Easy Productivity
Hello my friends! Today I thought I’d address something that happens to the best of us from time to time: just feeling like you need to get it together. A full life overhaul. Do you notice that you have that one acquaintance that is always on time, has their hair perfectly groomed and is dressed properly for the weather and the event you’re attending? If that is literally never you, read on for some tips to live your best life.
Punctuality
Oh boy. This is tough for some people. I have a serious aversion to being late. It’s stressful, everyone’s looking at you and you feel a little nauseous and sweaty. But it doesn’t have to be like that! Here are some tips I use to get where I’m going on time
Plan ahead. It sounds simple but how is it done? First, make good use of a calendar. I do use the stock one on my iPhone, but I also use the GoodNotes app. I like to handwrite my calendars using one of their blank templates. You can also get fancier by purchasing various other calendars (usually less than $10 and they have a lot of cute themes). I recommend buying an undated one if you go this route so you can use it for multiple years. Put anything that must be done on your calendar. Don’t leave it up to chance.
Give yourself plenty of time. I live in NYC. I take transit most of the time and it can be extremely unreliable (ex: I just checked, and there are currently delays on three different subway lines and a whole mess of other service changes like skipping stations). I know that I can’t trust the Apple Maps estimate of how long it will take to get somewhere, so I just pad my time. If the app says 30 minutes, I give myself 45. This way I don’t have to instantly freak out if my train is running a little late.
Do some research. Is this your first time going to a particular destination? Why not look it up. Is there parking? Is there a certain code to enter the building? Do you have to get a visitor’s pass? All of these things will take extra time, and if you didn’t plan for them it will stress you out and potentially make you late. If this is for a job interview it could mean you will miss out on the opportunity. Doctor’s appointment? Enjoy paying a late fee or possibly being forced to reschedule. If you are like me and absolutely terrible with directions, you might also want to use the “Look Around” feature on maps to see what the building and nearby landmarks look like. Jot down anything relevant or put it in a digital note on your phone. This way you won’t waste time digging through your inbox for some obscure piece of information you’ll need upon arrival.
Lay out your clothes. This is a big time-waster first thing in the morning. Many find that they spend ages rushing around trying to decide on an outfit. I do the opposite and make sure everything is set out for me to grab and go, right down to socks and shoes. This may require some forethought (where are you going the next day? Will you need to change clothes more than once?) but it’s worth the effort. You might even get to sleep later.
Having What You Need
Would you like to know how to have a bag that contains everything you need for your daily travels? Check out my “what’s in my bag” blog, posted a few weeks back. But also consider where you go and what you do on a normal day. Is there usually a big swing in temperatures? Be sure to include a scarf or sweater that you can don or remove at a moment’s notice. It’s best to choose a neutral color for this one, like a classic black cashmere. This Mongolian cashmere wrap from Quince goes almost everywhere with me. Do you want to bring a water bottle? This might save you money and time since you don’t have to try to find a convenience store. Are you prone to sniffles? Get a multipack of tissues and put one in every bag. If you see someone else with an interesting item as part of their daily carry, make a note and try it out for yourself (ex: a purse hook so you end the conundrum of where to place your bag when out to eat).
How do you avoid running out of things at home and at work? Try using a subscription. For example, if you know you are going to use hand soap every single day at home, use Amazon’s Subscribe and Save feature to purchase it. First decide how often you need it. You can search your purchase history to see when you’re buying hand soap. Is it every two months like clockwork? Great, set up your subscription to deliver it a couple of days before you run out. Amazon will even remind you when it’s close to the the time your item will be delivered just in case you don’t need it (or want it earlier). You can use this for things like grocery items, personal care, clothing and more. This saves you from frenzied trips to the grocery store on days you really need to spend that time doing something else.
Buy travel-sized backups of your favorite items. Just in case you do run out, you’ll at least have enough to get you through a day or two until you can purchase more.
Watch for sales. Don’t ignore the promotional emails you get. It could be that the very item you’ve had your eye on will be reduced in price enough to buy two! I do this sometimes with things like pants; I rarely find ones that fit so when I do I purchase multiples. Why not have a backup?
Use your phone’s calendar. Here you can remind yourself that you’ll need to make a purchase at a particular time (ex: you know your favorite specialty store has an annual sale every six months).
Buy blank or generic items that can be used whenever needed. The best example of this is blank notecards with a neutral theme. Purchase these in bulk to use as thank-you, sympathy or even just “thinking of you” cards. No more overpriced greeting card purchases from the drugstore! You can also keep a couple of gift bags around for this same purpose and some small gifts like candles. Those can be purchased when they go on sale (Target’s Threshold brand comes in really nice giftable sizes). Stash these all away in one place so you can grab whenever the occasion strikes.
Witty Conversation
Do you struggle to find topics for small talk that interest everyone? Don’t get stuck discussing the weather! Here are some topics to get the conversation flowing no matter who you’re talking to.
“What was the best part of your day so far?” People love to talk about themselves. This will also usually give you more clues about what to discuss next with them.
“Do you have any hobbies you’re really enjoying these days?” Maybe they don’t, but they might have something they’d like to get into. That’s a great jumping-off point.
“Any upcoming trips planned?” This is one of my favorites as a frequent traveller. Sometimes I get inspired!
“What’s the best meal you’ve had lately?” I like this question because it doesn’t have to be a restaurant recommendation. You might end up with a great new recipe.
“Do you have any pets?” I’d ask this question because I have my two cats to discuss even if they don’t have any pets themselves, and I am fine with discussing something else if they aren’t interested in hearing about them (which would be impossible, but you get my drift).
Feel free to call over someone you both know to keep the conversation going. Small talk can be exhausting if there’s no defined end time, and it’s okay to transfer some of the work to someone else. Practice these conversations with a friend to get really good at it before you attend a work party or wedding where you’ll need to do it over and over.
What do you think of these suggestions to help you get it together? Would you like to see more of these in a future post? Let me know in the comments below!
