A while back, I bought a largish pencil case to hold my computer stuff: power cord, head phones and VGA adapter. I late for class one day, trying to dig out the VGA adapter, which was stubbornly entangled with the headphones. I finally just said “Screw it,” and threw my laser pointer and keys into the case and ran off to the lecture hall.
Now, this may seem obvious, but I suddenly realized that I could keep my computer stuff, including the VGA adapter and the power cord, which I sometimes need for lecture, plus my laser pointer and lecture hall keys, all in one bag. Instead of retrieving all these items from various places, I just need to grab one bag and my computer and I’m ready to go.
I started applying this principle to other things in my life. I go to two different gaming groups, so now I have two different gaming bags–a tote bag with card games and board games and stuff, which I frequently rotate in and out, and another bag with the dice notebook that I need for the other game. I used to try to get all this stuff organized and cram it into my backpack as I was running out the door, which often lead to lateness and forgotten items, but now all I have to do is grab the bag. (I usually even remember to take the right bag, too. )
It’s a pretty obvious notion, in retrospect, but it simplified my life.
Have you discovered any easy ways to be more efficient, organized, and happy?
I get up a half hour earlier (4:30) and do a household chore or two. Then I don’t have a shitload to do when I get home from work. And if I don’t feel like doing any chores after work, I know I at least did SOMETHING that day.
I gave away/threw out at least 1/3 of all my physical possessions about two years ago. Now everything left has a place, and I can find what I want when I want it.
Always making sure that my keys are in the same place each time I take them out of my pocket and set them down. The keys go in this once place and this one place only. It took some self-discipline to train myself to do this, but I have gotten to where I now very rarely endure the incredibly frustrating task of trying to find my keys before going out.
Putting the cats’ food dish inside one of those cardboard pieces used to hold a case of four six-packs of soda. This elimates much of the cat food spillage that I used to have to sweep up every day.
Going to direct deposit for my paychecks. Saves me a couple trips to the bank each month. I’ve also set up automatic withdrawal for some of my monthly payments.
Direct deposit and electronic checking have definitely made my life simpler. I used to hate sitting down and writing out checks so I always procrastinated with predictable results.
Using TurboTax and online filing has made my Aprils much more calm and pleasant. I used to spend the last few days before April 15 frantically shuffling piles of paperwork and pouring over obtuse tax instructions. This year I did it all (federal and state) in about an hour last weekend, with no paper and nothing to mail in! But I still have to do my local taxes so it looks like I’ll spend some time this weekend shuffling paper and writing checks. I hope I can find that checkbook…
I put a Smart Tag in the car-- a device for automatically paying the tolls. No digging for change, no rolling down the window, you just drive on through. They even have Smart-Tag-Only lanes.
Gotta add my vote for direct deposit and automatic bill paying.
I used to be a walking-around-with-my-bills-with-the-checks-in-addressed-and-stamped-envelopes-for-a-week-or-two-always-late bill payer. Now I’m always on time and I don’t even have to think about it.
I now leave all of the stuff I need for work in my car when I get home so the next morning all I need to do is grab my keys and go instead of searching all over for my laptop, files, etc.
Of course I’m not getting any work done in the evenings but it really doesn’t seem to have made a difference.
And I completely agree with the idea that less is more.
Going to doctor about depression.
Leaving keys always in same place.
If I need to do something in the morning, I put an object in front of the front door, when I notice the object on leaving for work the following day it reminds me that I needed to do something.
Getting into habbit of checking for keys and wallet befire closing my auto-locking front door.
Leaving dishwasher open so I remember to empty it and refill it, not just leave dirty dishes in sink.
I’m on REALLY strong anti-histamines and really have a hard time keeping up with things. So…
Hall table - with a bowl for my jewelry and a bowl for my keys.
Simplifying my jewelry - same 4 earrings and 4 rings, 1 watch and/or 1 bracelet, 1 necklace
White shoes/socks everyday - Have to wear ortho shoes due to a badly broken foot, and their are no cute ortho shoes in my size - no guess work or does it match - it’s good enough and I don’t lose time looking for shoes.
I now shave with a real razor during my shower instead of with an electric afterwards. I get a closer shave and can do it while the conditioner is in my hair anyway. So basically one less step in my morning routine.
Bought a couple of pairs of those fleece lined suede house slippers. These things paid for themselves in a couple of uses. No having to lace up my shoes just to take out the garbage. I cannot tell you how much energy they have saved me. They are also excellent for those chilly winter mornings when you don’t want to put on stockings before showering yet want warm tootsies.
Managing to consistently put my keys in the same place is a big help too.
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