Hereâs some lifehacks, just for fun. The last two blogposts were kinda heavy. Letâs lighten up.
You want practical? Today Iâm giving you practical.
Lifehacks – Being âneat.â
1. Make up your bed every morning. Yeah, I know youâre gonna get back in it tonight. But youâll feel great because youâve at least accomplished something, and you can do it in a minute or less.
2. Look in the mirror while youâre getting ready and repeat âI feel TERRIFICâ several times. Then youâll 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 Iâve decided there may be something to all this.
4. Have a âdrop zoneâ box, like a clothes hamper, where you dump everything and anything thatâs not paper. Donât 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. Donât worry about prioritizing them â they all could be ranked #1. Donât overload your to-do list or youâll hit the wall and not do anything ⊠or at least youâll put it off when you shouldnât.
7. Even if one of the items on your list is âbrush my teeth,â thatâs okay. Itâs the little things that motivate you to stretch further. Donât wait on motivation. It ainât 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. Donât revisit it.
9. Fold or hang up your clothes right out of the dryer. Itâll keep you from having to iron so much.
Lifehacks – Organization and productivity
10. Thereâs this thing called Eisenhowerâs Matrix. Popularized by Stephen Covey, it helps you determine whatâs urgent and important. You need to learn from this. Google it.
11. Do a little research into the Pomodoro technique. Itâs 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 Hyattâs 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 Moleskineâs Timepage, available for iPhone and Android.
13. Journal. Get it all out of your head and onto paper. Itâs easier to deal with that way. You can bullet journal (check Pinterest on this one). I used Moleskine for years, but these days Iâm 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 â 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.
Lifehacks – Money
16. Have a budget. This is not a negotiable. Let me say it again: Have. A. Stinkinâ. Budget.
17. Use a money tracker. Mint is a freebie, but for me itâs actually too automated. I purely love You Need a Budget (www.ynab.com). Again, this was a game changer. Itâs fun. No, really. Itâs 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 âmoney dateâ once a week. You donât want to ever say, âWhere did my paycheck go?â You Need a Budget or other tools can make this a rewarding time.
19. Donât 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 youâll be putting $52 in the bag, but you will be STAGGERED when you see how much cash youâve put aside.
Lifehacks – 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 â 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 Lawryâs Seasoned Salt. Just donât forget that salt and pepper are the foundation for all seasoning.
Lfehacks – 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 youâd think.
Thereâs your lifehacks, just for fun. This should get you started. Be blessed!