A food timesaver:
I've found menu planning to be a great time saver, in terms of food prep and grocery shopping (if you have a menu plan written up, it's much easier to know what to buy - even better if you have a specific shopping list written up based on what you need for your menu).
I have a 3 week menu plan which I rotate (in which I've planned breakfast, mid morning snack, lunch and dinner for each day - there isn't a huge amount of variation in the meals just enough to not feel too repetitive).
I also make use of the freezer, I keep bread in my freezer and just toast some when I want some (I don't eat bread too often). I also keep stir fry mixes, other vegetables and cooked beans in the freezer. Nothing beats fresh veg though, so the frozen stuff is just a back-up/supplement.
Grooming timesaver:
I find it very helpful to pick out my clothes for the next day before I go to bed, I put everything I plan to wear on a hanger and put it in the bathroom ready to change into after showering. I also keep any moisteriser, make-up and a hair brush by the hallway mirror so I can fix my appearance up quite quickly before going out the door.
Cleaning timesaver:
Clean up as you go where possible, keeping the kitchen clean (sink & surfaces clean, dishes put away etc.), beds made, floors swept/vacuum cleaned, toilet & washbasins cleaned. I find that tidiness in the rest of the house seems to flow from these basics.
When I come home from work I usually do a quick tidy up involving clearing kitchen & general clutter (DH works from home and usually generates some mess throughout the day) making beds and sweeping floors. It usually just takes about 15 mins. I'll then do another quick kitchen & bathroom tidy up before bed. I think the key is to automate these tasks as part of a daily routine and not spend too long on them (detailed cleaning can be done at the weekends - but I often find it isn't too necessary if the house has been kept clean all week).
I think a key theme is to have things automated & habitualised, so you don't have to spend time making decisions (what to cook, which chore to do next, what to wear etc.).
Hope that helps
