Simple Hacks

The past few months have been the most I’ve ever socialized by video online. I’m still getting used to it, especially on group calls. Sometimes I get overenthusiastic and blurt, like in normal conversation, but that doesn’t work on video, you have to pause and take turns, so it’s a bit unnatural. It’s lacking in the usual spontaneity, but it’s still wonderful. I’m so thankful for the internet, Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom! We get to share, play, and laugh with each other though we’re miles apart, so amazing!

I’m struggling this week with writing. I’m looking up blog idea prompts. Is that cheating? Lol. One prompt was to list some of your hacks.

Do I have any hacks? Let’s see…I have household stuff I do like I keep a scrub sponge in the soap dish on the tub wall and scrub the tub after I bathe while I’m still in it as the water is draining using baby soap.

I keep an eco-friendly cleanser next to the toilet so it’s handy for frequent toilet quickie scrubs to keep things fresh. Scrubbing with a pumice stone works well for mineral rings.

I pour baking soda and vinegar in the drains periodically to keep them fresh and clog-free.

You can make your own foaming soap as a refill using dish soap or any other liquid soap and water, there are recipes online.

I have one of those soap saver loofah type things under the soap dispenser to catch the moisture.

I use cute mugs as toothbrush holders, they’re easy to keep clean and you can find some unusual ones at thrift stores for extra fun.

I drape the bath mat over the side of the tub to dry between use.

I use baby soap as face wash and body cleanser.

I use organic virgin unrefined coconut oil mixed with vanilla as a moisturizer, I repurposed some glass yogurt jars as containers and have one at my bedside, by the computer and by the futon along with lip balm. It’s really dry here and I like to stay moist.

I don’t run the water as I’m washing dishes, instead, I scrub them with a soapy sponge first and then rinse them to conserve water. We don’t use the dishwasher because it’s just the two of us, no need to.

I rinse and prep my salad veggies and fruit for the week all at once and store in containers. I also make a pot of beans, rice and oatmeal all separately of course, and have them for the week.

Sometimes I use clothespins as paper clips and food bag clips.

I have my daily schedule of activities to choose from in pursuit of my goals taped on the wall at my desk where I can readily refer to them.

When we moved I used those shiny freezer bags with plastic handles to carry papers and photos. They stacked well in the car and were easy to carry.

I used dollar store bins and zip tied them to the balcony rails, using them as planters, it cost 12 dollars total and covers the whole balcony ledge. I use a plastic pitcher and a cup to water everything instead of a more expensive watering can. I also got a small spray bottle to mist the seedlings.

When I’m microwaving something I take a few minutes to wash the dishes and wipe the counters, multitasking.

I listen to audiobooks at 2x speed during my walks.

I watch YouTube videos at 2x speed.

Instead of buying cleaning products and cloths from the regular housekeeping aisle, I’ll also look in the tool/hardware and automotive sections where I can find sturdier products at a lower cost.

I use a microfiber cloth to wipe my hands and brushes on while applying makeup instead of tissues to conserve trees. I also use cloth napkins.

When there’s a project I want to work on but keep forgetting, I will place the items I need out where I can see them so I won’t procrastinate or forget.

I keep tabs of projects I’m working on up in sets of different windows. I have grouped categories, like workout videos, blogs, word documents, research, courses, etc. There’s an extension that you can use to keep track in case you want to close them out every day called session buddy.

I have a small notepad on my nightstand so I can jot down my dreams in the morning before I forget them.

I saved a big takeout sushi tray that has pretty print and use it as a catch-all on an ottoman next to our futon.

Habitat Restore and thrift stores are awesome places to shop and help recycle/upcycle.

I look at the men’s clearance racks for large tees to use as loungewear. I can often find them for 1 to 3 dollars, cheaper than the thrift store.

When I see office supplies on sale I stock up. I splurge on cute notebooks, I just bought a bunny one while grocery shopping this week. I always use them, they don’t go to waste. I also got some cute rainbow post-its and ones with an ice cream cone design too.

I save stickers from catalogs, like the target toy one from the holidays, and use them on packages sent to the kids, festive.

I use old Pokemon and MTG cards (I use LOTR cards that are mine, lol) that the kids didn’t want anymore as bookmarks. I smile every time I remove or insert the book mark, recalling all of those fun-filled days we enjoyed when they were still kids.

I park in the same general area at places I frequent so I don’t have to remember where I parked.

I can’t think of anything else at the moment. Ah, blog post done for today, heh. Mundane, but maybe useful?