Passwords and Planning

I can still vaguely remember telling people the date that my vacation leave was starting and here I am suddenly scratching my head wondering how I could have let my password expire when my colleague specifically messaged our team and said, “Don’t forget to change passwords before you go on leave!”

What a whirlwind December and a cracking start to the new year. It’s officially my last day off and I’m starting to feel pangs of anxiety dancing with excitement and renewed motivation. I’m open to suggestions of how this year can be easier,  more meaningful and super productive. I would love to try something that’s worked for you.

In an attempt to encourage you to share your life hacks with me, let me start by sharing some of mine.

There are a few hacks I have developed (copied or re-used) over the years. My friends are always asking me how the hell did you know how to do that? Please write a book so we have somewhere to find it. Nope. No time for that so this is an abbreviated version that I hope will help you recover a few minutes in your day to enjoy a cup of tea. A big shout out to a former place of employment where my days were was so difficult that I was forced to find ways to make my life easier. The alternate was to just collapse in a heap, cry and give up. That was never going to happen! Tough times build tough chicks. These are in no particular order and I haven't bothered to categorise them. I’m trying to think of a new strong password before my work day starts tomorrow!!

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Buy an Air Fryer

Yes. It is that life changing. It is that brilliant. It is totally worth it! There’s also a little gadget you can purchase at Yuppie Chef that creates a 2 layer option for your air fryer. Chips on top, chicken on the bottom. Chicken on top, veggies at the bottom. You get the picture. Thanks to my friend Mia who made my life easier by telling me about this air fryer enhancement.

Pro Tip: Instead of frying your potatoes in oil for your biryani, pop them into the air fryer for 20 minutes and then add it to your curry mix. You’re welcome!

Use an App

There are a million out there. Free and not so free. A few of my absolute must haves:

FitOn. Free version. The notification that pops up reminding me to exercise is a big win. This morning the motivational message when I opened the App was YOU ARE MAGIC. NEVER FORGET THAT.

Evernote. Free version. Because I am the kind of person who has a list of lists!! Never go to the shops again and come back without what you actually ventured out for in the first place.

MyFitnessPal. Free version. I once lost 10kgs just tracking my calories-no exercise. Don’t ask me about those kgs now. Christmas was a just a few days ago man!

Kindle. I am never without a book. Thousands of FREE books available and if you’re lucky, you will end up with a best seller for free. I know, I know. The debate about digital books and hard copy books. I was once that snob.

“I need to feel a book between my hands.”

Yesterday, I demonstrated to my husband how I can prop up my Kindle and turn a page with the tip of my finger. Such joy and tremendous laziness in one act.  I now switch seamlessly between the both options. Thanks to my sister who gifted me my Kindle 8 years ago. It’s my prized possession.

Zensory. My latest and most used App since I acquired it. Pomodoro meets white noise meets mindfulness meets  productivity. I can’t do it justice in a few sentences. Thanks to Anna Collard for the intro. Try it.

Schedule It

As kids we knew it as a timetable. Set times to do specific subjects at school. I have set times to do specific tasks. I have even scheduled breaks into my work day or there is a very real horror that I can sit in front of my laptop for the entire day. Still haven't come up with a new, strong password for tomorrow! 5am-6am is bible time. Everyone is asleep so no disturbances. 6am-7am is reserved for me to attempt to get some writing done. 7am-8am chores and errands. Of course, I leave room for unexpected circumstances but scheduling time for specific activities is a life saver for me. I have tried it for entertainment as well. We have discovered that Friday early suppers work for us to have people over. We can catch up and connect and then still have the whole weekend as a family to do our own stuff. This means we keep our Fridays evenings blocked out for catch up and connect. Monday evenings blocked out for Griefshare. Wednesday evenings blocked out for Life Group. And so the blocking out continues.

Thanks to Aunty Jane Gengiah who told me 5-6 in the afternoon is her walking time. Every. Single. Day. It’s her time that she guards like a fierce lioness. Guard your time and start scheduling activities that you haven't had time to indulge in.

Magic Meals

I’m no Nigella Lawson but planning your meals can make your life so much easier. Ok. I get it. Eskom and load shedding doesn't help but checking that schedule and planning meals accordingly can add years to your life. I really can do without more grey hair! My meal menu sits on my fridge or on the chalk board. That way everyone knows what to expect. No-one can suddenly catch feels for a mutton curry when the menu says oven fish and beans. And if there’s something on the menu you think you don’t want to eat, well- that’s when you can make a meal for yourself.  Toast and peanut butter never killed anyone.

My go-to meals that requires minimum effort and can accommodate a veg option are:

>Cottage pie (swop mince for lentils and veg)

>Meatballs in a tomato chutney (swop meatballs for falafels)

>Sausage and baked beans (swop meat sausage for veg sausage)

>Spaghetti and mince (swop mince for baby marrow or soya mince)

>Mutton or lamb curry (add Borlotti beans and potatoes) My family can enjoy the meat while I can savour the meat flavoured beans and potato.

Wallpapers & Screensavers

Stats suggest that the average person picks up their cellphone at least 96 times per day. Why not use that as a means to remind yourself of your goals, priorities and focus areas? Use Canva (also the free version) and create a wallpaper or screen saver so that every time you pick up your fone, your eye catches what you have noted to yourself. I once designed a wallpaper that said, "PUT THE FONE DOWN!!" It worked!

Outsource

One of the hardest things to do is not feel judged when you can’t juggle work, home, church, relationships and all other life issues, effortlessly. Shout out to the supermoms but I am not one. To remain sane, some things need to be outsourced. Whether it's ready made meals being delivered to you, laundry, cleaning, organising, garden, driving- if it can be outsourced for an affordable amount just do it! On that note, why has someone not started a business where you come and take down my Christmas tree and pack it away for me?

Let go of the guilt. Shout out to Valorie Burton for her book called Let Go of the Guilt!! We do way too many things from a guilt perspective. My mother did it. My mother-in-law did it. My friend works 2 jobs and does it. Social media tells me it can be done. Stop. Please. Outsource. Live longer.

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Aha! An Oprah moment. I have thought of that new, strong password (more of a passphrase really!) so time to wrap my head around all the projects hovering around for this year.Anxiety has faded into a gentle sway while excitement is upfront with a feisty tango and motivation is standing on the sidelines waiting to cut in and make 2023 happen. I do hope that yours is everything you hope it will be.