Five things making my life easier/better
I've been collecting these for a bit!
1. A gentler alarm sound
After many months of being jarred into consciousness by an obnoxious alarm sound, it occurred to me that I could change it.
I selected a peaceful little piano alarm sound, and now my work days are starting on a gentler note (quite literally!)
My kids all basically need an alarm sound that is reminiscent of a bomb going off, but I wake up easily, so this gentle option is perfect for me.
2. Recipes inside my cabinet doors
I used to have this at my other house, but for some reason I didn't do it here for a while!
Basically, for recipes I use all the time (such as egg bites or overnight oats), I just jot down the ingredients on a piece of paper and tape it inside the cabinet.
Since I already know the steps to follow, and I just need a reminder of the ingredients, this works great!
3. Using dryer lint to clean...dryer lint
You know how your dryer always gets covered in teensy particles of lint dust and it looks kinda dirty?
Well, I don't know if I figured this out by myself or if I read it somewhere, but dryer lint attracts lint dust.
So now when I clean my lint trap, I just use the lint to dust off the dryer.
4. Showering the night before work
I used to get up and take a shower before going to a hospital shift, but then the problem was that I still needed to shower when I got home. Because post-work me is too sweaty to get into my nice clean bed.
So, now I have solved this by showering the night before. I'm still reasonably clean in the morning, and my hair is cooperative enough to be put up in a hair clip, even after sleeping on it.
After a shift, I take a shower, and then I'm good to go for the next morning.
I guess I eventually realized that there is no point in putting in effort to be extra fresh and clean when you're heading to a workday that will make you very...not fresh and clean. Ha.
5. Individually quick-frozen chicken and seafood
I used to buy big family packs of chicken because...I was feeding a family.
But now I am feeding, at most, two people. So, I have become a diehard fan of those frozen bags of chicken thighs, chicken tenderloins, or fish.
They make it so easy to just grab out enough for a serving or two, and for a small household, that really helps to cut down on food waste.
10/10, probably never going back.
(Unless I find markdowns on the refrigerated packs, of course. 😉
When I have a less structured day (not working) but have outings or commitments at certain times, I set a timer instead of an alarm for when I need to get in gear to leave. That way I only "calculate" once instead of each time I check my phone. Timers also clearly show how long I have, which is very motivating vs. my inner narrative on its own. I'm often like oh, I still have two more hours which is truly a whole chunk of time!
I love that!
Agree! Big fan of using timers for all kinds of reminders. I especially like using Alexa or similar so the timers have distinct names ("reminder to thaw the chicken", "flip the laundry", etc).
And regarding showers- I sometimes shower in the morning, sometimes at night- very much depends on the day's activities. I hear this is a polarizing topic, but I'm generally pretty flexible 🙂
I do the same thing!
I have my go-to no yeast pizza dough recipe written inside my favorite pizza cookbook. Like you, I just need to double-check the ingredient portions for the dough (and our favorite pizzas, which are likewise memorized).
I'm a big fan of visual cues and chore-chaining. If dinner involves something shelf stable--a can of chickpeas, for example--I'll set the ingredient(s) on the counter that morning or the night before to prevent wondering "What am I making, and how long does it take?" while I work at home. If I fill the coffee ground jar while preparing our morning coffee, I'll set the jar inside my harvest colanders--along with any other scraps* for the compost--so I remember to take them outside for garden time.
*Just to clarify, scraps are contained in reused Ziplocs and refrigerated until they go outside!
When we were on vacation several years ago, we kept our compostables in the freezer so we could take them home and compost them later and it kept the trash from smelling in the rental house. When we got home, we were like “why aren’t we doing this here?” Now we keep a reused salad container (big one) in the freezer and empty one giant compost cube into the worm bin outside about once a week-no more smell, fewer fruit flies.
Thank you for this good idea.
@Becca , @N, this may be a dumb question, but is the cyclospora outbreak changing anything about the way you compost? I'm not the most consistent about composting, but when I do, it's peels/outer leaves, etc. Those are the things that all of the articles I've read are saying to discard to avoid ingesting the parasite, which has me wondering if composting them has the potential to turn my compost bin into its own cyclospora breeding ground.
No changes here, but all of our greens have been coming from our garden or those of neighbors I've traded with. We've yet to have an issue composting fruit peels, even when store-bought. Mind, I have an enclosed compost bin (a hand-me-down Eco-Cycle from a friend) that gets VERY hot in summer--the extreme temperatures help the contents break down faster. Importantly, I never put fresh compost in direct contact with any plants, instead burying it in the beds after I've stripped them for winter and/or burying it at least a few weeks before spring planting.
@N, thank you! I didn't even think about the heat in the compost bin. I feel dumb now! But, I'm guessing mine does get over 158 degrees inside (it's black, enclosed, and in direct sunlight). Thank you for the tips!
Becca,
This is genius. Thank you.
If our fridge freezer were larger, I'd totally do this--excellent suggestion! We eat a TON of produce, so the reused Ziplocs get emptied every few days.
I keep paper and pencil/pen in my nightstand drawer so when I wake and have those nighttime worries of: I HAVE to remember to do this, I just feel for the edge of the paper, write it down without even turning on the light, and then I can relax and go back to sleep knowing my reminder is set.
I too use my phone alarms for many reminders during the day. Having an alarm sound with a note what it's for is very helpful to not drive home and then think: DRAT! I meant to do (fill in the blank) on my way home.
I keep a used bottle of dish soap filled with 60/40 water & white vinegar and a few squirts of dish soap in my scrub bucket that lives underneath my laundry sink and gets carried around to clean bathrooms. I wet down the shower walls and tub with the watered vinegar, let it sit while I scrub the sink & toilet, then add a sprinkle of cleanser to the tub and the dirt wipes away easily. And I'm talking greasy dark leavings from my welder son on a white tub. Ugh.
I wake up before everyone else in the house, so while my tea is steeping, I wipe down the counters, cabinets, and appliances. Then we have a clean kitchen for each day. But I wait to empty the dishwasher which I run after bedtime until folks are up so I don't wake them with the noise. They're so spoiled.
When I notice our drinking glasses are looking dingy from iced tea, I fill the sink with hot water and about 1/4 cup of baking soda, lay the glasses in (layering them is fine) and let them soak. When the water is cooler, I scrub them off with the scrubber side of the sponge and give them a rinse to have shiny, clear glasses.
I keep a spray bottle of vinegar/water in the garage with a roll of paper towels to easily wipe out cars of dirt. I find I'm more likely to wipe out my car if I don't have to go inside to fetch the supplies.
And lastly, I keep the kitty litter scoop standing up in a 1/2 gallon milk jug that I cut down to 1/2/ height. This keeps the dirt from the scoop contained and it can be dumped into the box each time it's scooped.
Totally going to copy you on the kitty litter scoop idea! What a brilliant idea!
Yup! We have two litters, one downstairs and one in the attic, actually her preferred. I have a bag of litter bedding upstairs and paper bags that the greengrocer always packs the fruits in. Every morning I do a quick round to collect her "waste". On my way to the trash I pass the her downstairs litterbox, so I can check on that one on the go.
Oh thanks Beth. I am going to steal that cat litter scoop idea
I do the same thing with my cat litter scoop, Beth, except that I use a plastic jug in the shape of a teddy bear (I found this in a recycling bin one day).
Also, it's been a busy last couple of days here, so that's why I haven't commented on a couple of Kristen's posts. I'll have a lot to say tomorrow on Thankful Thursday, though.
Glad you are ok, A. Marie. (At least I hope you are!) I noticed your absence.
I always look for your comments-thanks for your check-in, and looking forward to your post tomorrow! Take good care-Amy
I am also the earlier riser at our house. On non-workdays, I clean up the kitchen but like you, I don't empty the dishwasher until hubby is up. No matter how careful I try to be, unloading the dishwasher is always noisy.
Beth, you sound like a fantastic housekeeper, very inspiring. Have you read any of Mary Hunt’s tips on her site Everyday Cheapskate? She has great recipes for frugal and effective cleaning, including one similar to yours for the shower, along with a recommendation for the best spray bottles ever.
You are way too nice about the welder son’s tub grime—I’d teach that dude to clean it himself!!
Jana, I had not heard of that Everyday Cheapskate website before. I'm definitely gonna check it out! I'm always looking for new frugal inspiration, so thanks for that recommendation.
Beth, I'm going to try that baking soda soak on my glassware. Thanks for sharing!
And thanks to everyone for posting your tricks and tips. I'm learning a lot from you all!
Genius kitty litter hack! thanks!
I'm "borrowing " the kitty litter scoop container. Just keeps things cleaner and neater even though the litter box is in the cellar. Plus it collects the extra litter on the scoop. Thanks.
Thank you for the baking soda and hot water tip for tea stains. I tried it on white Corning mugs and it worked like a charm. I had no idea this would work. It's a game changer.
Yes! All of the above except #2. Most of my recipes are in the My Fitness Pal app for easy logging, so I just pull that up to see the ingredients and amounts for recipes I don’t have memorized.
Good morning. I guess my entire life is built around making things easier!
1. I have a bunch of bougie pets that I love to spoil which means feeding small amounts of wet food throughout the day. I bought a set of 4-in wide Japanese inspired dishes from Amazon because they're so pretty, I don't mind washing them! They also have a wonderful silicone base that keeps them from sliding around.
2. I'm petite and with said bougie pets I always have things to sweep up around the house. I found a metal petite dustpan with its own long-handled brush that I have bought several times to put in different rooms. That way they're always around when I need to clean up a small spot on the floor or even my counters.
3. I have everything on auto pay, and have the sites bookmarked in my computer by the bank account it draws from. That way I don't have to worry about going into the website to check in case I might be low in one or another of my accounts.
4. I'm sure others do this, but while I'm making my morning tea, I tidy up the kitchen from the onslaught of feeding frenzy just a few minutes earlier. It's amazing how pets make a mess of your kitchen! That way as soon as my tea is ready my kitchen is clean also.
5. The best thing I've learned ever is to take care of things at that very moment. Recycle immediately, clean up spills immediately, don't wait. It's much easier to do it now than come back to a lot of stuff to do at a later time.
Yes! Good tips! And I would add that the saying 'Don't put it down, put it away' has helped me so much.
I have tried for years to break my husband of putting dirty dishes on the countertop instead of in the sink or dishwasher. Kind of drives me nuts to have the countertops cluttered.
i'm with you on that. i leave the kitchen clean and when i get back to it the place is a wreck courtesy of hubby and kids. but hubby and son cook so i get to clean. but i go crazy when they wreck the kitchen. almost daily.
I made my life somewhat easier this summer by having all my kids do their own laundry. I generally take care of almost all household tasks because I prefer it that way (my brother refers to me as the homemaking dictator 🙂 ), but I do want them to at least know how to do things. So, during the summer when they're home all the time, they do more stuff, including all their laundry. This actually kind of drives me crazy, because they all use the dryer instead of hanging it on the line, and they are not good about putting it away promptly (I'm picking my battles here), so their clothes get all wrinkled, and they tend to all want to do it at the same time and then have the inevitable squabbles about things being left in machines, etc. But I avert my eyes, close my ears, and let them fight it out and run out of underwear.
My middle son was like, "I noticed you're reading more, Mom. Is it because we're doing our laundry?" Ha. That's not really why, and I will not be too sad to take back over when school starts, but it's been good for them.
Your children's future roommates/spouses will be grateful to you for listening to that summer of laundry squabbles!
Re: alarm clocks - I started using a sunrise simulator alarm clock several (7-8?) years ago. It's been life changing as someone who is a night owl with early morning responsibilities. I chose the wakeup sound of birds chirping. It's so much more pleasant than being awoken by a heart jumping blare. I am much less grumpy in the morning, especially in the winter when the sunrise is late.
@Kayla, I’ve never heard of this kind of alarm clock. Sounds like the best possible method of being woken. Is there a brand you prefer? I want to look this up!
When I've worked a string of night shifts or been sick/injured, I use the top of the hour method from Diane in Denmark Youtube channel. Set a timer for the top of the hour and do one thing/chore (ie. thaw meat for dinner) then you can spend the rest of the hour as you need (ie. resting b/c of an injury). When the timer goes off again, do the next thing/chore (ie start load of laundry). Then I will repeat this for the day. It's great for helping to move your day forward even if it is slower than what you might be used to.
We keep extra batteries (AA, AAA) in a drawer but we seem to go through them so fast. I finally did a household inventory of items requiring batteries. Imagine my surprise when I discovered we currently have 60, yes, sixty! batteries in various devices (remotes, fabric shaver, can opener, small clocks, thermostat, etc.) Now I know we need to stock more. Are we above average? Anyone else know how many you're using?
@Bobi, hands over ears, eyes squinched shut, repeating manically “lalalalala” so I don’t think about all those batteries.
I too felt like I was constantly buying batteries at one point! One thing I did was take an inventory of battery-powered devices that were only infrequently used - I removed the batteries and kept them in a convenient spot where it was easy for anyone to grab them when needed. Some items just really drained batteries quickly, even when not in use (Wii remote was one we replaced constantly despite rarely using), so that helped a bit. But yeah, not wanting to count it all up..
We have rechargable batteries. They do not last quite as long but then, they are rechargable. Also, we have a number of stick shaped lamps that I keep in places such as the landing. They are activated by movement and only during dark. And these also are rechargable. I was hesitant, but I find them very convenient. You do not want to have big lights on when others are sleeping
When my roommate lived here, she ordered tons of batteries from Amazon. I think she forgot she already had some, or maybe forgot where she put them. Anyway, when she moved to the nursing home, her family did not come get her stuff and, among other things, I ead stuck with literally 100s of batteries about to expire before I could use them. So I included them in Xmas gifts, even if the rest of the present was not battery operated. I also tipped workers with packages of batteries in addition to their pay. Those who had little kids at home really appreciated the batteries since so many toys use them.
Speaking of tips, I have found that when I give household and yard workers little items, they often happily do extra for me. I may add a coupon for a fast food meal/drink or 20% off Goodwill merch; a can of soda pop; a bottle of water straight from the fridge: a Popsicle; snacks; some little handy giveaway I got in the mail or from the bank, such as an advertising calendar, football schedule, magnet or chip clip; magazine/book; or a pkg of batteries as a small "tip" in addition to their pay. They appreciate the thoughtfulness and often returns the favor.
Bobi: Stored with my batteries, I have a baggie of "not dead yet" batteries. These are generally from TV remotes that take four or two batteries.
It is not clear if all the batteries are dead when the TV remote goes out or just one. So I save them and, if something that doesn't use much power, like the kitchen clock, needs one new battery, I try one from there. It usually works. I just put a not-dead-yet battery in my computer mouse last week.
And if it doesn't work but another one does, I know which is dead.
My husband does the same thing. He uses them in mini Christmas lights until they're completely dead.
I do the same thing: I keep a container of "lightly used" batteries that I know are not fully drained yet, and then I can use those in less-crucial devices that call for a battery. It's a great way to get full use out of your batteries, before your recycle them!
Lately I have been having mini-epiphanies about this very subject! I think its a good sign for me, learning to live alone and prioritize myself.
*showering at night is also my jam now. The days are hot and it helps me sleep better. Plus, I don't have to rush around in the morning to get ready for work, so I can sleep a bit extra if I want.
*Buying easy things to cook that do not require the oven. I am relying on a lot of Trader Joe freezer things that I find appetizing. Its all about what Gina wants.
*relaxing my house cleaning schedule - there's only me here. I can clean whenever I need to.
*new undies and socks - sounds silly, but its also a luxury to treat yourself to something you use and need that's new and makes you feel good. (:
Learning to live alone is quite a skill to have. I find I struggle without schedule when it’s just me: doing very little of anything productive OR doing all.the.things so I don’t have to do them when my kids are with me.
One thing about undies and socks: if your state has a tax free weekend for school supplies and clothing, that's a great time to stock up on new underwear and socks -- as well as anything else on the list of tax exempt items. That's about to happen in our state, and I will make a beeline to the store for such stuff.
I like your idea of having frequently used recipes inside your cabinets! Might have to try that.
Years ago i bought one of those sunrise alarm clocks that starts to light up the room 30 minutes before the alarm goes off. And the alarm is a gentle gong noise that still wakes me up. A lot of the time, just the light wakes me up! And now I will never go back to the screaming alarms! Mine is a Philips brand. I looked into replacing it but the light on the newer models is to bright/cool tones. Mine is warmer which i like better. I looked into the Hatch but don't want to pay a subscription for an alarm clock. I think you can use the basic functions without a subscription but it still annoys me. Haha.
The thing i have been doing lately to make life easier is being proactive in the kitchen and prepping something small most days. Like last night I made blueberry compote with too-soft blueberries while my dinner leftovers heated up. I try to keep food prep rolling every night even if I don't need it right away so that there are always things ready to eat so I am not tempted to get take out or fill up on crackers and raisins while trying to figure out dinner.
After years of handgrinding coffee beans, I started occasionally using tiny individual instant coffee packs! Sounds sacrilegious, I know. Started with Starbucks Via after reading Howard Schulz’s biography and recently tried Maud’s French Vanilla (from Amazon, sigh), which is excellent and OF COURSE it is less $$ than Starbucks.
Sometimes I dump an egg in a frying pan and scramble it as it cooks instead of beating it up in a separate bowl which then needs washing.
I bought timers for several areas of my giant yard so when I water, I don’t have to remember something is running.
*We have a laundry schedule so hubby knows what needs to be done. For example, Monday is sheets, Friday is towels, Saturday is jeans, etc.
*I have a recurring calendar notification on my phone to give the dog her monthly heartworm medicine. When it was written down on a calendar, we often missed the date.
*When we run out of something, I go ahead and put in on the Publix or Walmart list so later I'm not scratching my head wondering what it was that we needed.
*I use timers all the time for cooking and baking. Sometimes the timer goes off, I have to think about what it is for though.
*The morning alarm on my phone is programmed for only the days I work. That way I never have to remember to set an alarm, and it never wakes me up on my days off.
i gave buddy his first heartworm dose on the 17 of mar. st paddy's day. so he always gets his meds on the 17th of the month. our vet says it is ok to be a day early or a day late. i only missed one dose so far in 4 years. i think i was a few days late.
I'd like to read more about the routine you have to write the blog. How do you do it? I mean, do you keep notes? How do you have your writing space set up? Etc. It amazes me how consistent you are.
Reading some of the comments reminded me of a shirt I saw and resonated with: Life is hard. Visuals help. It’s about PECS and nonverbal communication, but sheesh, I think I need visuals all the time.
I have no dress code for work, so I made my own uniform that dictates what I wear 4/5 days. Monday is my only non dictated day, and I placed it early in the week when I’m still pretty okay at making choices. When I get up in the morning I don’t have to think until I’m getting my disabled son ready to go—so much easier!! In the two years I’ve practiced this, no one at work has noticed.
The little things that mean a lot for me have involved some purchases. My youngest dog is a small breed and does not eat much, so I bought an Oxo container (so easy for arthritic hands) to hold one cup of her kibble at a time. The rest stays tightly sealed in the original bag and stays fresher due to only being opened to refill the Oxo container.
I used to own just one pair of wired earphones, but found a second pair at the drugstore that are perfect and now live in the pocket of the tablet pillow/stand thingy (also a marvelous invention) for listening to audio books.
While I am usually a proponent of owning fewer things, it was aggravating to trek through the house to the garage to retrieve clippers and gloves for working in the back yard. I bought a second set of gloves and clippers that stay in the storage box on the back porch. The yard looks better because I can do spur of the moment maintenance.
I'm a huge advocate of having multiples of things, but where they live in the places you use them. So much easier and then you don't need to remember to put them away, as you are already there!
I also decant the dog's food into two small containers in the places she eats rather than it all go soft - better result and easier to pour! I similarly decant smaller amounts of big boxes of laundry powder and liquid into smaller ones that are easy to use and keep near the washer.
I have started collecting recycling in one of the big brown bags that groceries/amazon deliveries come in, as then when full I just take the whole thing out to the recycling bins and chuck it nearly in, rather than having a find/bring back another bag that may then be sticky.
I've also got phone chargers in multiple places around the house that I might sit for a bit, so I can just plug in without wandering around trying to find the right wire!
I knew I would love reading the comments on this one!
Every day I set out the outfit, including underwear and socks, that I'm going to wear the following day. This is a holdover from when I was working, but I find it calming in retirement, too.
I am in a routine of showering every three days, at which time I also wash my hair and shave my legs. I have reminders in my phone calendar day to do this. The other two days I wash up at the sink. This is easier on my skin, which is getting more fragile as I age.
When I clip my fingernails I go outside on my landing and let the pieces fly. I wish I could do that when I clip my toenails, too, but no room to sit there.
When I know I'm going to be cooking or baking later in the day, I set out the ingredients (that are shelf-stable), utensils, measuring cups/spoons and bowls in the morning, while I'm making coffee. This visual reminds me of what I'll be doing and it's easier to get started. And gives me a heads-up if something is missing.
I keep a tote bag beside a chair near my front door. I put books to return, things to mail, and anything I might need for running errands later into the bag. My keys and purse are homed nearby, so if I can just remember to grab my phone, I'm good to go.
1. After living in Florida, where there were a lot of power outages (some for only a few minutes), I quickly learned not to rely on electric clocks. I put battery operated clocks around the house and also used some windup clocks so that I can ensure I know what time it is, regardless if any blackouts, brownouts, blinks, or other power interruptions.
2. Along the same lines, I put up battery operated wall clocks in my bathroom and dressing area so that I don't bog down when getting ready in the morning. Sometimes the time gets away from me and without the clocks, I don't realize I'm going too slow.
3. I have hooks on the closet door where I hang all the components of the outfit I'm going to wear that day. I put them all together: tops, bottoms, bras, underwear jewelry, etc., so that I can just grab everything at once and not have to search for what I need. (The clothes are in hangers and all hung up together.) When I worked full time, I'd put together 5 different outfits on 5 different hooks and do this on Sunday night so I was ready to go M-F.
Now I just do 1 or 2 days ahead. But it makes the mornings lots easier!
4. My college apartment had 2 shower curtain rods over the bathtub. The 2nd one was close to the wall and was put there so we could hang up our wet clothes on hangers and let them drip over the tub as they dried. The drippy water went down the bathtub drain instead of on the bathroom floor. I've since copied this idea in all the places I've lived, especially if there is an extra bathroom no one is bathing or showering in.
5. To keep the air conditioned/heated air in the main part of my bedroom instead of dissapating down an adjoining hallway that has no door, I put up a long thick curtain that reaches from above the doorway to the floor. I put up a shower curtain rod on the narrow hallway side of this opening and used a long, heavy drape. It is amazing how well it works! My bedroom is comfortable --and I don't need heat or cooling in the short hallway, which is just a storage area that has his and her closets on each wall. I've read where similar things were done in the olden days to keep heat in various rooms before there was central heating.
6. I've discovered the lids to "Dixie cup" small sized/ individual ice cream containers fit over cans of dog food. I mix about half a can of "wet" dog food into Snuggles' dry kibbles and refrigerated the rest. I put the plastic lid from the ice cream on the dog food can. It snaps in place really well and keeps the (somewhat stinky) pet food odor from wafting around the refrigerator. No need to go out and buy a can cover, this works great!
7. I went to Harbor Freight and got a dish that was magnetic. It is designed for mechanics to keep screws, bolts, nuts, etc. in while they are working on cars. But I use mine to corral my small pierced earring studs and backings. Works great to keep them from getting lost.
Fru-gal Lisa, I also love having a battery-operated clock in my bathroom! I've had the same one for about 20 years now and like you, I find it helps me get ready on time.
And I'll definitely use the second shower curtain rod trick! I use my shower to dry out clothes that have been stained/soaked from my kiddos but I run out of real estate for hanging things pretty quickly.
I have a wall clock in my bathroom for the same reason! So helpful.
Instead of buying a sunrise alarm clock, I simply plug my dresser lamp into a timer. Works well for me, as I get up the same time every day.
The gentle alarm doesn't work for me because I just grow to loathe the sound! I didn't need an alarm when I was cat-sitting because I got a wake-up call at 5 AM 😉
As Beth said below, I often partly begin a task so I have a visual for later or the next day. If I want to do a workout I always put my gym clothes on top of the chair so I don't have to waste time/talk myself out of it!
If I'm going away somewhere I always buy food for when I get back and freeze things like milk and bread.
I always make sure I have a bottle or glass of water when I'm about to do some exercise or task. I forgot to do so in my last yoga class and of course I had a small coughing fit!
I'm never especially motivated to get 'boring' tasks done such as life admin, so I always try and schedule them for a morning in the week so they're over with. It's funny; I'm not much of a morning person but I always do that kind of thing in the morning and try and schedule appointments first thing so they're over and done with! Case in point - I went for a run at 6:30 this morning and felt so great that it was done and I didn't have to think about it later in the day.
More ideas! I haven't done this in a while, but sometimes I chop an onion and store it in the fridge in an old yoghurt/cottage cheese/hummus container to save time on making dinner the next night.
I never use fresh ginger before it starts going bad, so now I always chop it when I buy it and put it in the freezer (you buy it frozen as well but I just chop and freeze it).
I always have a bag of frozen strawberries for smoothies.
This is an interesting topic…
One thing I’ve been doing lately is I set a timer for ten minutes and I go outside and garden. When the timer goes off, I can stop, but usually I keep going. It’s getting me out into my yard every day and helping me to gradually recover my overgrown garden.
Also, I’m taking a lot of supplements now. Some are just temporary boosts to get my body back to normal after chemo and some I suspect will be long term for issues like post-menopausal joint pain. Anyway, I labeled 14 sandwich sized ziplock bags with the days of the week, and I put all my morning pills into them once every two weeks. Then I only need to grab the bag to take with breakfast in the mornings. It’s also nice and portable, so if I wake up late, I can take them in the car on the way to work.
I don’t know if this hack will be successful yet, but we’ve been dealing with ants coming for the cats’ food for what seems like an eternity. We put out the baits, but the ants seemed to prefer savory to sweet and were just ignoring the baits. So, I shoved a piece of cat food into the plastic bait trap. Bam, instant ant swarm to the poison. Here’s hoping this does the trick because I think our only other option at this point is to try and sell the house to the ants.
Baby boy is 8 weeks old and big (75th percentile) and he started busting out of his swaddles. My brother gave us their baby's old Merlin Sleepsuit and it is GLORIOUS. Would 100% recommend. I wish we'd had it for my daughter.
My freezer. I use frozen broccoli, green beans, peas, and many fruits. I freeze portions of soups and side dishes for myself, portions of mac n cheese for my daughter's lunches, extra chicken from budget packages...especially in this very busy time of life (see: 8 week old) I'm using something from the freezer for dinner basically every day.
I agree about making things easier with a baby, especially as they are growing.
My two favorite things were onesie extenders and stroller handle extenders. We had an umbrella stroller--don't know if those are still made-- and the extenders snapped on to the stroller handles and provided about eight inches of height, very helpful to not have to bend down when pushing the stroller.
Onesie extenders are simply small cloth pieces with snaps that attach to the crotch of onesies that snap between the babies legs. It didn't matter that the fabric didn't match or that there were sometimes three-snaps on two-snap clothing. They made it possible for the baby to wear the onesies for several more months, as the top and shoulders fit, just not the length, and having them snapped made them stay tucked in.
To stay focused on doing chores I set my oven timer for 15 minutes and get going. When it goes off, if I need more time I reset it. I also have 5 spice blend recipes written inside my spice cabinet. I usually only need them once a month or so. We also have several aluminum pans with lids and a sharpie to divid large portions into freezer assets.
Our washing machine has a countdown timer on it and I often look at it and find a few quick chores in the vicinity to use up the remaining time. It's amazing what can get done in 23 minutes that otherwise would not have been.
I do the recipe cupboard door thing and the side of the fridge, too.
Before my nursing career, I worked in the engineering field, having to account for my time in 15 min increments for project billing. I am a huge fan of timers. Highly effective!
Jana, the Jall brand sunrise wake up alarm has sounds also and is affordable. I was given a Phillips one, I keep it in the guest room.
When I became an empty nester, I bought two tables with 9 basket drawers, they are located in two closets in the mud room, each kid has her or his own basket. When they text needing something, it goes in their basket.
I lay out my work clothes based on the weather report, I have an outfit set out for run to town for parts and an outfit to go visiting, office casual. That way I don't have to think. I have always showered at night, with exception to unruly morning chores requiring a second shower.
I put together outfits for my mom, she has 6 outfits and layers to choose from. All other clothes moved to a guest closet to lower her confusion.
KRISTEN I love the recipe taped inside the door! Since I am bedfast DH usually has to come and ask me which recipe book has a certain recipe. This will be great!
I put the Finch app on my phone and put my must-do tasks in the app. Sometimes I have a hard time motivating myself to do things, but I love being able to "buy" things for my bird with the stones I earn for checking off tasks, so I'm much more likely to do things, even when I'm not feeling motivated.
I also keep timers in every room. I tell myself I just have to do something (dust, clean the bathroom, fold laundry, etc) for five minutes and I'm allowed to stop when the timer goes off. Most of the time, I end up going longer/finishing whatever the task/chore is, but even if I stop at five minutes, it's better than nothing.
This is a great topic, Kristen, and I love everyone’s ideas!
I schedule medical appointments for right after lunch to reduce wait time if a doctor/dentist/optometrist is running behind. My former boss used to call the receptionist to learn how far behind her doctor was running so she knew when to actually go.
I love this post and all the comments! One of the very best things I have ever done was to get a hook for my keys and put them there without fail every time I come in the door. I used to spend so much time looking for my keys-there is no telling how much time this has saved me! As someone else wrote, I also have a small chest right by the door-the drawers are used for storage, but the top is for the things that are going out of the house. It's a visual reminder, but also a convenient place to keep them. I also do my best to follow the "don't put it down, put it away" rule, which has been really good for me as a naturally messy person.
What I really meant by messy is the tendency to make stacks of things instead of putting them away-I do the cleaning I need to do!
I always called that space by the primary door the “launching pad “. We have 2 key holders mounted on the wall (his and hers). I also hang my sunglasses on mine. During covid I had a basket by the door with masks and hand sanitizer.
I don't know why I have such an issue remembering to put my keys in the keydish (which even has Snoopy on it!). I think I need to move it closer to the door. I'm also constantly leaving piles of things around; I think it's an audhd thing!
As one of a ADHD duo, it's often worth just tracking for a week or so where you actually put things down usually (which we do automatically without noticing), then simply put the dish there!
We have to work with our brains not fight them, as that certainly doesn't work for me!
Its also worth checking the piles (we have many) and see if any of it would be solved by just keeping something in a different place so you don't need to put it in the pile. We both tend to use something then just put it down without thinking. My partner tends to panic at the piles and sweep them randomly into the nearest drawer. So I organised a lot of our home so that the stuff is stored where we use it and the. when she does that sweep, it happens to be drawer that most of it actually lives in.
after 4 weekends in a row of going to irvington i get to stay home this weekend.yay. my two teens need an explosion to wake them up too. i wonder how they will get to work on time. it will be awhile. noah just turned 15 and zozo will be 18 9/26. where did the time go? oy vey.
I had wondered when you added a few shrimp to your meals if you kept a bag of frozen ones to pull from.
Yep, I sure do!
I do the same with recipes.I also have a Morning prayer I like to pray as I reach for my coffee cup,right inside the cabinet with my mugs (Prayer of St.Francis..Lord make me an instrument of your peace..) LOVE using my indoor cabinet spaces!!
I have found I sleep soooo much better when I get a nice shower just before bed! Yes!!
I always set up my coffee pot the night before so i just have to flip a switch.
Such great ideas! I have systems and lists for everything. Some examples:
-- Master grocery list
-- Spreadsheet for travel packing lists, which is especially useful for our winter stay in Arizona. We bring a lot of our own stuff, and the lists are organized by what goes in each bin.
-- Draft email containing tasks, reminders, things to acquire, and future plans
-- Draft email where I jot down my frugal things to share on this and The NCA blog!
It’s been a long day! Productive, but long!
Meal planning is so helpful. Even if I don’t always get every meal fixed, or fix it on the planned day, I know what’s available and it lessens decision-making throughout the week.
My smart watch displays the temperature, which has been very helpful in staying on top of the window opening/closing throughout the day. I probably look at the temperature more often than I do the time. LOL
Sitting on the deck at night before I go to bed. Just perfect.
Water aerobics! No sweating.
Air fryer liners are making my life easier. Especially with all of the kids home for the summer, our air fryer gets used a lot and it makes cleanup so much easier.
Loved reading everyone else's answers!
I write recipe notes with a dry erase marker on the inside of a cabinet. For example, I have your yogurt temperatures written there! Also meat temps!
At Christmas I bought my husband an alarm clock that plays bird sounds, which is such a lovely and gentle way to wake up and doesn't require a phone in the bedroom. It wasn't even very expensive, but feels like a total luxury!
It's not that ingenious but more in the category of "somehow I never thought of it." For years when I used my condo complex pool I would take just a towel and tuck my belongings into it. Finally it occurred to me to take a tote bag, so I can take sunscreen (better to put it on by the pool so that I'm not all sprayed up and then discover the pool is closed for maintenance), my back-up keychain (so the one with all the expensive fobs doesn't go near the water), a glasses case (so horseplaying kids don't accidentally send them flying or sit on them), the charger case for my earbuds (easiest way to reset them if they disconnect). It's not brilliant, more just that I fell into a certain way of doing things without thinking about what was most efficient.
I love waking up to my buzzing Garmin watch. Much more pleasant than any sound! I think just this feature alone makes the watch worth it (though I happily use the exercise functions).