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97 Comments
- OneHine, on 10/12/2007, -0/+49Well, keep in mind that if you have a dozen keys that you use regularly, you're probably going to just keep them all on a keychain. And if someone steals that, you're in the same situation as if you just had one key. All this does minimize your key-fumbling.
- s33k4, on 10/12/2007, -3/+47When you start refering to life away from the computer as your "offline" life, you need help
- mattcoady, on 10/12/2007, -0/+43"Synchronize recurring events."
Great idea. If I take care of my girl friends birthday, anniversary, and valentines day all on the same day I'll never have to remember the dates. She'll be so pleased with my efficiency. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+37Never correct someone's grammar or punctuation online. It's not safe.
- elsewhen, on 10/12/2007, -1/+28i didnt realize that you could rekey your locks - but if someone steals that one key, they would have access to _everything_! anyway, the thought of only carrying around one key is way too appealing - i think i am going to do it.
- mygans, on 10/12/2007, -1/+26nice oxymoron.....offline life
- Wrathernaut, on 10/12/2007, -2/+26My key chain only holds 3 keys - Home, Car, Mailbox. If I could re-key the car or the mailbox, I'd gladly do it.
Keys to my tool boxes and such are kept in the car, since it's always with me. I gave up on luggage keys when the whole TSA security thing required special locks or none at all.
There's also no "fluff" on my key chain, I don't know how people can stand it when they have like 80 pieces of flair for every key.
I do disagree with the scattered cheap pens theory though. I have a few very nice pens, one is *always* in my pocket, it's part of the pants load-check - keys, wallet, pen. If any of these is missing, I feel naked. - katoka, on 10/12/2007, -1/+24I found that adding the restaurant phone numbers in my cell phone is a HUGE time savings. That way you can call on your way home from school or work, and just run in, pick the food up and leave! Also, cooking a big meal on the weekend and putting portions in single serving size containers for a couple meals during the week is a time and money saver!
- Raidenwolf, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21Dude that's what I did with my wedding date 8 years ago I never let on to my wife why I chose the exact date. She was just happy I made some decisive contributions to the wedding. Little did she know till our wedding day that it also shared my fathers birthday. It was just an insurance policy since I knew I had not forgotten my fathers birthday my entire life I figured I would never forget an anniversary.
- ohnnyj, on 10/12/2007, -2/+18Marked innacurate. There's no such thing as "Offline Life."
- arbulus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16I just dugg everyone up, it's the safest way to go.
- dilberter, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16You lost me at "man-purse."
- growlzor, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14What is this offline you speak of?
- MiDri, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14fanny pack!
- signal15, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14Another thing that has been a huge timesaver and great for elimating all the damn paperwork is to get a sheet fed double sided scanner such as the Fujitsu ScanSnap, and run the output through an OCR app to make all of your documents into searchable PDF's. Then shred the originals and back everything up in multiple locations.
No more crappy paperwork all over the place, and I can use Spotlight or Google desktop search to find anything I'm looking for. iTunes can file PDF's, and there's a new app for the Mac called Papers which is meant for medical docs, but would work great as a virtual filing cabinet. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13nu-uh I did once...I think
- Arbus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11I stopped reading when it suggested I do laundry only once a month. Moldy clothes won't make my life any easier.
- josef44, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10I just changed all my locks to the ignition on my car. One lock, One key.
- Nougat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9One day a month to do laundry? How many clothes do you have?
Toolbox: get a bigger one than you need. You can get a Craftsman rolling mechanics' tool chest (stands abotu chin high) for $100.
Specific location to set my things every day - my wife keeps ***** moving them.
My addition: a twist on the HGTTG "always carry a towel" thing. Any time you see a napkin dispenser, grab some and put them in your pocket. When we were on our way to the airport in the rental car to come home from vacation, and my daughter decided to projectile vomit her lunch - and we had no time to stop and clean up - a giant stack of napkins was a godsend. - SimonUK, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Dugg for Bel Air.
- utkwes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Haven't you heard of 1 800 GOOG 411? Why program all those numbers and risk missing the one you need? Just have Google lookup the number for you.
- Aliarse, on 10/12/2007, -13/+22Most of us are already hip-deep in online efficiency tools like shared calendars, code libraries, and rss feeds; here are 30 simple ways that you can make your life (the real one) easier:
At Home
* Synchronize recurring events. This can be done annually, monthly, or even weekly. As an example, there are many household tasks that really only need to be done annually. Make it easy to remember when they need to be done by doing them all on the same day. The switch to daylight savings time is a good time to check batteries in smoke detectors, clean screens and windows, change air filters, clean fireplaces, etc. You can do the same with your car, by checking your tires, wiper fluid, battery, etc., every time you get an oil change. Sacrificing one day a month to do household chores like laundry, cleaning, and gardening can relieve the burden of having those things hang over your head and follow you around during the rest of the month.
* Re-key your locks. This is a fantastic way to cut down on the number of keys you have to lug around. One visit to a locksmith can put all of your home access points on a single key, and usually for a very reasonable price. Though you can’t do this with cars or office buildings because you need to be able to bring the lock to the locksmith, this can still reduce the number of keys you carry around significantly. Some padlocks allow for re-keying as well.
* Scatter lots of cheap pens and pencils. Distribute them all over your home and workplace. It's a great idea to do the same with note pads, sticky notes, or note cards. This is especially easy if you find yourself attending conferences often, because you can pick up lots of the freebees and promotional pens and paper. If you tend to have high standards for your writing implement, go ahead and stock the nice pens, too, but this way you’ll never be frantically looking for something to write on and with.
* Hoard stamps. It's true that snail mail is becoming less and less important, but every once in a while, you do need a stamp. In fact, it's probably because you don’t use them that often that they're hard to keep track of. Instead of buying a couple stamps at a time, buy a whole book or a roll to keep around. Now that the USPS is selling forever stamps, you can buy as many as you want at the current price, and they will always have enough value for a first class mailing.
* Get a toolbox. One box, many tools. Stock it with the basics: screwdrivers of different sizes, a hammer, picture hangers, pliers, electrical tape, light bulbs, etc. Screws fall out all the time, the world is an imperfect place, but if you keep these things handy you won't have to wait for a repairman or a visit to the hardware store to get things fixed.
* Make complete sets of spare keys. Make three extra copies of each of your essential keys (or single key - see "re-key your locks" above). One copy should stay in your home for guests, or as your own backup, one set should go to a trusted neighbor, and a third should go to a friend or family member who lives nearby. This way, you can be certain that lost or misplaced keys will not cause too much of a disruption to your day.
* Keep your essentials in one place. Set a specific location and container where you can deposit your keys, phone, wallet, purse, etc., when you get home. Ideally, this would be near the door and in a high-traffic area, such as a hallway. Once you get in the habit of depositing these items in the same place, you'll get very used to finding them right where you left them!
* Check your snail mail once a week. Or, only as often as you need to so that the mailbox doesn’t overfill. Since most mail is junk anyway, feel free to let it sit in your mailbox for a couple of days instead of on your counter or table top.
* Get and use a DVR. There are two ways that this will make your life easier, and that’s before we even talk about fast forwarding through commercials. First of all, recording the shows you love will help ensure that you don’t waste time flipping through mediocre TV. You get to watch what you want, and you never risk settling for reruns of Flavor of Love. Better still, a DVR can be a great time management tool. You can decide to only watch shows that you have chosen, and when you’ve seen them, stop watching. Once you get used to this, you'd be amazed how easy it is to turn off the TV when you actually have to sit through a commercial to see the conclusion of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
* Keep cards, wrapping paper, and even a few simple gifts for last-minute occasions. This is a great way to reduce errand-running stress. Wait for a sale, if you want, or just hit the store with the intention of purchasing a few birthday, thank you, and blank all-occasion greeting cards. Add to these a couple of gift bags and tissue paper, along with some simple, generic gifts. Gift cards to popular stores, picture frames, and candles are all good ideas for storable, unisex gifts that can save you from a last-minute, errand-running stress-fest.
* Outsource your chores. Seriously, the kid down the street could get really excited about the ten bucks you give him for mowing the lawn, walking the dog, washing the car, whatever. Your time and sanity are worth way more than that kid's hourly wage. If you have the means, ask your friends and neighbors for a referral for a housekeeper that is trustworthy. Most housekeepers offer a great hourly value, especially compared to your hourly value, not to mention the value of rest and relaxation.
* Set up one charging station for all of your electronics. A power strip or two should be all it takes to get your phone, PDA, Bluetooth accessories, camera, mp3 player, laptop, and rechargeable battery charger all plugged in. Keep a stock of new batteries nearby as well. Never moving the chargers for your electronics means never having to look for them.
* Get and use a filing cabinet. Even if all you do is open the drawer and drop important documents into the “To be Filed” folder. At least that way, you'll know where to find them when you need them.
Away from Home
* Avoid Traffic. There are so many good reasons to do this, but we especially love the feeling of flying past a line of cars on a bicycle. Even when walking, close neighborhood errands can often be quicker when there is no need to park/repark your car. Plus there's all the added benefits of saving the planet and your own cash that you're not spending on fuel. You can take this strategy to the next level by trying for a job that will allow you to work from home or flex your hours so that you'll never be forced to sit in rush-hour traffic.
* Plan your errands with the most efficient route in mind. No matter if you're on foot, on a bicycle, or on public transport, when you leave the house you should have a good idea of what your stops are and the easiest way to get there and back, with all the destinations in between. Don’t forget to consider traffic patterns, and be okay with putting off errands for a day or two so that you can accomplish many things in one trip.
* Program your mobile phone with all possible numbers. If you plan to be away from your home or your computer for an extended period of time, it’s a good idea to prepare by anticipating phone numbers you will need and programming them into your phone. Especially when you are traveling, some examples of numbers you may need in a pinch are hotels, rental cars, taxis, airlines, and restaurants.
* Never travel without a swimsuit. Period. You don’t want to miss an opportunity to enjoy a hot tub or sauna because they won’t let you go commando.
* Hide money and important documents in multiple places. Especially when you’re traveling abroad, it’s a good idea to keep your stores of cash or traveler’s checks hidden in several different locations in your luggage. By splitting up your funds, any potential robber will think they’ve got your stash when in fact they have only found a bit of it. Similarly, keep a few copies of your passport and plane tickets hidden in different locations throughout your stuff. If something should go missing, it will be far easier to replace if you’re holding on to a copy.
* Don't be ashamed to carry a man purse. We mean it. There's a reason why women carry those things--they're just darn useful. If it makes you feel better to carry something shaped like a backpack, go ahead and do that instead. Whatever the shape, pick out something that holds what you need it to, and don't apologize for being the one ready with a business card, a pen, or your reading glasses. And if someone asks if you're carrying a man purse, tell them that it's European.
* Keep an umbrella, a blanket, and a gallon of water in your trunk. Because these are the things you will miss the most, should you need them. If you need to be prepared for more than foul weather, romance, or overheating, we recommend an extra pair of comfortable shoes, snow chains (if you live in that kind of neighborhood), and a Frisbee for throwing while you wait for the parking lot to empty out.
* Park far away from entrances. Walking across a parking lot isn’t necessarily the most pleasant thing, but it’s still walking. Walking is exercise and therefore reduces stress. Waiting patiently for a spot near the front, only to have that yellow H2 ignore you and pull into your spot will have the opposite effect.
With Your Money
* Keep lots of change around. While quarters are the most useful, there are lots of good reasons to keep change around. If you don't acquire coins in the course of your normal routine, virtually any bank will trade you quarters (or other coins) for bills. Keeping a stack of them in your home, your car, your purse, your locker, or your desk will save you from scrounging when you encounter a parking meter, laundromat, or especially a vending machine.
* Keep a back up fund of cash hidden in your car, wallet, or at home. The trick to this is that you have to learn to consider it backup money, and is therefore not for spending except in a real pinch. Keeping this money in your wallet will make it harder not to spend, but will also be very useful when you have an unanticipated need for a taxi or a meal. Keeping the money at home or in your car will often save you from spending it, but will save you from having to visit the ATM when you're rushed.
* Subscribe to online delivery of bills and account statements. This will benefit your actual life when you find your mailbox is no longer clogged with dead trees. Plus, you won't have to file them.
* Use direct deposit whenever possible. This is such a great service. If your employer offers it, they will often allow you to break the deposit up into a few different accounts which can help you budget your savings or other investments just by filling out a single form.
* Use autopay. Autopay can be arranged through your bank or directly with the vendor. Agressive use of this technique can virtually put your finances on autopilot. You just need to ensure that there's enough money in the account when the payments are scheduled, and then don't worry about tracking down your checkbook, a stamp, or the invoice.
* Change the billing cycles on your monthly bills so that they're all due at the same time. Usually this can be accomplished with a quick phone call if it can't be done online. This can prevent forgotten or lost bills, since you'll have to go through your entire list of liabilities at the same time. If one of your accounts won't allow you to change the billing cycle, then change all the others to match that one. The other useful thing about this practice is that it makes it easier to calculate your monthly expenses and make good decisions about your budget.
In Your Personal Life
* Feel free to let the phone ring. Many people don't realize that you don't have to pick up the phone, or you can just turn off the ringer. The point is that people often call at bad times because they don't know that it's a bad time. Rather then let them interrupt you and complicate your life, simply ignore the call and get back to them when it is a better time for you.
* Say no. Essentially, we just wanted to remind you not to be too caught up in your sense of responsibility. Social events, work opportunities, volunteering, or overtime can all be hard to turn down when the opportunity arises. However, keep in mind that if scheduling and participating in these things bring you more stress than they do money or pleasure, you're probably better off disappointing someone and saying no.
* Make lists, keep a journal, and keep a calendar. Whatever technology you prefer for these things is fine. While Google Calendar, TiddlyWiki, Blackberrys and other PDAs are all very useful, we have found that nothing takes the place of a small Molskine journal or other pocket-sized calendar. Here you can make lists, write down notes, ideas, and contact information, and they're small enough to fit nicely into your wallet/pocket/man purse. Keep it with you, and refer to it often. - uberlord, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8If ANYONE can show me a man-purse that doesn't make me feel awkward at high school, I'd make love to them...
As you may have noticed, I already feel awkward enough. Backpacks are good, but I'm thinking of something more for money and Ipod/Cell Phone. Backpacks are for my school stuff, and I don't want 20 pounds of extra crap when I go see a movie... - Trevoriscool, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7AHAHA fanny pack
AHAHA - strabes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Do your ipod and cell phone not fit in your pants' pockets?
- sogracefully, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6don't clip anything to your belt. just trust me on this one.
- donkeyshow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6restaurants on the cell...eh, could take it or leave it.
Keychain breathalyzer is important for any drinkers. Cuts down drunkdialing the ex, etc.. - razrielle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5The one key to rule them all!
- strabes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6That is the longest sentence I think I've ever read.
- Wonderkind, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"Dude that's what I did with my wedding date 8 years ago I never let on to my wife why I chose the exact date."
Ahhh how romantic. - venom8599, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"Don't forget to bring a towel... I'm so high right now, I have no idea what's goin' on."
- Boofster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"Check your snail mail once a week. Or, only as often as you need to so that the mailbox doesn’t overfill. Since most mail is junk anyway, feel free to let it sit in your mailbox for a couple of days instead of on your counter or table top."
Disagree. Get some exercise and walk to your mailbox every day, hell run to it. It is sad seeing people drive to it. - stickyhoney, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Feel free to let the phone ring.
I'm quite guilty of that one :P - reiner15, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4He was just being super efficient by not using punctuation, therefore increasing his WPM
- arbulus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3you did what I resisted doing.
Digg up. - cmiller1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I'm gonna have to second the napkins thing, I always grab a stack of subway, wendy's, or (insert fast food place here) napkins and shove them into my glove compartment. Great to have on the road.
- signal15, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4One thing that made my life 100 times easier was signing up for Paytrust.com. It's a bill pay service with a twist... You actually have your bills sent to them and you never see them. They will even do the change of address forms for you. You can set up your bills to auto pay, or require manual intervention. Stuff with pay stubs can be set up as recurring payments and they just send it in for you. I was notoriously bad about paying bills on time, now I haven't seen one for about 6 years and everything gets paid on time.
It's probably the most useful service I've ever signed up for. - sgglynn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"All this does minimize your key-fumbling."
Which is VERY important if you frequently get chased to your door and car by robbers.... At least 3-4 times a week I thank god I only need one key, otherwise, it'd be curtains by now. - arbulus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3What we really need is a way to upload our consciousness to the net and then we won't have to worry about our offline lives. Since we spend most of our time in the tubes anyway, we might as well just make it permanent.
I'm staking my claim on the spot currently held by Gizmodo. If anyone wants to help me run them out, we'll split the real estate. - strabes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@utkwes: Wow, I have never heard of that. That's really really useful. I knew about the google text message thing, but this is crazy.
- squegie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I don't know why you got dug down.
I used to use paytrust.com myself for about two years. My bills went there, got scanned in, and summarized for me. I had most of the bills setup for auto-pay, and I could just login to check it once a week to see if anything came in. This -- compared to rummaging through a box or folder of "current bills" (that may or may not be current) was incredibly simple.
When I was deployed, I gave my Mom POA over my bills and I showed her how to use the web interface. She was absolutely scared of the concept of paying bills online. When I got back though, she told me how everything was so easy to take care of -- the recurring bills took care of themselves and she could handle the oddball bills without a problem.
I eventually switched away because a) PayTrust kept jacking their prices up. It started at $5/month, and was around $8 when I quick. Looking now, the package I had is now $12.95/month. My bank started offering bill pay for $3/month. They don't receive and scan my bills, but they withdraw the money like an EFT and they send a bank check. If I make a mistake, I won't bounce a bill payment like I could a check (which is how PayTrust operated).
I also like the idea of the double-sided sheet fed scanner. I've thought about scanning all my bills in as well, as soon as they come in, but my scanner is a flatbed (single sided) which means it would take a few scans to do each bill. Once it's in, you can save it in folders by year/month, and make use of a 'current' folder.
Ultimately, I'd like a solution that I scan the bills in, enter a summary 'penelec', 'utilities', 2007-04-25, 88.45, and go from there. - juliocgrajales, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I love the list, I actually already do many of these things as an efficient hog that I am... of course the list gets a bit interesting when you add a kid... Just An FYI please remember that efficiency is not necesarilly a good time all the time because you can really pay too much attention to a set way of being and it is good at times but I have noticed people that do not enjoy life because they don't want to pass up these efficient habits at least some times, once you become efficient remember those habits should make your life easier to spend more time doing the things you like... mis dos centavos
- sanatarium, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4@signal15
About the PDF idea, what do you do when the said hard drive containing this masterpiece of organization fails without warning? Seriously thats an awesome idea but I highly doubt my real-life filing cabinet will ever develop bad sectors. - thomas, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Check your snail mail once a week. Or, only as often as you need to so that the mailbox doesn’t overfill. Since most mail is junk anyway, feel free to let it sit in your mailbox for a couple of days instead of on your counter or table top.
- This is a dumb idea for multiple reasons. You might miss an important time sensitive letter, what if your mail box fills up faster than normal and nothing says rob me like a full mail box.
Keep your essentials in one place. Set a specific location and container where you can deposit your keys, phone, wallet, purse, etc., when you get home. Ideally, this would be near the door and in a high-traffic area, such as a hallway. Once you get in the habit of depositing these items in the same place, you'll get very used to finding them right where you left them!
- That one place better be a bolted down safe or all of your essentials are going to walk out the door if you do get robbed. - arbulus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Have you met my block list?
No?
Here, let me introduce you. - arbulus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2it's a bit more work at first, but it's well worth the initial time investment.
- KaneElson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I haven't had sex, I must be really lame.
How could I be so ignorant in thinking that I should wait untill I feel I am ready to have it. - ajmeade1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Riding my 10 speed to 7-11, not getting laid, and the carrying a man purse all sound like a blast. What the hell have I been doing without these helpful, life-enhancing tips? And for the record, I won't go into a hot tub unless I can go commando, and I like having a bunch of keys so burglars have to work harder. I know the 8 keys I carry are much heavier than only 1, but I somehow get by.
- ncapone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Offline? Does that even exist?
- danarama, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2i'll admit i do laundry about once a month...and i don't stink i just sort of shuffle not sweat a lot in the t shirts, lots of extra socks, undies and tshirts pants, shirts and sweaters will last without a cleaning for a while
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