As we progress through graduation and wedding season, I’d like to do a brief series on things I’ve discovered that make “life in the real world” easier. It doesn’t take long to realize that “cheats” can save you so much in the precious resources of time, money, and patience.
Today, I’d like to share little things that make a big difference. Nobody will argue the benefits of smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Technology is great and has made life easier in unimaginable ways – take it from a member of Generation X who’s seen everything from card catalogs and rotary phones to Google and the iPhone 5S. But sometimes, the smallest things make the biggest difference. Today, I offer 10 small things that make my life better and easier:
Saline irrigations – if you have sinus or allergy problems, this is the single best thing you can do to heal from and prevent illness. If a Netti Pot seems intimidating, they make plastic squeeze bottles that work just as well and can be washed in a dishwasher. Yes, it can be nasty, but I feel so much better when irrigate my sinuses, and it helps my regular medications to work better. It’s well worth it.
Clorox wipes – This is my top cheat, because it’s the fastest way to clean and disinfect your home. Just wiping my kitchen counters can have people believing I scrubbed the place. Best of all, they’re disposable, so you don’t have any cleaning rags to run through the washing machine. It doesn’t substitute for a deep cleaning, but it can go a long way in putting more time between those heavy scrubbing sessions.
External hard drives –These are a bit more expensive, but it’s a worth investment of $100-$150. I can tell you of 3 times when file backups have saved me from hard drive crashes, once at home and twice at work. They’re password protected, easy to set up, and automatically synch and save all changes you save to your files. Plus, many will save your Internet favorites too. Quick and easy backup. You can’t beat that, and the peace of mind it gives you to know your data is backed up with little chance of human error.
USB slots on surge protectors – If you aren’t lucky enough to have a new home where the outlets have USB ports now, then never fear, because you can get a surge protector with this handy function. I did, and love it, because I’m bad about keeping batteries charged. It’s greatly reduced the “oops, I forgot to charge my battery” scenarios.
Butterfly clips – This is a lifesaver for long hair. Sometimes, you need it out of your face, and this is the best, most secure way to pin up your hair and have it out of the way.
Makeup palettes – They aren’t just for teens! Kits with eyeshadow, blusher, and lip gloss are great for adults too, especially when you travel. Plus, the variety of colors give you more variation and ways to match your makeup with your outfit, without having the same old drab colors every day. It’s quick, easy, and makes doing your makeup fun.
Ebooks – Do you really need one more thing to lug around? Ebooks are great not just for writers, but readers as well. It’s great to be able to read books on my phone or tablet and not have one more thing to carry around, or store on a shelf once I’m done reading it. Plus, ebooks are cheaper than hardbacks and sometimes paperbacks too.
Streaming video – I salute iTunes, Netflix and television networks that stream their shows online or thorugh Apple TV apps. It’s great to be able to go online and watch shows at my convenience, without having to worry about setting a DVR or remembering schedules. And it’s a real treat for movies and TV series, because, like ebooks, I don’t have to find a place to store the DVD’s when I’m done watching them. Hooray!
Skin So Soft Original body lotion – An Avon favorite. This lotion has a mild, fresh scent, is cheaper than any decent lotion in stores, and is a bug repellent without smelling like a bug repellent. It’s a win-win. The shower gel is great, too.
The One Year Chronological Bible – If you do a daily Bible reading, this is a great one to try. I’m reading it this year, and it’s great. It’s so much easier to understand when you read things in the actual order of real events. I love it. Best of all, it’s a simple NSV version Bible that’s easy to understand, and is affordable.
I hope this list gives you ideas for how to make your own life easier, whether you’re setting up a dorm room, an apartment, or a new home. Maybe you can find some more. If you do, feel free to share them. People are always looking for neat ideas that make life easier.
I plan to continue this brief series through my next 2 blog entries. Next time will be money saver tips, and after that will be time saver tips. Stay tuned.
That’s all today. Take care. Have a Happy Friday tomorrow and a fantastic weekend.
Bye!
Today, I’d like to share little things that make a big difference. Nobody will argue the benefits of smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Technology is great and has made life easier in unimaginable ways – take it from a member of Generation X who’s seen everything from card catalogs and rotary phones to Google and the iPhone 5S. But sometimes, the smallest things make the biggest difference. Today, I offer 10 small things that make my life better and easier:
Saline irrigations – if you have sinus or allergy problems, this is the single best thing you can do to heal from and prevent illness. If a Netti Pot seems intimidating, they make plastic squeeze bottles that work just as well and can be washed in a dishwasher. Yes, it can be nasty, but I feel so much better when irrigate my sinuses, and it helps my regular medications to work better. It’s well worth it.
Clorox wipes – This is my top cheat, because it’s the fastest way to clean and disinfect your home. Just wiping my kitchen counters can have people believing I scrubbed the place. Best of all, they’re disposable, so you don’t have any cleaning rags to run through the washing machine. It doesn’t substitute for a deep cleaning, but it can go a long way in putting more time between those heavy scrubbing sessions.
External hard drives –These are a bit more expensive, but it’s a worth investment of $100-$150. I can tell you of 3 times when file backups have saved me from hard drive crashes, once at home and twice at work. They’re password protected, easy to set up, and automatically synch and save all changes you save to your files. Plus, many will save your Internet favorites too. Quick and easy backup. You can’t beat that, and the peace of mind it gives you to know your data is backed up with little chance of human error.
USB slots on surge protectors – If you aren’t lucky enough to have a new home where the outlets have USB ports now, then never fear, because you can get a surge protector with this handy function. I did, and love it, because I’m bad about keeping batteries charged. It’s greatly reduced the “oops, I forgot to charge my battery” scenarios.
Butterfly clips – This is a lifesaver for long hair. Sometimes, you need it out of your face, and this is the best, most secure way to pin up your hair and have it out of the way.
Makeup palettes – They aren’t just for teens! Kits with eyeshadow, blusher, and lip gloss are great for adults too, especially when you travel. Plus, the variety of colors give you more variation and ways to match your makeup with your outfit, without having the same old drab colors every day. It’s quick, easy, and makes doing your makeup fun.
Ebooks – Do you really need one more thing to lug around? Ebooks are great not just for writers, but readers as well. It’s great to be able to read books on my phone or tablet and not have one more thing to carry around, or store on a shelf once I’m done reading it. Plus, ebooks are cheaper than hardbacks and sometimes paperbacks too.
Streaming video – I salute iTunes, Netflix and television networks that stream their shows online or thorugh Apple TV apps. It’s great to be able to go online and watch shows at my convenience, without having to worry about setting a DVR or remembering schedules. And it’s a real treat for movies and TV series, because, like ebooks, I don’t have to find a place to store the DVD’s when I’m done watching them. Hooray!
Skin So Soft Original body lotion – An Avon favorite. This lotion has a mild, fresh scent, is cheaper than any decent lotion in stores, and is a bug repellent without smelling like a bug repellent. It’s a win-win. The shower gel is great, too.
The One Year Chronological Bible – If you do a daily Bible reading, this is a great one to try. I’m reading it this year, and it’s great. It’s so much easier to understand when you read things in the actual order of real events. I love it. Best of all, it’s a simple NSV version Bible that’s easy to understand, and is affordable.
I hope this list gives you ideas for how to make your own life easier, whether you’re setting up a dorm room, an apartment, or a new home. Maybe you can find some more. If you do, feel free to share them. People are always looking for neat ideas that make life easier.
I plan to continue this brief series through my next 2 blog entries. Next time will be money saver tips, and after that will be time saver tips. Stay tuned.
That’s all today. Take care. Have a Happy Friday tomorrow and a fantastic weekend.
Bye!
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