You want practical? Today I’m giving you practical.

Being “neat.”

1. Make up your bed every morning. Yeah, I know you’re gonna get back in it tonight. But you’ll feel great because you’ve at least accomplished something, and you can do it in a minute or less.

2. Look in the mirror while you’re getting ready and repeat “I feel TERRIFIC” several times. Then you’ll feel terrific.

3. Get a candle (I like Yankee Candles) or a diffuser with essential oils (Young Living is what we use, and my wife Teresa dabbles in sharing it with others.) I was a late convert, but I’ve decided there may be something to all this.

4. Have a “drop zone” box, like a clothes hamper, where you dump everything and anything that’s not paper. Don’t worry what goes in it. At the end of the day, clear it out and decide where it all goes.

5. Automate your chores. Use a timer and block out 15 minutes. Work like a dog during those 15 minutes cleaning and tidying. Then when the timer sounds, finish whatever it was you were working on and walk away.

6. Set three main goals a day. Don’t worry about prioritizing them – they all could be ranked #1. Don’t overload your to-do list or you’ll hit the wall and not do anything … or at least you’ll put it off when you shouldn’t.

7. Even if one of the items on your list is “brush my teeth,” that’s okay. It’s the little things that motivate you to stretch further. Don’t wait on motivation. It ain’t gonna happen.

8. Have a physical inbox for your stuff, all that random paper that comes your way. Drop it and forget it. (See #4). At the end of the week, sort through it and deal with it. Only once. Don’t revisit it.

9. Fold or hang up your clothes right out of the dryer. It’ll keep you from having to iron so much.

Organization and productivity

10. There’s this thing called Eisenhower’s Matrix. Popularized by Stephen Covey, it helps you determine what’s urgent and important. You need to learn from this. Google it.

11. Do a little research into the Pomodoro technique. It’s one of the best tools I know to keep you focused and on task, and to help you use your time wisely.

12. Use a planner/organizer! I have a deep meaningful relationship with Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner. I am a Hyatt Bot. His stuff has been a game changer for me. www.michaelhyatt.com. And www.fullfocusplanner.com. But Google Calendar and Apple apps can serve you, too, and a recent favorite find of mine is Moleskine’s Timepage, available for iPhone and Android.

13. Journal. Get it all out of your head and onto paper. It’s easier to deal with that way. You can bullet journal (check Pinterest on this one). I used Moleskine for years, but these days I’m all about the Leuchtturm 1917. Keep your brain contents dumped!

14. Check out Taming the Paper Tiger, online or in book form. Have a folder for your important documents – medical, insurance, bank, etc. At the front of the folder, have a sheet of paper with important info on it.

15. Schedule down time as well as work time. Be purposeful in giving yourself permission for leisure. You need that.

Money

16. Have a budget. This is not a negotiable. Let me say it again: Have. A. Stinkin’. Budget.

17. Use a money tracker. Mint is a freebie, but for me it’s actually too automated. I purely love You Need a Budget (www.ynab.com). Again, this was a game changer. It’s fun. No, really. It’s such a fresh approach to dealing with money and having a spending plan it was like I moved from darkness to light.

18. Have a “money date” once a week. You don’t want to ever say, “Where did my paycheck go?” You Need a Budget or other tools can make this a rewarding time.

19. Don’t eat out so much. Make it a treat instead of a routine. Pack your lunch or a bag of snacks.

20. Get a zippered bank bag. On Saturday, put a $1 bill in it. The next Saturday, put two $1 bills in it. Third Saturday, put three. Add a dollar each week. Do this for a year. Your last week you’ll be putting $52 in the bag, but you will be STAGGERED when you see how much cash you’ve put aside.

Food and Cooking

21. Know how to cook some basics – mac and cheese, a chicken breast, veggies, and some sauces. You can save some money that way. BUT if convenience is a value you hold, frozen veggies you can steam in the bag have every bit as much nutritional value as fresh stuff.

22. Simple one-pot meals are a godsend. So is a Crock-Pot or other slow cooker.

23. Get an iron skillet and learn to use it.

24. Cook and freeze. A vacuum sealer machine is actually a great appliance to have.

25. Want to save some money? Buy dried goods – peas, beans, rice.

26. Learn seasoning combinations. Different seasonings, even with the same ingredients, can make a dish into something new and special. You can rule the world with lemon pepper and Lawry’s Seasoned Salt. Just don’t forget that salt and pepper are the foundation for all seasoning.

Miscellaneous

27. Social media is a black hole. You know that already. It can drain your life. Budget, and if need be, restrict your time on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, etc.

28. Get a first aid kit. Learn to use it. Keep it stocked.

29. Know your OTC pain relief.

30. Keep a book of stamps and standard envelopes on hand for unexpected needs. It happens more often than you’d think.

This should get you started. Be blessed!