7 things to simplify your life before 2010
- Parents Ask
Why wait until you make your list of resolutions to similify your life? Get a head start from our good friend, the lovely Carly Knobloch of Mothercraftcoaching.com who has shared the six things that made her life easier in 2009. If anyone knows how to streamline a harried mother's life, it's Carley...so read and learn!
1.Jott
My trick for keeping track of all of my to-dos is to get them out of my well-meaning-but-overburdened brain and into a trusted system. Jott is like an extension of my frontal lobe— it can keep track of all my tasks, reminders and big ideas. From wherever I am, (on the freeway, at soccer practice, in a pillow fort), I call Jott, speak my mind, and get back to pillow fort frolic with a clear head. Jott takes my spoken word message, and magically turns it into text so that my to-do is waiting for me when it's time to get it ta-done. Ta-da!
2.Jack Cards
I do love all things digital, but still prefer old-fashioned ink when it comes to a birthday card. Jack cards is the perfect solution for those who wants to automate a set of tedious, time consuming, anxiety-making tasks (remembering important dates, picking out just the right card, mailing it at just the right time), while still sending something that isn't written in Helvetica. Add your contacts and important dates to their system, and Jack will help you pick just the right card and send it— stamped and addressed!— to your door, just in time to personalize and send it. No more excuses and no more missed birthdays (or, if you're like me, piles of cards you bought but never remembered to send on time).
3. Alice
If you are the victim of many emergency store trips (what?! no more toothpaste?!), think of Alice as your domestic paramedic. This website lets you choose from thousands of you already use, but hate to lug home from the grocery store (think laundry detergent, trash bags, paper towels). Alice keeps track of your stuff and reminds you when you're running low, and always finds coupons and the best prices. You order just what you need, when you need it, and the shipping is FREE. Is there any reason NOT to use this site? Alice, you had me at "Never run out of toilet paper."
4.OK! To Wake Alarm Clock
Did you know what the single biggest predictor of how messed up your mommy brain is? It's sleep. The sleep you desperately need to keep your head screwed on straight, to make through the day without dropping your kids off at the grocery store and picking up bananas at soccer practice. Yet our prayers for sleep often go unanswered by the Sleep God (your toddler or preschooler) who can't tell time and has no idea that she's waking the house up at the unholiest of hours (you'd think the darkness would be a clue!). Enter the OK To Wake! alarm clock, which teaches your kids to sleep in by glowing green when it's okay to go wake mommy and daddy. My life has been forever changed by this device!
5.Cozi
Cozi.com is a great (and free!) online organizer that helps families (read: famiies, NOT just moms) manage crazy schedules, track shopping lists, to do lists, organize household chores, stay in communication and share memories all in one place. They've also just added a new feature designed to help with the age old "what's for dinner?" question with their new, interactive Dinner Ideas feature. This lets you into the kitchens of other cozi families to see what they're eating and hopefully help you get inspiration for your next meal. *One of the hidden treasures of this site is the concierege service -- forget what's on your calendar or to do list? Simply call cozi's toll free number and your list or appointments can be texted or even read to you! Now that's service.
6. Yoga Podcasts & Downloads
Sometimes a little bit of something is so much better than none at all. When it comes to things like yoga and meditation, sometimes a time-challenged mom only has five minutes, but that five minutes can make all the difference in her day. I've found a bunch of great resources for mini yoga classes and guided meditations that you can download and listen to anywhere, anytime. It's like having a yoga class in your back pocket. Which can be helpful if you're dealing with a colicky baby, stuck in traffic, or in countless other situations where you need to stop, drop and breathe. Here are some of my favorite resources: Some are free, some cost a small fee, and some are by donation. All will help you chill out and regroup in no time.
7.The Demy
Maybe it's because it evokes everything I love about my Kindle, my iPhone, and all my other can't-live-without gadgets, but I am totally crushing on the Demy by Keyingredient.com this holiday season. It's a new digital recipe reader that brings your online recipes into the kitchen (wa-ay better than the batter-splattered printouts I've been using) and holds 2500 of them in an index card-sized box. It's got a conversion calculator. It's got three kitchen timers. It's spill-proof and has a pretty color touchscreen. Be still my culinary heart! I imagine this will change my dinnertime life, so relatives, take note! Now, if it could warn me that I'm out of eggs before I get the kids all excited for pancakes... perhaps a 2.0 feature?
Do you have a favorite time or life-saver this year? We'd love to hear from you!
*For more great tips from Carley, visit her at mothercraftcoaching.com
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Commented by rookieheather, Wed Dec 9, 2009 4:33am UTC
These are great. I already like and use some of them so I better call Jott and remind myself to try the rest!