Something Different: Practical Suggestions
for keeping your daily life sane
These are just a few suggestions that we have employed over time that really, really, really make life easier.
By far, the best idea Mrs LS ever had was to buy about 20 pair of scissors and put one in almost every kitchen drawer and one in every room in the house. I can’t tell you how many times in the past I needed to open a box, a bag, or whatever and had to search for scissors.
This brings me to a pet peeve: modern packaging. I know, I’m not young anymore. But I am not in bad shape, lift weights, am relatively strong. And half the time I cannot open boxes, cans, or packages without a lot of mechanical assistance. Almost anything that has the “automatic re-seal?” Fuggedabout it. First you need scissors (see #1) to open the package in the first place, and second, the “re-seal” only works about half the time.
These packages are so hard to open—-I’m thinking some of the soups that come with a package of crackers in a separate container attached, of tuna fish where multiple cans are sealed, of ice cream packages—-that for Mrs LS, who was diagnosed with MS many years ago and doesn’t have the best of hands, I have to pre-open dozens of packages before I go on a trip to keep her from starving!
I am reminded of my drag racing teen years where we were going to install “S&S Headers” on my 69 Camaro SS (“installs in 30 minutes!”). I had two expert mechanic friends working with me and it took us all night, til finally we literally had to re-weld one of the headers!
This occurred to me while moving to Arizona, but I think it’s good advice regardless. I was overwhelmed by the stacks of boxes. Literally, there was barely room to sit down. I broke down and cried, it was so frustrating—-and I don’t ever do that. Mrs LS took charge: “First we’re going to unpack the bedroom so we have a place to sleep. Then we’re going to do the kitchen so we can eat. Then we’ll get to the office and other spaces.” Sure enough, that little bit of directed organization was exactly what I needed.
When you have a large task facing you, set a goal that you can attain by the end of the day. You don’t need to finish the project. You need to finish your goal. Always set up yourself for success by establishing do-able goals. The more you fail to achieve something in a day, the more depressed you get about the project overall; but if you can see yourself making progress, you will persist.
As a writer, I cannot stand disorganization. I find myself using books/articles for research, then stacking another open book on top of that. I have to deliberately remind myself: “Unpack your desk!!” Yes, I know people who can work in chaos and a mess. Most people cannot. Do not use them as your example. They are exceptions to the rule.
Tied to that, “a place for everything and everything in its place.” I have never, ever, ever lost car keys, a wallet, or a cell phone. They all go in the same place, as much as possible together. If you keep these three together, you find it makes losing them pretty darned hard. You can’t drive off and leave them! If you misplace all three, someone can call your cell phone.
Related to this, there is another handy trick: when you use a credit card at a restaurant to pay for something, keep your wallet or billfold out on the table with one hand on it until the card is returned. One time only I forgot a credit card before I developed this habit. Phones and wallets go in pockets or purses, always.
TOUCHING THE KEYS, WALLET, PHONE IS KEY TO MAKING SURE YOU HAVE IT.
I have a friend who constantly takes his keys/wallet/phone out when in my car for comfort. Well, maybe, but on at least two occasions I have driven away and gotten a call that he forgot his keys or wallet. Once I gave a person a ride to the doctor, then back home. Before he left my car I specifically asked, “Now, do you have your keys, wallet, and phone?” “Oh, yes.” Ten minutes later I got a call from an unknown number: “I think I left my phone in your car.” Exsqueeze me? Why didn’t you touch the phone when I asked? Some people like to put their keys in a dish just inside their front door, or hang them on a hook. This is fine if you’re used to it, but by keeping wallet, keys, phone together, it is triply hard to misplace any of them.
If you have a dog, especially, it will need walks. Dogs pick up dirt. It happens. Set up a “wet wipes” on a shelf inside the door where you always come in. Take a second to wipe their paws. They don’t particularly like it, but your furniture will love you for it.
As soon as you are finished eating, clean off the table, island, and kitchen surfaces. Load your dishwasher. Don’t stack stuff up for later. Once again, it goes back to developing habits of completion, fulfillment, success on a daily basis.
Finally, spend the money to have tape in multiple places, staplers in multiple places, and pens everywhere. These are cheap and they make life so much easier.
I hope these little suggestions for habits help you. Set yourself up for success daily.
Larry Schweikart
Rock drummer
Film maker
NYTimes #1 bestselling author
Political pundit
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Thank you!
Great advice!One step,at a time.