GTKY: Life hacks

[186momx]

I seem to be floundering. 
What are your best hacks be it work, life, school, kids, pets, etc.

[mustardseed2007]

Low expectations?

[mommyatty]

When you feel like crap, put on lipstick. At least you’ll look like you’re trying. And it honestly does make me feel more put together.

Have a bedtime routine for your kids and stick to it. They need sleep and you need alone time. This includes weekends.

F/@$ what Pam thinks. This is DH and my motto. When we were getting married, my mom wanted a say in everything. She thought she could convince me by saying our neighbor Pam agreed with her. (Pam was like a second mom to me during jr high and high school.) So when we were making a To Do list, one of DH’s To Dos was “F$@& what Pam thinks.” The only people whose opinions matter are the people directly involved with the decisions you are making. And sometimes not even all of them. So we decided to do virtual learning. A lot of friends think we are overreacting. F what they think. Also, related, “Never take criticism from someone you wouldn’t ask for advice.”

[k3am]

It takes me an extra 2 minutes to make an entire loaf worth of PBJ sandwiches vs. making just one. So I usually make a loaf or two worth of PBJ's and load up the freezer. Makes packing lunches so much easier.

Skip folding sheets. Any sheets.. just stick them up in the pillow case. Good enough for me.

That is.. sadly probably my best/only life hack worth anything.

[mustardseed2007]

Setting alarms on alexa is really important. It helps keep us from being late to school.

[mrsGreeko]

One touch rule. Any papers/emails that need to be dealt with just do it right away and be done with it. So a permission slip comes home from school? Sign it and you’re done. Invitation comes in email, open and respond and add to the calendar. Newsletter with a survey link comes out, open and do the survey and be done. Bill comes in just pay it immediately. Don’t leave things for later because then it gets overwhelming and things get lost or forgotten.

[twinmomma]

Sort the mail before it comes in the house. I toss any junk mail right into the recycle bin outside so it doesn't even make it into the house to clutter up the counter.

[waverly]

I used to have a lot more because DH traveled, so I had to do it all. But now my daily life (besides the pandemic) is easier. If I was about to have children, I would say save up for childcare since we spent so much money and due to the pandemic are spending a whole lot more. So definitely save up for that. We didn't realize we needed to, and really it was the second child that killed our budget.

Grocery delivery is key. Menu planning etc. Routines are best for pets. We also have an automatic feeder, water fountain and cat litter robot for our bratty cat. The kids have alarm clocks (which they forgot to set, so remind them to turn them on).

If you think of it, just take a minute and do it right then or put it on your to do list. Mine is on my phone. I used to use Swipes app I think it was called, but they shut it down, so now I use To do ist. Remember to check your to do list. If you make an appointment or whatever put it in your calendar right away. I will put it in my phone right there in the doctor office or while on a playdate scheduling the next playdate.

Same for house stuff. Now that I am working more, I am more behind again. But yeah if it needs to be done, just take a minute and throw that one thing away rather than leaving it there. That goes for anything small that will take you less than 1 minute related to cleaning your house or organization. I also go through 1-2 times a day and do that quick daily pick up- less than 10 minutes.  

[sandandsea]

I need to do this but my mom stores the roll of garbage bags in the trash can. So when you pull one out, you just pull up another and you’re done. (You have to buy good bags that don’t leak.)

I bought an all in one washer/dryer. It’s mediocre (with a learning curve) but it is nice that I run it and forget about it and it’s done.

We systemized school lunch. Grab something from box 1-4 and a box of milk and you’re done. (Dairy/protein/fruit/veg/grain)

We also bought the pack it lunch boxes so you freeze the lunchbox and don’t have to worry about separate ice packs.

We set up a charging station on the pony bar so we are charging school devices nightly and they’re in your face so you don’t forget them.

We replaced some outlets with the kind that have build in usb/lightening chargers and have cables that live at that outlet so high frequency places always have a charger (sofa/drop in desk space/bedroom/etc).

[phdmomma]

Sept 1, 2020 11:01:42 GMT -5 mustardseed2007 said:

Low expectations?

But seriously, I think that this is part of it. Like I know I'm not able to be the room mom or anything like that at my kids' schools. But I am totally happy to Amazon ship supplies to a teacher if they ask for them. Or the case of snacks I sent for the snack cupboard, direct from Costco. I try to put my effort on the things that are important to myself and the kids, and just care less about the rest. 

[campermom]

I have a console for snacks in my van.
Meal prepping my own lunches and snacks on Sundays. Basically don’t get sick of eating the same thing daily.
Planning our dinners and how much time they take to make, according to how busy we are each night.
Saving my exercise for sports practice times, running the paved path around the fields, or I joined a cheap gym near one sports practice that’s 30 mins away just to use their treadmill during practice.
I have a short commute and sometimes come home to turn on the crockpot midday. I can make it back and forth in 18 mins.

[madringal]

Carpools are life. I couldn't imagine how we would function without them.

[mommyatty]

The crockpot is your friend. So is the instant pot. So are casseroles. Why? Because they all mean leftovers, and mostly ones that reheat or transform well.

Get a hobby if you don’t have one. Then make time for it. I think we are all bad about putting ourselves last. We deserve something that brings joy that’s about us being ourselves, undefined by our families.

[vasc]

Save return envelopes from junk mail for sending in checks or money to the school. If I used a new envelope for every check I send in with DD for lunches or other things I’d blow through several boxes of envelopes a year.

[sdlaura]

campermom I did the gym thing pre-Covid - I was a member of several gyms in different locations.

My kids sleep in their clothes to get out of the house quicker.

[sdlaura]

Sept 1, 2020 11:01:42 GMT -5 mustardseed2007 said:

Low expectations?

Also less capacity for guilt. If I were especially prone to feeling guilty Or second guessing decisions, I would beat myself up endlessly.

[twinmomma]

Sept 1, 2020 20:58:19 GMT -5 vasc said:

Save return envelopes from junk mail for sending in checks or money to the school. If I used a new envelope for every check I send in with DD for lunches or other things I’d blow through several boxes of envelopes a year.

This is genius!! It always feels like such a waste to buy envelopes just to send in PTA checks for various things. 

[186momx]

I'm having such a hard time focusing on everything. Some of this is just multiple interruptions all the time.

I need to get back to using my crockpot regularly so we can have leftovers. I also probably should really meal plan ahead of time instead of the day of.

I normally have a few days just to myself after tax season gets over to relax/recharge which didn't happen this year. We are going away for the holiday weekend and I'm going to try to get some alone time since we will be with friends who can entertain DH and DD.

[k3am]

I am so amused at how many people love the crockpot for leftovers. Mainly because it explains part of my dislike of crockpot food.. I hate leftovers. DH tolerates leftovers.

[waverly]

Somewhere along the line (I think free with the PTO school supplies kit), we got envelopes for sending money to school. The envelope has a space for the amount, kids name, teacher name etc. I found them really handy, and they were "free". But I can't help anyone else find them since they just randomly showed up. And we aren't going to in person school this fall anyway.

[mae0111]

Our school prints up notepads with dismissal and late information on it.

So there’s a spot for kid name, date, what’s happening (early dismissal and time, staying after school for a club or aftercare, etc). I keep a pad in the car and one in the kitchen. It’s so handy and quick to fill out if there’s a change to the dismissal plan. You could easily make a form and just keep copies handy.

[mommyatty]

Sept 2, 2020 13:21:08 GMT -5 k3am said:

I am so amused at how many people love the crockpot for leftovers. Mainly because it explains part of my dislike of crockpot food.. I hate leftovers. DH tolerates leftovers.

I am the only person in my family who eats leftovers. Which to me is a huge plus. DD has decided she likes leftover pulled pork, and I thought, “as man, now I have to share my leftovers!” The exception to the rule is leftover pizza. Whole family loves it except me. I do not like leftover pizza. They can have it!

[k3am]

mommyatty, pizza is the only leftovers I'll eat. Either cold or room temperature.

[mae0111]

I eat ALL THE LEFTOVERS. Except fish. Hard no to seafood leftovers 🤢

[mellym]

DH and I like leftovers (less cooking) but the kids aren't usually thrilled unless it's their favorite dish. We try to turn it into something new. This week we had grilled chicken one night and then used the leftovers to make chicken fried rice. We always use pulled pork for quesadillas.

[waverly]

I eat a lot of leftovers from dinner (non crockpot since DH is not a fan) for lunch the next day. I'm not a bring a sandwich to lunch type person.

[k3am]

I just remembered one of my biggest favorite things lately... Siri is pretty smart. You can set reminders based on location. "Remind when I get home to XYZ" "Remind me the next time I'm at Costco to bring in my Costco cash coupon from the glove box." It is lifechanging.

[sandandsea]

I also set out a pile of clothes for the week for both kids so make mornings easier.

I also set up subscribe and save on amazon for snacks, lunch supplies, household items (toiletries, laundry, soap, paper products) so they show up automatically without thought.

[campermom]

This is kind of a confession. Please don’t think I’m gross. I keep flossers in my car. I’m flossing more now than I ever did without those. I keep a little trash bag for when I’m done and i don’t ever do it when I pull up to another car.