What do you do to make your life easier?

I've been incredibly reflective on life lately (thank you pregnancy hormones), and one of the things I have been really focusing on are things I can do to make life easier

What are your favorite things that you do?

Message edited 6/16/2016 8:25:12 PM.

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

Simple everyday things I do that make my life easier:

Basic stuff:

1. Buy in bulk. When toilet paper & paper towel is on sale and I have coupons, I buy as much as I can and store it in my spare closet. It's not like you won't need it and it keeps me from having to buy when it's Reg. Price. Same goes for meat. Buy and freeze as much as I can stock.
The day I do this is crazy, but I'm good for a while with just getting weekly staples at the store.

2. Keep the same cleaning supplies on each floor of my house. This way I don't have to lug stuff up/down.

3. Meal prep for the week on Sunday/Monday. I know what the week is gonna be from the beginning of the week. It just makes it easier when dinner time rolls around.

4. I clean a little everyday and clean clean 2 x a week. It helps keep things from ever getting really dirty and cuts cleaning time down (why I'm telling you this I don't know lol - I know you clean a lot)

5. Laundry is my biggest problem. And it's only 2 of us. For some reason I always wind up with a ton of loads at once - I need help there


And the biggest thing that helps make my life easier...

Mind my own business. If it doesn't effect me or my DH personally, it's not my job to fix it. This was a big lesson for me to learn but I'm better off for it.

Also- when I need to rest, I do. The world won't end bc I sat on the couch for 4 hours straight. Listen to your body and take care of yourself. If you're doing well, everyday life will flow much easier

Message edited 6/16/2016 9:31:09 PM.

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

One thing I'm always doing is making "to do" lists & other kinds of lists as well. I like writing everything out on paper & I love crossing something off lol. I also keep notes in my phone. Like if I see something or hear about something that someone might like for Christmas I put it in my phone all year long so I don't have to think of everything all at once around the holidays.

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

My husband works long hours and isn't around to help me with the house or kids much. I work full time also...I have a babysitter come every week for a few hours so that I can run errands alone. Totally worth the cost!

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

The #1 for me would be prioritizing. #2 is be picky about what I spend my mental and physical energy on.

Kids and I come first. Which means I don't take on any more than I can handle. I have few good friends and no family locally anymore so although I miss the support it helps simplify our schedules and having to feel obligated to events etc.

I sometimes wish I had more community and socialized more but with work and kids and getting things done it's honestly exhausting to do so! I am choosy about whom I spend time with and talk to. They must bring me positive energy! No drama! Including at work.

Although planning is important, I practice "One day at a time" so I don't get overwhelmed.

I priortize sleep, excercise, eating well and that trumps TV!

Edited to say I do most of what other posters wrote as far as practical stuff: meal prep, online shopping, lists, etc.
The above is more about how my perception and attitude towards life and keeping things easy and simple have evolved! Was responding to how you said you are "reflective on life".

Message edited 6/17/2016 7:01:08 AM.

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

What do you do to make your life easier?

Buy in bulk and only food shop 1x monthly
Reviewing my budget at the end of the month/ writing out all my bills for the following month. I just pay everything on the 1st and get it over with, makes my budgeting life so much easier.
Do a load of laundry every few days rather than everything on the weekend
Dust bust between vacuuming
Giving my husband a list of to do so it doesn't all fall on me
Make a list of to do at work each morning

I used to meal prep but being pregnant and horrified by food, I really would rather just throw my fridge out. I hate it but for now Ive been just stopping and picking up food that I feel I can eat at that moment. Not really something I like to do but I typically love to meal plan, so efficient during the week.

What do you do to make your life easier?

I have an app called Clear. It's a list making app, and I can cross what I've completed off the list. It can also send alerts.

I have two frames in the kitchen. One is a weekly menu. The other has the days of the week on it with a to do list next to it. I printed them off the internet and put them in Dollar tree picture frames. I use a wet erase marker to write what's going on during the week.

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

1. Set up auto pay on all bills or have email reminders so I pay online. I try to keep all financial docs in digital format to cut down on paper/filing.

2. Shower at night so I am not rushing around weekday mornings.

3. If pressed for time (groceries) use Peapod.

4. Use my iPhone for reminders/tasks

5. Keep spare set of shoes and clothing in my car.

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

Meal prep! It's so much easier to prep a bunch of stuff on a Sunday than it is to prep stuff when making each meal.
I also pack lunches for the week on Sundays.

I have one of those laundry sorters with four hanging bags so we never have to sort the laundry- we just throw it in to the appropriate bag.

Cleaning supplies on each floor.

Lists in a notebook for long-term goals. Lists on scrap paper for shopping.

As a PP said, autopay for bills.

We never let mail pile up. Open it, reply to it, and/or chuck it. Every day.

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

Posted by Lara&Aidansmommy

Posted by luvmykids8

Posted by jeanyus27

One thing I'm always doing is making "to do" lists & other kinds of lists as well. I like writing everything out on paper & I love crossing something off lol. I also keep notes in my phone. Like if I see something or hear about something that someone might like for Christmas I put it in my phone all year long so I don't have to think of everything all at once around the holidays.

This is me!!!! I love lists and crossing them off!

Without my lists, im a lost soul

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

We use disposable plates to make less dirty dishes when we can. I resisted this for a while due to waste and the cost of paper plates but this became essential after DC#2 came along.

Amazon. I get as much as I can this way so I don't have to waste time at the store.

Now that the weather is nicer-have kids eat and play outside. This decreases mess inside and keeps house cleaner for longer.

What do you do to make your life easier?

Amazon everything! I subscribe and save basics like diapers, wipes, contact solution, cleaning supplies do I don't have to worry about that stuff. I order gifts, household stuff, whatever I can to save trips to the store. My mail man is my bff.

Mall plan. I plan all dinners for the week before I shop and make sure busy days have easy meals. No wasted time looking through the fridge and wondering what to cook.

Laundry I do one load start to finish every day. I don't attempt to do more bc then I get tired of running up and down the stairs and some of it ends up not getting folded. One load is manageable.

I always wish my house was tidier but I try to have a place for everything so cleaning up is easier, especially for the kids. My 4yo knows where everything belongs so ready for her to help. If only I could get dh more on board!

Pharmacy drive through, only way to go!

I got a cordless stick vacuum for myself and I'm in love. It's not perfect for my hardwood floors but it's convenient and works for spills and quick pick ups. And it's so much easier to give the area rugs a quick cleaning every day.

What do you do to make your life easier?

Mine is anything like shopping etc. just stop putting crazy expectations on yourself. When you stop sweating every little thing life is manageable. I rarely get stressed out anymore. And when I don't stress about things I find they do fall into place.

What do you do to make your life easier?

I meal plan for the week on Friday's and grocery shop on Saturday's. I check the ads and if nothing is at a great price I wait until Sunday. I don't coupon though. I try to shop at Costco 3-4 times a year. I stock up on paper towels, toilet paper, diapers, wipes, snacks for the kids lunches and meats.
I use my alarm on my phone so I don't forget things. When to leave to get the kids, get up for the babysitter, leave for work and so on. It seems so silly but life gets busy and that has saved my asss many times because I have forgotten something.
LISTS!!! I have a weekly cleaning routine and a constant grocery list on the fridge that I put into my weekly one.
Wednesdays I do all planning. Make appointments, and check the calendar.
I also keep lists on my phone for holidays and birthdays. WHen i'm out and I see a fantastic sale I check to see if someone might like it and if I buy it I put what it is and WHERE I put it! Lol I can not tell you how many gifts we found when we moved lol.

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

First and foremost................staying organized. I can't function if my house is a mess, the closets are a mess, the toys are a mess, etc. I pick-up throughout the day, everything has a place in my house, and before I relax for the night I make sure everything is clean including the kitchen, sink, and den. Nothing worse than waking up to a mess...........especially in the kitchen!

I keep lists for things I have to buy or things I have to do.

I LOVE my Erin Condren planner, it has my life in it........kids activities, appts, passwords, bill payment info, bdays, and everything else I need to keep track of throughout the year.

I have a binder for meal planning. I've been starting to try and plan for 2 weeks to a month now to avoid shopping so much. (I'd like to get big shopping down to once a month) Meal planning saves me time later because I know what I making every day and it saves me multiple trips to the store.

I love routines. Routines just keep things flowing and my kids always know what to expect in their day. I don't have my days scheduled to the second but things like bedtimes and morning routines on school days are all easy peasy.

I LIVE on Amazon. I try to get as much as I can from them, it's so much easier to just click and buy and have something show up on your doorstep. Plus, they always have the best prices.

When I cook, I make certain things in bulk so I always have them on hand for the kids. Things like muffins, pancakes, waffles, etc.

Like others, I keep cleaning supplies in both the kitchen and the bathrooms so I'm not always running around looking for something.

I try to automate things..............bill paying, savings, etc.

My favorite thing I do now (I started last year for the first time) is the 52 week savings plan! I use it to save for Xmas. I opened up a Capital One 360 savings acct online and I just transfer money in every month for my Xmas savings. Also, when I get an Ebates check or any other rebates back I deposit that in there too! It makes Xmas shopping SO much less stressful because when the holidays roll around I have every dime (and then some) that I need already saved and I walk away from the holidays debt free. It was awesome last year!

I consolidated my credit card debt so I'm not paying a million little bills, I have just a couple of cards to pay now and it makes my "snowball debt acceleration" plan much easier to keep track of.

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

I eat ice cream.... Lots, and lots of ice cream. That makes my life easier!!!!!!

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

What do you do to make your life easier?

I'm still trying to figure out what will make my life easier. Right now I have a cleaning person come 2x per month. That makes my life substantially easier since I then don't have to ever worry about doing big cleanings and just do small cleanings during the week.

I'm also an organizer, but when it comes to planning meals I'm the worst. I really need to start looking at others suggestions and be better.

We also hired an au pair for when we move to Long Island. I'm praying she will make my life easier!!!

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

Online shopping.
Amazon prime is worth every penny and I have a Target Red card which gives me free shipping all the time on their site.

However, even if I have to pay to ship, it's worth every red cent to me.

I hate stores!

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

Re: What do you do to make your life easier?

Things I wish i did more regularly:

Put things back where they belong as soon as you're done using them to cut down on clutter.

Keep a clean rag and cleaning supplies within reach of each sink to quickly wipe.down sink, faucet, counter, mirror, etc.

Take care of mail immediately so no pile ups.

Do at least one load of.laundry a.day start to finish and put it away for the same reason. The laundry here piles up at a crazy rate.

Meal plan every week and stick to it. I hate the 5:00.what should we do for dinner?

Spend a couple.of.minutes each night putting stragglers back where they belong, tidying up couch pillows and throw blanets, clear coffee table, etc.

After any meal.immediately wash dishes or put dishes in dishwasher. Dishes are like mail and laundry, piling up quickly. Run it at the end of the night, or when full. Every morning empty it so it's ready to be filled again.

Cook and meal prep ahead.

What do you do to make your life easier?

Is it bad that the first thing that came to mind was "I drink" lol