your stupid little life hacks that make even a tiny difference

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I keep a fully stocked toiletry bag and replenish it after each use. Very helpful when I was caring for an elderly parent and would have to stay overnight. I have 2 days of extra meds, contact lenses, first aid items, etc. Next up: creating a grab and go makeup bag.

I do this, too!
For the makeup bag, I just wait until i have about 10% of a product left and then it goes in the makeup bag

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listening to audiobooks from Libby while I fold laundry or clean the kitchen makes it so much better.

Yes! I almost look forward to some of these things now. If your library has Hoopla it often has a better choice of available audiobooks.

Mine is similar. If I feel a household task will "take too long" for me to do, I ask Alexa to "play disco for 20 mins"....guess what? I'm usually done by then or I'm so in the groove that I tell her to go on for 10 more mins until I am done.

Doing this has proven to me that most things (dishes, laundry, straightening up) can be one in under 20 mins and I am just lazy really. Oh! And that fun music makes everything better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listening to audiobooks from Libby while I fold laundry or clean the kitchen makes it so much better.

Yes! I almost look forward to some of these things now. If your library has Hoopla it often has a better choice of available audiobooks.

Mine is similar. If I feel a household task will "take too long" for me to do, I ask Alexa to "play disco for 20 mins"....guess what? I'm usually done by then or I'm so in the groove that I tell her to go on for 10 more mins until I am done.

Doing this has proven to me that most things (dishes, laundry, straightening up) can be one in under 20 mins and I am just lazy really. Oh! And that fun music makes everything better!

This comment is the only thing I've ever heard that made me consider getting Alexa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP again - and, again, I love this thread you guys.

But I have another dumb little tip: To increase my consumption of leafy greens, I get those big pre-washed bins of arugula and add a handful to almost everything I eat. Salad, pasta, stir fry, sandwiches - a handful of arugula makes it all a little better, and is so good for you. The only thing I don't really add it to is my morning oatmeal, and now I'm wondering...

I also buy the huge bag of power greens from Costco and keep it in the fridge for a couple days. Then, right before they’re about to go bad, I sautée whatever is left with garlic and olive oil. It cooks down to nothing and my youngest would eat the entire pan if I let them.
Great thread, OP. Ditto "stupid little life hacks", let's not take ourselves too serious. This may offend some foodies but here's my little hack - I buy those huge bags of greens from Costco, knowing full well there's no way we eat it all before it goes bad. I'll keep it in the fridge 2-3 days and then stick it in the freezer. Use frozen greens in smoothies or omelettes, throw a handfull into a bowl of hot soup, any soup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 for the programmable coffee maker! Nothing liking waking up and coming downstairs to the smell of brewing coffee in the morning.

My life hack: I’ve repurposed the whiteboard I bought during the COVID shutdown and virtual school to use for a to-do list for my children. The board has two columns with each kids’ name at the top. If there is something I’d like them to do that week/weekend (recently it was pull out clothes that no longer fit you), I put it on the board. The board is hanging on the wall opposite and in between their bedroom doors so they see it every time they walk out of their rooms. So I tell them once, and then put it on the board.

I use a whiteboard to remind me of the menu options I shopped for. But my markers only work for a short time. Have you solved that?

I bought a multi colored pack of markers and each kids has three colours. To-do items are colour-coded by importance/needs to be done ASAP v. Later. Maybe get more markers? My whiteboard has a marker tray and is magnetic so I can stick pictures of “prizes” to the board as additional motivation 😄

[Anonymous]

I use an app called AnyList that works with my Alexa. Whenever we run out of an ingredient I can just say, "Alexa, add ___ to my shopping list". You can also say, "Alexa, let's make a shopping list" and just read off additional items you need from the store. I then use the list on the app to do my shopping either in person or online. It helps because you can share the list with anyone in your family so it doesn't matter who does the shopping - everyone has access.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I park away from stores (look for a further away space) and other cars. I avoid door dings and get some extra steps in.

This is OP - and I do this, too! I also get some steps in while I've got something in the microwave, and take stairs instead of the elevator whenever there's the option (and it's reasonable to do). I love sneaking in some extra steps here and there.

I also keep hand weights on my desk, and one of those aerobics steps near by desk, and sometimes I just do a few reps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listening to audiobooks from Libby while I fold laundry or clean the kitchen makes it so much better.

Yes! I almost look forward to some of these things now. If your library has Hoopla it often has a better choice of available audiobooks.

Mine is similar. If I feel a household task will "take too long" for me to do, I ask Alexa to "play disco for 20 mins"....guess what? I'm usually done by then or I'm so in the groove that I tell her to go on for 10 more mins until I am done.

Doing this has proven to me that most things (dishes, laundry, straightening up) can be one in under 20 mins and I am just lazy really. Oh! And that fun music makes everything better!

LOVE this - I feel like anything you can do to trick yourself into looking forward to something you otherwise avoid is a good hack!

[Anonymous]

Our garage is currently not useable. I’ve figured out the correct angle (not straight) to park my car so the overnight frost melts in the early morning light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP again - and, again, I love this thread you guys.

But I have another dumb little tip: To increase my consumption of leafy greens, I get those big pre-washed bins of arugula and add a handful to almost everything I eat. Salad, pasta, stir fry, sandwiches - a handful of arugula makes it all a little better, and is so good for you. The only thing I don't really add it to is my morning oatmeal, and now I'm wondering...

I also buy the huge bag of power greens from Costco and keep it in the fridge for a couple days. Then, right before they’re about to go bad, I sautée whatever is left with garlic and olive oil. It cooks down to nothing and my youngest would eat the entire pan if I let them.
Great thread, OP. Ditto "stupid little life hacks", let's not take ourselves too serious. This may offend some foodies but here's my little hack - I buy those huge bags of greens from Costco, knowing full well there's no way we eat it all before it goes bad. I'll keep it in the fridge 2-3 days and then stick it in the freezer. Use frozen greens in smoothies or omelettes, throw a handfull into a bowl of hot soup, any soup.

Great way to make greens last longer in the freezer stevia to wash then dry them
Well then layer them with paper towels in a plastic bag.
Greens/salad
Paper towel
Greens/salad
Paper towel
Close bag the ghtky, getting out all of the air!
It’s made my thug bag of salad greens last twice as long.
I bet it would work in Tupperware but I’ve only done it in plastic bags

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I park away from stores (look for a further away space) and other cars. I avoid door dings and get some extra steps in.

I do this too. I like not being hemmed in by other cars when I leave.

I find it odd, though, how often someone will park right next to me when there are many other open spaces. It's weird.

[Anonymous]

My dishwasher has a timer. I load it every night and set the timer to run overnight. Unload first thing in the morning. It keeps me on track.

Thank you, Dana K. White!https://www.aslobcomesclean.com/new-here/

[Anonymous]

I add the flavor afterwards. Bbq sauce or A1. Sometimes I also quickly toss on spices.
That’s not cooking. Yuck

A rule to live by & to teach your children:
"Don't yuck somebody else's yum"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I add the flavor afterwards. Bbq sauce or A1. Sometimes I also quickly toss on spices.

That’s not cooking. Yuck

A rule to live by & to teach your children:
"Don't yuck somebody else's yum"
Another rule to live by & teach your children: “ Learn to cook”

[Anonymous]

After taking out the spring mix/mesclun that I need from one of those large plastic containers, I turn the container upside down and shake it a bit before putting it back in the fridge. It loosens the greens up so they aren't packed in so tight, which makes them last a lot longer. That extra air between the individual leaves keeps them from getting slimy.