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My daughter is super busy. Between her job, college and spending time with her boyfriend and other friends, she barely has any time to just be. She tries to make the things that are important {like taking vitamins, eating breakfast, etc.} priority, but with a busy schedule, it can be easy to miss something. The common denominator in this is Amber’s car. It’s with her everywhere. So, we are sharing some time saving hacks that involve her car. We are hoping that they might help some of you other college students out there.
10 Time Saving Hacks For Busy College Students
Plan Outfits Ahead Of Time – Amber loves to check the weather and then choose her outfits for each day the night before. She even has friends who plan them out a week in advance. This saves her a lot of time in the morning because she often takes a lot of time to choose what she will wear each day.
Keep Work Items In Your Car – Amber is a server in a restaurant. To save time, she keeps her apron, pens, change and her check presenter all together in her car. This way, she doesn’t waste time looking for these items and gathering them up. She already knows where they are.
Preset Your Coffee – Amber loves coffee, as do I. It’s great to have a coffee machine that you can get ready the night before and set to start in the morning a few minutes before you get up. I mean, who doesn’t love waking up to the inviting smell of coffee?
Keep Protein Bars And Fruit On Hand – In our pantry, we keep a basket of protein bars. Just in case Amber doesn’t have time for a sit down breakfast in the morning, she can grab her a protein bar and a piece of fruit from our fruit basket in just seconds and then be on her way.
Multi Task – If you are really in a hurry, you could always multi task while getting ready. Clean your ears while gargling mouthwash or brush your teeth while taking a shower, for example.
Sleep In Your Workout Clothes – Amber has a few friends who work out first thing in the morning. To save time, they go to sleep in their work out clothes. In the morning, they hop up and head straight to the gym. Don’t forget to drink lots of water before, during and after your workout.
Prepare Lunch Ahead Of Time – Not only does packing your lunch save you time in the morning, it also saves you money and time choosing what you will have for lunch each day. I mean, Amber might only get 30 minutes for lunch. Standing in line to buy lunch will take up a lot of that time. And who wants to use half of their break standing in line?
Prepare Smoothies Ahead Of Time – Amber and I both love to drink smoothies. What we like to do is to get all of the ingredients together and prepare them as necessary {i.e. cutting up fruit} and put them in the pitcher in the fridge the night before. Then, all you need to do is put the blender together and voila!
Organize Your Books In Your Car – Amber doesn’t lose her school books because, like her work items, she keeps her school items organized in her her.
Always Keep Your Vitamins With You – I have found that Amber is more likely to take vitamins if they are with her. If she forgets to take them in the morning, that is ok. I made her a cute little dispenser to keep in her car so that she can just grab one quick without thinking much about it.
Easy DIY Treasure Chest Vitamin Dispenser
Let’s face it, kids aren’t always receptive to taking things to supplement their overall health. I find that my daughter is more likely to take vitamins if they come in a cute package. So, check out what I did to her vitamin bottle to make it more college kid friendly and convenient.
You will need…
Assorted colors of washi tape {or that style}
Cute embellishments {I chose an anchor as Amber and I love the beach}
Scissors
Centrum Vitamints or Centrum Gummies {we are using Centrum Vitamints Raspberry for this dispenser}
Peel the plastic coating off of the Centrum Vitamints which you can pick up at your local Walmart {along with the other items needed for this DIY}. You can even get a coupon here!
Cut lots of strips of washi tape in several colors. I like to cut them about the width of the Centrum Vitamints bottle, but you can cut them whatever length you like.
Now, put the washi tape on the dispenser in whatever pattern you like. I tried to get mine to look like waves. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look the way you like immediately. It’s easy to peel off and start again.
Once you get your washi tape the way you like, then you can add your embellishments. I love these anchors. I decided to use this burlapy yarn {I think it’s actually called jute cord} to tie my anchors on as I will remove them when the bottle is empty and put them on the next one.
Do You Have Any Other Time Saving Hacks To Share?
Enjoy staying healthy with simple solutions like Centrum Gummies and Vitamints. Be sure to print off your money saving coupon here. 🙂
*These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Terri says
What a fun little case! I like to buy mints in bulk so this would be a handy carrying case! Thanks for sharing your method and the little charms are adorable.
karen says
What a really cute and easy DIY! Love your tips – these are actually great for anyone! The coffee preset is a major one! Caffeine ready to roll is what its all about, am I right?
Karen | GlamKaren.com
Dawn McAlexander says
You are definitely right. I am nothing without my daily dose of caffeine. 🙂
Wendy says
This is such a cute idea. Gotta remember to take those vitamins.
Pam says
Keeping protein bars on hand is a great time saving tip. Especially for those rushed mornings.
Dawn McAlexander says
That definitely is a great tip. My daughter loves protein bars and always carries some wherever she goes.
Ana says
That is what I used to do at uni, I got my clothes out the night before and made my lunch the day before too. It saved hassle in the morning!
Jeanine says
What a fabulous idea! I love the repurposing of items and using them for things like this. So cute, and so fun. Perfect for busy mamas too!
Marcie W. says
I know the college years can be extremely stressful on both parents and students. These are all great ways to save time and focus on overall health and wellness.
Liz Mays says
These are really good pieces of advice. I always liked preparing my lunches beforehand. Keeping my work essentials in the car is helpful too!
Valerie Gray says
These are really great tips. I could use these in my everyday life.
Rachel Langer says
I have totally slept in my workout clothes. It really does help! You literally get up and go.
Kristi says
Would be fun to make that for college kids and send it to them as a little surprise. Everyone needs a little reminder to take their vitamins!
Dawn McAlexander says
Oh yeah. This would be fun to add to a beach themed care package. You could include an invitation to the beach for spring break or something. 🙂
Karlaroundtheworld | Karla says
Centrum’s a good recommendation since they’re reputable as a source of..well, everything. I appreciate those tips as well, although I am not a student anymore, times do change a lot and I often forget the basics of how I endured the busiest times of my life.
Theresa says
These are great tips! My daughter will be off to college in one year, and I am sure that these tips will really help her save some much needed time. Even as a high schooler she doesn’t get much time to herself these days. We just live in a world where it’s go, go, go!
Kiwi says
Wow I would of new thought to decontruct a Centrum Dispenser. This is creative and definitely eye catching!
Ann Bacciaglia says
This is a cute vitamin dispenser. I will have to share these hacks with my kids. They are both in College.
Ryan Escat says
Love this idea, my wife would also love this idea for sure.
Brandy says
What a cute idea, I love the idea of making your own Vitamin dispenser and it is so super stylish looking too!
Blythe A. says
Such fun, yet practical idea. I had to laugh when I read about sleeping in your workout clothes. When I was a freshman, some idiot kept calling in bomb threats in the middle of the night. My roommate and I would either sleep in our clothes or have something ready to go next to the bed.
Dawn McAlexander says
Idiots used to do that when I was in high school all the time. The crazy thing was that the pay phone {remember those?} they were using to do it from was right in front of the office. In clear view. *shaking my head*
Rachel Ferrucci says
That’s such a cute idea and you gave some great tips!
Heather says
What a cute idea! We all take vitamins here, but me trying to remember to take mine is the biggest issue – kids are all remembered, but I forget mine half the time 🙂
Toni | BoulderLocavore.com says
This is the most creative, cute upscale project ever! I love all of your tips too. I think more than college kids will benefit from your suggestions.
Dawn McAlexander says
Thank you so much. I think we can all use a little beachiness in our lives. 🙂
Raijean says
Wow, great hacks! Where were they when I was going to school. Can’t wait to try them.
Amy @ Marvelous Mommy says
Cute idea, I love the anchors! Preparing lunch ahead of time is a great tip!
KRYSTLE says
What a cute idea. My kids love their vitamins. They taste so good these days.
Dawn McAlexander says
You are right. These Centrum Raspberry Vitamints are really good. 🙂
Siniciliya says
Amber is so organized! This is something my Mom tried to teach me but I am too creative to follow these rules haha
I change my mind too often to be able to plan like Amber does!
Beeb Ashcroft says
What a clever idea to decorate the bottle to encourage her to carry it with her. I have always struggled with getting my vitamins in, and in all truth, with being organized and prepared as well. Thanks for the tips.
ashley says
I am not a college student but this does sound like a list of very helpful things! Preparing the coffee the night before is always a GREAT THING! & cute vitamin bottle!
Amy says
This is such a cool way to upcycle an old vitamin box. I love the new packaging for the Centrum Vitamints Raspberry.
Nicole Escat says
It’s important to make sure that they get all the rest that they can get, college is tough as it is, no need to add sleep deprivation to the long list of things that causes them stress. These are really helpful tips, making sure they have vitamins to support them is important.
Rebeka says
That is cute! These are also great tips! xx Rebeka
Debra says
I won’t lie, I kind of want to try sleeping in my workout clothes! I had never thought of that before but my workout clothes are already super comfy1
Amber says
This is perfect for me to share with kids graduating that I know. This could really help them out.
Kristin says
That’s super cute. I would have loved it when i was in collage!
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly says
I take Centrum but have never heard or seen the ‘vitamints’ near me I will have to keep an eye out for them, very cute blinged out dispenser!
Rosey says
Such a cute idea. I like that you can peel and start again if you mess up. I suspsect that would happen to me often during the creation process, lol
Dawn McAlexander says
Oh yes. The best crafts are the ones that are simple to make and leave lots of room to correct errors in my opinion.
colette @ restyle it wright says
These are great tips for anyone for sure! I’m definitely not one to work out but maybe I would if I woke up in the clothes I was going to work out in! haha
Robin Masshole Mommy says
That dispenser is so cute! I love this and totally want to make one, too!
Jill Conyers says
This would definitely eliminate the problem of items getting mixed up with roommates. Love the added charms.
Yona Williams says
I would have never thought to dress up my vitamin dispenser. This definitely makes taking vitamins more fun!
Sandy Mangis says
This is a great list, not just for college kids, but for anyone who is on a time crunch or has a lot of things going on. Love it.
Toughcookiemommy says
Keeping protein bars and fruit on hand is essential. These are the food items that will fuel many late night study sessions.
HilLesha says
I love the idea of a vitamin dispenser, especially since I take vitamins regularly. How cute! I love beach themes, too.
becca says
I wish I’d done some of these things while I was in college. It’s so hard to learn how to manage the time with the different class schedules!
Hannah says
What a great way to jazz up your vitamin containers. I would definitely take this around with me in my purse 🙂
nicole says
Adorable! My love served in the Navy so every time I see anchors I want to buy it or try it. This is awesome definitely an inexpensive DIY craft I would love to try.
Pam says
Great tips! Thanks for sharing them. I love the way you added a little flair to the dispenser with the anchors and rope as well!
Dawn McAlexander says
Thank you so much! It’s funny how much more alluring a vitamin can be to a kid when it has a little flair. 😉
Lisa Joy Thompson says
These are such great time saving hacks. When my daughter left for school, she said that she stopped taking her vitamins since we weren’t there to remind her. This is a great idea!!!
Joyce Brewer says
What a cute idea for a vitamin dispenser. This would look great in a bathroom with an aquatic theme!
Dawn McAlexander says
Thanks a bunch. Our bathroom actually is aquatic themed {as is our whole house, really} so perhaps I should move it in there. 🙂
Mardene says
These are very practical steps that any college student can follow easily
sarah says
great ideas thank you for sharing