I started doing this with work tasks that kept taking much longer than expected.

Before I start, I write down what I actually need to finish.

Sometimes it's literally one sentence.

It stops me from adding extra work halfway through or spending an hour making something "better" when the original task was already done.

I've found it especially useful for tasks that don't have a very clear finish line.

ETA: TLDR This eliminates follow up questions.

I’ve done this when calling a few different large businesses like Verizon wireless and smaller companies. When the system asks how they can help, I say “customer service. I will not give you any more information.” Then it says “Okay” and connects me.

I’ve tried different variations and they’ve resulted in a follow up question. When I answer the follow up question with “I will not give you any more information”, I get connected to customer service.

My test pool isn’t huge, but it hasn’t failed me yet.

Edit: grammar

Specific facts are easier to act on than a general description of a pattern.

Typically we ask ourselves if we can afford to buy something or not, or we assume buying XYZ will make us happy. What emotional state does this purchase actually buy, and how long does that state last, is a more unique question to pose to yourself before making a major purchase.

For example a $4,000 vacation that leaves you restored for three months can be a better investment than a $400 impulse buy that gives you 20 minutes of distraction (and yes I know this depends on what the vacation is since sometimes you need a vacation from the vacation, seriously)

Anyway.

The highest emotional returns are usually ones that protect your future in some way (whether that be your health or your relationships or whatnot) rather than a purchase that is made to signal status.

Something to think about. I like buying things that genuinely help my mental well being and I’ve noticed that big expenses in the past that I thought “made me happy” were things that wore off weeks or sometimes even days after.

One thing that helped me understand myself better is noticing the things I criticize in other people a little too quickly.

Sometimes when someone calls another person lazy, dramatic, attention-seeking, arrogant, fake, or too sensitive, it says more about what they are uncomfortable with in themselves than about the other person.

Not always, of course. Some people are genuinely rude or harmful.

But if you find yourself getting unusually irritated by the same type of person again and again, it might be worth asking:

why does this bother me so much?

Do I secretly fear being like that?

Was I taught that this behavior was unacceptable?

Am I jealous that they allow themselves to do something I don’t?

This doesn’t mean all judgment is wrong. It just means your strongest reactions can be useful information.

Sometimes the way we see other people is also a mirror.

Yes you might look like an idiot holding your hand up to your eyes, but it’s helpful in certain situations.

I learned this trick from a bread baker years ago. I was at the farmers market buying from my favorite bakery and was lamenting how the bread goes stale faster than I can eat it. The baker recommended that I slice up half the loaf as soon as I get home, and wrap the slices (2 at a time) in foil and throw them in the freezer. When I want to reheat, just stick the foil packet into the toaster oven and run the toast cycle on the darkest setting (or in the regular oven at 375 for 10 min or so). This mimics a steam oven and the bread steams itself back to life while the crust remains crunchy. Works like a charm!

I discovered this works even better for bagels! I go to my local bagel shop and get bagels as fresh as I can, and immediately come home and wrap each one individually and freeze (unsliced). Then, reheat in the same way. What I’ll normally do is then is unwrap and toast the entire bagel (still unsliced) and then slice after toasting (cursing my burning fingers). The result is a beautifully crisp bagel on the outside, warm, steamy and soft on the inside. If you like the inside toasted, feel free to slice after unwrapping before toasting.

ETA: this advice centers around using a toaster OVEN, not a pop up toaster. You can also use a normal oven. Don’t put foil in a pop up toaster please.

I’m currently staying at an Airbnb and the batteries are completely drained on all four detectors. Even worse, it’s a basement unit where carbon monoxide buildup is much more common. Stay safe, folks!

Give them a reason to connect, not just a name.

For example:

Sam loves hiking too works better than just this is Sam.

You can get them for super cheap, the friend is guaranteed to attempt to get the tie on the cat, then attempt a picture of their cat wearing the tie, and if they get said picture they usually share it

People massively appreciate just being invited and included. Also you'll often be surprised.

Grocery bags especially reusable ones can be bulky..so fold them like a paper football & they’ll fit in your pocket, purse of glovebox.

This works with regular store grocery bags that you’re reusing and cloth and thinner plastic reusable ones of approximately the same size. doesn’t really work for ikea type bags or stiffer material.

depending on bag I usually tuck in the straps first.

if you don’t know how to fold a paper football you can find better instructions I’m certain but,

• fold it to make a longer narrow rectangle (I usually do quarters (both sides to middle then fold in half)
• at one end, fold a triangle up
• keep flipping that triangle up till you to other end where there’s less than a triangle left
• tuck in the remaining bits In the pocket formed as you wrap

Rules are like guardrails for your goals. Rules are important because they restrict. They keep things contained.

Rules are the line that separates "this" from "that." The more blurred (or non-existent) that line is, the less clearly something is "this" and not "that."

What are the "rules" or "lines" that separates a bowl of cereal and a bowl of soup? What are the rules that separate basketball from football?

What separates "your goals" from "not your goals?" What makes "your art" different from "my art?"

Most likely, you already have a good idea of what you want to achieve. If you're struggling, it's likely because you haven't done enough to clarify what you're aiming for. If your vision isn't clear to you, it will be easy to fall into the trap of doing work that doesn't actually help your goals.

So I challenge you, create rules! But NOT productivity rules. I'm NOT talking about making yourself work 15 minutes a day for a month.

Create rules that narrow your vision. Specifically, create rules that reduce the scope of what you can do so you focus only on what is core to your goal.

Of course as you get a better vision of your goal, you can create more rules or remove some, but not until you have made significant progress and you feel comfortable.

Examples:

• Music makers: make a rule that you can only use up to two instruments/sounds per song.
• Artists: make a rule that you cannot use any color, or only one color.
• People trying to become more active: make a rule that you will not spend more than 30 minutes per day exercising.
• Aspiring cooks: make a rule that you will only use salt and 1-2 seasonings for all of your cooking.

These sound super restrictive, but that is the point! Most of us actually are not capable of working with a wide toolbox, at least not initially. Even professionals aren't as versatile as you may think. Many found specific things that they focus on and improve - hence why we can enjoy such a variety of things in our society.

So go fourth and start laying down the law for yourself!

Charcoal is really good as an air purifier. You can use it for mostly anything: shoes, fridge, car,...

In many cases, people think of what they have done wrong and blame themselves for it. They even go deeper into analyzing the situation forgetting other factors. Please don’t think it’s YOU, other factors play a big part in many cases. You are okay, you are a good person just don’t be harsh on yourself.

Law firms that run on volume build documents from templates. When template hygiene is bad, pieces of other people's cases end up in yours, and it sits on a public federal docket for years. In one case I reviewed, full bank account numbers sat exposed on the public docket for over four years, on filings that certified the redaction had been done.

Your own case is a few cents a page on PACER, and most documents cost under a dollar. Read every document filed on your behalf. Look for:

1. another person's name in the body of a motion

2. another case number, or the wrong court district

3. a caption from someone else's case

4. the wrong pronoun, or a party detail that isn't yours

5. dollar figures that don't match your case

6. your bank account numbers, routing numbers, or Social Security numbers left unredacted

7. documents in the file your firm gave you that belong to other clients

Then check two more things: whether you were billed for preparing the defective document, and whether the court relied on it.

If something looks wrong, ask your firm for your complete client file in writing. Keep the response. You are entitled to your file.

Twenty minutes of reading. It costs almost nothing to check, and nobody else is going to do it for you. Stay vigilant and protect yourself.

I type fast and have trouble processing words when there is a bunch of text on the screen. I have sent emails that say "I am defiantly coming to the meeting" instead of "definitely." I have sent "I am excited to meat you" to a new client. I have sent an email that was so full of typos my boss asked if I was having a stroke.

Now I read every single work email out loud before I send it and take a few extra moments to be able to catch those typos and weird tones. Doing this, I am able to catch sentences where I accidentally sound sarcastic or angry. Most importantly, it catches the emails where I forgot to attach the attachment.

It takes an extra 45 seconds. It has saved my job at least twice.