Life "hacks" - ways you secretly stay ahead of the pack?

[tarquinandjocasta]

By this I don't mean those crap Take a Break tips that are going round the internet - use a trouser hanger to hold your recipe book. More like things that you do, that give you a bit of an "edge" no matter how trivial.

I am having a crisis of confidence day - feeling a bit like I'm not good enough.

I'm just wondering if others have secret ways of feeling better about trivial stuff that doesn't really matter in the big scheme of things.

Obviously MN itself is a bit of a secret and a great way of finding stuff out/researching without "letting on" to people in RL….

If I am feeling lazy, I buy plain fairy cakes and ice them myself fancily filling with lemon curd and piling on the buttercream and pass them off - people think I am quite the domestic goddess.
I warm shop bought biscuits in the oven too.

There must be other things that you don't 'fess up to in RL?

Do your nails when kids watching tv and buy the Sally hansen quick dry thing.

OP I don't have any domestic shizzle to help, but I think, for me at least, confidence comes from knowing a lot of stuff and being well read.

So I have news buzz feeds to my phone. Huff Post is good.

I always listen to audio books in the car or on jtrain journeys (unless I'm MNing). This can increase your book reading hugely. Your library should have a big selection, fiction and non-fiction.

have radio 4 on when you can so you have an idea about current affairs/

i never buy shop cakes, HATE them. the mary berry mega choc chips take 20 minutes to make and bake.

I have laods of different reading glasses that I match to outfits and watches too. change ALL jewellery every day so it goes.
ALWAYS wear a belt.

a gas bbq makes quite average meals an event all year around - eg Waitrose beefburgers into ' burger night'

This is a read 'life hack' - 2 minutes in a powerful pose will raise your testosterone levels (makes you feel confident) and lowers cortisol (you feel less stressed)

Even better than brownies in a mug. IMO.

Start a note on your phone (if it has the option) and add any ideas as you see them for gifts throughout the year, either directly for someone or just randomly - it just makes it easier for the point in mid-November when you sit down and start Christmas planning to match up ideas. (It also makes it easier to shop online and avoid the shops in December when it's hell if you know what you are looking for).

go on the MN Christmas threads, there's amazingly good ideas on there that while it feels too early for me now, Ill feel more like I've got my shit together if I do start early.

Excellent idea for a thread. I'm going to take notes

OR OP MAKE LESS PONCY MATES that you acutally like!

But most importantly, remember that most people are just coping. They aren't finding it all super easy and breezing along, they have run round like crazy things, and then glided out into public. Don't feel shit you aren't finding life easy. That's normal.

Christ, I am quite worried that the only thing I could think of to contribute to this thread was 'control pants'.

That link was brilliant. Some seriously clever 'oh yeah!' stuff on there.

Pacific Dogwood, that is a brilliant video.

I would add, watch TED talks.

File your tshirts, though

unfuckyourhabitat.tumblr.com/post/30726666518/how-to-fold-a-t-shirt-vertically

Oh, gawd, yes, watch as much TED talks as you can - they are brilliant!

Yes they are. TED talks and Adam & Joe took me across the Atlantic

#trufax

i dont think that TED talk tells you anything apart from teh bleeding obvious

amy is NO stranger to the Botox needle.

this is a silly one but it helps us....

you know when you are doing your hair, and you need a clip quick?

we have taped a magnet across the top of all the mirrors. then when we are tidying up all the clips and bobbles get popped on there.

then they are always to hand when you need them

looks really scruffy though...

we have madgnets on our ( metal lined) front door. NEVER forget anything again

magnets even

Who asked about my control file?
Really it's just where I keep shit.
Look, here it is, it's an old black ring binder with a few clear wallets in.
In it at the moment, loose - some legal stuff I've got to read, a letter from the council about changes to Statements of Sen I got to read, two Rock Choir bills to pay, an unopened credit card bill, Tesco clubcard vouchers. Some of these will be on the Absolutely Must list, some on the Would be Nice list.
In the clear wallet - itinerary and clothing list for dd's school trip next month, a form for £100 cash back at PC World that I can claim on 18 October, a leaflet for a bloke who will come round and value old watches, a diagram for dd's braces to be fitted next month. The diary will lead me back to these papers when they're needed.
When school letters are done with, they go into the Schools 14/15 folder in the other room.
I don't have a massive family, just a very complicated one and the system has worked for the best part of 20 years.

I like the cupcake one, and the ted talk. Eclectic tastes, me. Also glad that I am not the only one who scrapes the mud off polishes my shoes on the escalator brushes

Since I am permanently running to catch up with myself I am not sure I have much to contribute. In the last few weeks I have been in uncharacteristically nice hotels for work. Complimentary shoe shining has given me properly clean shoes and boots for the first time for ages, and I worked out last night that rather than drive to the nearest town to drop off a jacket for dry cleaning and then back again in 3 weeks time when I finally remember to collect it after lots of swearing on the three occasions when I have gone to wear it and remembered it is at the dry cleaners it would be no more expensive (including diesel) and a damned sight easier to bring it with me and get it cleaned at the hotel.

I do realise that life hacks involving nice hotels are bugger all use to most people though .

Buy loo roll in MASSIVE PACKS.
Then you will run out less often.

Ooh love this thread

Colour catcher in every wash - saves mistakes
Ikea magnet board and spice rack pots to store USB keys, bobbles, coins etc
Pre addressed labels for Christmas cards - print off each year
Stash of Yankee candles, good wine, scarves etc. handy for little thank you's or forgotten gifts thoughout the year
Gnocchi for quick meal
Batch cook, batch cook, batch cook
Frozen peppers and onions
I use my lunch break to quickly clean my car, make appointments and have been known to listen to the radio and do a few sewing repairs