

"Pretend you're in a car pool—set a time to leave work every day," says Peter "The Time Man" Turla, a coauthor ofTime Management Made Easy. "Rather than think, I can stay late and get it done, you'll work more efficiently. And you'll be home sooner."

Be a One-Click Pony

Download macro software for your Mac or PC and customize one-touch action for functions you use most. "The more macros you use, the more time you save," says, David Pogue, the New York Times' tech columnist.

Skip the Movie

Read reviews so you can discuss current films intelligently, but wait to rent the DVD online. (Pogue is a Netflix guy.) You'll save 2 hours plus travel time for each film you skip altogether, and you'll avoid the bombs millions of first-weekend saps watched in theaters.