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As a bonus, it makes my wife very happy.
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Life hacks can be very useful, not to mention fun just to learn about. However, a bunch of nifty pieces of advice won’t do you much good if the core parts of your life are out of balance. In other words, don’t forget to focus on the basics while you’re also testing out which hacks actually fit your life well.
The most fundamental habits are nothing new, but they’re very important. If you get them right, you then have a much stronger position from which you can do, well, anything you want in life, really. There’s a huge difference in quality of life between being well-rested, energetic, and confident and exhausted, burned out, and out of shape.
If you want to live a happy and healthy life, you should prioritize having a vibrant social life with positive people, getting plenty of movement throughout the day, eating nutritious food, sleeping lots, and generally doing things that make you feel like you have a purpose. And—obviously—avoid unhealthy habits like eating junk food (e.g., processed foods with high sugar or salt content), substance abuse, or a sedentary lifestyle. That’s the general gist of things.
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Also cook a large amount so I have dinner for most of the week.
Edit: so randomly this blew up I'll add an extra. Save your eggshells and grind them and save them. Use them with soap to get rid of tough grime on your pots.
One of the most engaging books we’ve read over the past couple of decades is Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles. The book is quite short, very to the point, and sets out what living a meaningful life entails.
In brief, your Ikigai is your reason for living. It’s found at the intersection of four areas of your life: what you love, what the world needs, what you can be paid for, and what you are good at. Your Ikigai is something more than just your job, passion, or vocation.
According to the authors, you should stay active throughout your life and avoid retiring. That being said, you also should do things in a rush. Do things slowly, take your time. Meanwhile, avoid overeating, surround yourself with good friends, and exercise daily. Furthermore, try to be grateful for what you already have and also spend time in nature. And, of course, follow your Ikigai, whatever it may be.
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I haven't misplaced anything like that in literal decades. I don't hunt for *"it"* I go to its "place."
This is a habit leftover as an AF medic. The supply closet was always strictly organized. If you have a patient in the midst of a crisis you have to find supplies quickly. Packing for a wound, run to the closet, grab it, back to the patient ... seconds. Critical meds in a cabinet, you have the key, need epinephrine, stat.
I continued that lifelong habit in my studio; untold supplies; brushes here, paint there, tools in their drawer, all organized by task and medium ... I've been doing this for 50 + yrs.
It's a wonderful time saving habit to develop.
What are the most useful life hacks that you’ve ever found, dear Pandas? How have they improved your routines? If you had to pick just one piece of advice that you’d want everyone to follow next year, what would it be? What habits do you hope to develop in 2025?
We’d love to hear from you, so be sure to share your thoughts in the comments. And enjoy the start of a brand new year.
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Then at the end of the week, we put all our leftover cash in a jar and it becomes our communal fund. We use it for groceries, dinners out, vacations, etc. it’s helped us tremendously cut down our personal spending each week. .
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The amount of sand and dirt that was floating around in the water the first time I did that to some baby spinach was a life-changing sight I'll never forget.
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For me it was some blue Nathan's from Fluevog. Loved them so much I bought a second pair for when the first wear out in a decade.
Same goes for pants etc.
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