My blog

Tag: #ProductivityHacks

  • Paper or Digital?

    In today’s fast-paced world, anything that helps streamline daily tasks is a win. A few years ago, my husband bought me an iPhone. At first, I only used it to call my kids, unaware of its potential as a time-saving tool. Over time, I discovered that my phone could replace my endless paper lists, making every day errands—like grocery shopping—much easier.

    One day, I came across a meme about creating a master grocery list. Sure, you can buy pre-made lists, but they aren’t tailored to your needs. Plus, who wants to deal with paper when your phone can do the job better?

    Using Your Phone as a Grocery List

    Your phone’s reminder app functions as a built-in list organizer. I use mine for:

    • Medications & Supplements: A quick reference at doctor visits.
    • Household Tasks: A shared list with my husband, so he knows what needs to be done.
    • Groceries: The focus of this post—and a major time-saver!

    Creating Your Master Grocery List

    of writing a new list every time, I built a master list of all the groceries we regularly buy. Here’s how:

    1. Start with Your Staples: Look in your pantry and fridge. List items you purchase often.
    2. Use the Hide Feature: When shopping, simply uncheck the items you need—no paper, no pen, no mess.
    3. Sort by Aisle:
      • My first attempt was alphabetical, but that meant jumping between sections at the store.
      • I switched to numbering items by aisle (e.g., 00.01 Salad for the produce section), keeping them in order for quick shopping.

    Bonus Tip: Grocery Pick-Up for Even More Time Savings

    When my husband and I got sick and couldn’t go inside stores, I discovered online grocery ordering. Many stores offer it for free, and you can:
    ✔ Save frequent purchases for quick reorders.
    ✔ Prevent unwanted substitutions.
    ✔ Pick up groceries without stepping inside.

    For the Paper Lovers…

    If you prefer a physical list, here’s an easy method:

    1. Save a month’s worth of old grocery receipts.
    2. Type them into a master list.
    3. Take that list to the store and organize it by aisle.
    4. Print it out and keep it by your fridge for easy check-offs.

    Do these grocery list tips make sense to you? Or do you have an even better method? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear!

  • Paper or Digital?

    In today’s fast-paced world, anything that helps streamline daily tasks is a win. A few years ago, my husband bought me an iPhone. At first, I only used it to call my kids, unaware of its potential as a time-saving tool. Over time, I discovered that my phone could replace my endless paper lists, making every day errands—like grocery shopping—much easier.

    One day, I came across a meme about creating a master grocery list. Sure, you can buy pre-made lists, but they aren’t tailored to your needs. Plus, who wants to deal with paper when your phone can do the job better?

    Using Your Phone as a Grocery List

    Your phone’s reminder app functions as a built-in list organizer. I use mine for:

    • Medications & Supplements: A quick reference at doctor visits.
    • Household Tasks: A shared list with my husband, so he knows what needs to be done.
    • Groceries: The focus of this post—and a major time-saver!

    Creating Your Master Grocery List

    of writing a new list every time, I built a master list of all the groceries we regularly buy. Here’s how:

    1. Start with Your Staples: Look in your pantry and fridge. List items you purchase often.
    2. Use the Hide Feature: When shopping, simply uncheck the items you need—no paper, no pen, no mess.
    3. Sort by Aisle:
      • My first attempt was alphabetical, but that meant jumping between sections at the store.
      • I switched to numbering items by aisle (e.g., 00.01 Salad for the produce section), keeping them in order for quick shopping.

    Bonus Tip: Grocery Pick-Up for Even More Time Savings

    When my husband and I got sick and couldn’t go inside stores, I discovered online grocery ordering. Many stores offer it for free, and you can:
    ✔ Save frequent purchases for quick reorders.
    ✔ Prevent unwanted substitutions.
    ✔ Pick up groceries without stepping inside.

    For the Paper Lovers…

    If you prefer a physical list, here’s an easy method:

    1. Save a month’s worth of old grocery receipts.
    2. Type them into a master list.
    3. Take that list to the store and organize it by aisle.
    4. Print it out and keep it by your fridge for easy check-offs.

    Do these grocery list tips make sense to you? Or do you have an even better method? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear!

  • From Overwhelmed to Organized

    Like most people (at least the ones I know), I started the year with great intentions. But that’s all they were—until a few years ago when my eldest daughter shared how she plans for the new year starting in December.

    At first, I didn’t think much about her process. I’d always been task-oriented and focused on what needed to get done, both in my work and personal life. I was a planner with endless checklists, and while I accomplished plenty, it was hard to measure what I’d achieved over 365 days, 8,760 hours, or 525,600 minutes. Looking back, I realized I wasn’t tracking my progress in a meaningful way.

    Last year, inspired by my daughter, I planned my entire year—not month by month, but task by task. My list lived on my phone, where it was easy to access and check off items. I organized it into three categories: Personal (household chores, self-care, etc.), Financial (budgeting and organization), and Writing (how many novels I’d write, classes I’d take, and social media goals to connect with readers).

    Did I achieve everything? No, but I got about 75% of my tasks done, and I had a LOT on that list. My husband teases me for trying to fit five pounds into a two-pound bag, but I’ve learned that having a plan—even an ambitious one—gets me further than having no plan at all.

    After publishing my most recent book, Across Oceans Through Time: A Story of Enduring Love, I dedicated December to planning the year ahead. Using the same three categories, I rolled over unfinished tasks from the previous year and added new ones. Unfortunately, life threw a curveball: both my husband and I fell ill during our Christmas road trip to visit family. As a result, I’m still finalizing my plan, but I’ve embraced the mantra: better late than never.

    One of my goals this year is to return to writing short blog posts. I’ve missed blogging and realized how much I enjoy it. So here I am, sharing not just my planning journey but also some practical tips that has helped me tackle one of life’s dreaded chores: managing paper clutter.

    The key question: what do you keep, and what do you pitch? Here’s my system:

    One Month (For Paper Lovers)

    • Receipts for non-deductible items: I prefer electronic receipts but keep a plastic zip envelope for deductible ones.
    • Deposit slips and ATM slips: Rarely needed, but I save them briefly.
    • Reconciled bank statements: These are electronic, so I keep them indefinitely.

    One to Three Years

    • Checkbook ledgers, paycheck stubs, mortgage statements, and insurance records: All electronic now.
    • Charitable contributions and proof of deductible purchases: A mix of paper and electronic files.

    At Least Seven Years

    • Tax returns and supporting documents: These include W-2s, 1099s, medical bills, and mileage records. Most are digital.

    Forever (Stored in a Fireproof Safe)

    • Vital documents: Birth certificates, marriage licenses, auto titles, and investment statements.
    • Major receipts: For home improvements and significant purchases.
    • Estate planning documents: Wills, insurance policies, and retirement plans.

    Last year, I tackled the monumental task of sorting through my late mother’s estate documents and organizing decades of family records. Using expandable plastic folders, I created a system for each family member. It was a huge accomplishment—and one I’m incredibly proud of.

    For shredding, I keep a banker’s box in the garage. Each year, I take it to a community shredding event and start fresh.

    Everyone’s method will differ, but the key is finding a process you’ll stick with. What works for you? I’d love to hear your tips—maybe I’ll learn something new!

     

  • From Overwhelmed to Organized

    Like most people (at least the ones I know), I started the year with great intentions. But that’s all they were—until a few years ago when my eldest daughter shared how she plans for the new year starting in December.

    At first, I didn’t think much about her process. I’d always been task-oriented and focused on what needed to get done, both in my work and personal life. I was a planner with endless checklists, and while I accomplished plenty, it was hard to measure what I’d achieved over 365 days, 8,760 hours, or 525,600 minutes. Looking back, I realized I wasn’t tracking my progress in a meaningful way.

    Last year, inspired by my daughter, I planned my entire year—not month by month, but task by task. My list lived on my phone, where it was easy to access and check off items. I organized it into three categories: Personal (household chores, self-care, etc.), Financial (budgeting and organization), and Writing (how many novels I’d write, classes I’d take, and social media goals to connect with readers).

    Did I achieve everything? No, but I got about 75% of my tasks done, and I had a LOT on that list. My husband teases me for trying to fit five pounds into a two-pound bag, but I’ve learned that having a plan—even an ambitious one—gets me further than having no plan at all.

    After publishing my most recent book, Across Oceans Through Time: A Story of Enduring Love, I dedicated December to planning the year ahead. Using the same three categories, I rolled over unfinished tasks from the previous year and added new ones. Unfortunately, life threw a curveball: both my husband and I fell ill during our Christmas road trip to visit family. As a result, I’m still finalizing my plan, but I’ve embraced the mantra: better late than never.

    One of my goals this year is to return to writing short blog posts. I’ve missed blogging and realized how much I enjoy it. So here I am, sharing not just my planning journey but also some practical tips that has helped me tackle one of life’s dreaded chores: managing paper clutter.

    The key question: what do you keep, and what do you pitch? Here’s my system:

    One Month (For Paper Lovers)

    • Receipts for non-deductible items: I prefer electronic receipts but keep a plastic zip envelope for deductible ones.
    • Deposit slips and ATM slips: Rarely needed, but I save them briefly.
    • Reconciled bank statements: These are electronic, so I keep them indefinitely.

    One to Three Years

    • Checkbook ledgers, paycheck stubs, mortgage statements, and insurance records: All electronic now.
    • Charitable contributions and proof of deductible purchases: A mix of paper and electronic files.

    At Least Seven Years

    • Tax returns and supporting documents: These include W-2s, 1099s, medical bills, and mileage records. Most are digital.

    Forever (Stored in a Fireproof Safe)

    • Vital documents: Birth certificates, marriage licenses, auto titles, and investment statements.
    • Major receipts: For home improvements and significant purchases.
    • Estate planning documents: Wills, insurance policies, and retirement plans.

    Last year, I tackled the monumental task of sorting through my late mother’s estate documents and organizing decades of family records. Using expandable plastic folders, I created a system for each family member. It was a huge accomplishment—and one I’m incredibly proud of.

    For shredding, I keep a banker’s box in the garage. Each year, I take it to a community shredding event and start fresh.

    Everyone’s method will differ, but the key is finding a process you’ll stick with. What works for you? I’d love to hear your tips—maybe I’ll learn something new!