Ologies with Alie Ward – LIFE ADVICE Encore: For anyone who is tired & needs some hacks

Intro

In this episode of “Ologies with Alie Ward,” Alie shares life tips and hacks to make your life better and less stressful. Whether you have ADHD or are a neurotypical individual, this episode has something for everyone. Alie divides the episode into five parts: hot bod needs, domestic strategies, scheduling, productivity hacks, and emotional well-being. Get ready to learn practical advice that you can implement in your daily life.

Main Takeaways

Hot Bod Needs

• Exercise can improve focus, clarity, and productivity.
• Moving before sitting can help with thinking and creativity.
• Protecting sleep is crucial for mental health and productivity.
• A strict bedtime routine can help improve sleep.
• Charging devices overnight can prevent morning stress.
• Sunrise light alarm clocks can improve the wake-up experience.
• Early mornings can be more productive for night owls.
• Take stimulants an hour before waking up if you have ADHD and struggle to get out of bed.

Domestic Strategies

• Clean eating can improve mental health and productivity.
• Incorporating favorite foods can make cooking and eating more enjoyable.
• Label and date your leftovers to avoid waste.
• Put condiments in crisper drawers and veggies in the main fridge area to encourage healthy eating.
• Use a whiteboard to make a menu and grocery list on your fridge.
• Have multiple laundry baskets and sort by type, not color.
• Outsource tasks to robots.

Scheduling

• Use location to keep track of items and tasks.
• Set reminders with creative and personalized messages.
• Use visual timers, such as the Time Timer, to manage time effectively.
• Experiment with different productivity techniques, such as the Pomodoro technique or the Flow Time technique.
• Consider using productivity apps, such as Bear Focuser, to eliminate distractions during work time.
• The Eisenhower matrix helps prioritize tasks with four quadrants: do it now, decide and schedule it, delegate, and delete.
• Bullet journals offer flexibility and can be made as fancy or minimal as desired.
• Pretty layouts can drain productivity and creativity, find a balance that works for you.
• Daily planners in mini binders can be customized and edited to fit personal needs.
• Colored pencils that turn to watercolor when wet are a great tool for adding creativity to productivity.

Productivity Hacks

• March is Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month, a blood cancer that the speaker’s dad has, and donations were made to the National MS Society and the International Myeloma Foundation.
• Habitica is a gamified habit-building app that rewards users for completing tasks.
• Owwaves is a time management app that helps users divide each day into productive slots with visual cues and color coding.
• Finch is an app that combines health and goal setting.
• Instead of an app, one listener made their own Discord server to save links, pictures, and write lists and notes for later.
• Keep track of your tasks and accomplishments using tools like Google Calendar to hold yourself accountable.
• Be considerate of your future self and do things that will benefit them.
• Use a designated notepad or “later list” to write down distracting thoughts and revisit them later.
• Use ad block extensions like Chrome to avoid getting sucked into endless suggested videos on YouTube.
• Use whiteboards to store and upload important documents and engage in the “magic of multiples” by keeping duplicates of important items.
• Use a separate account to save money for big purchases.
• Use dollar bills as bookmarks to avoid library fines.

Emotional Well-being

• Consider requesting noise-canceling headphones as a disability accommodation in open offices.
• Use noise-generating apps or websites to help with focus.
• Brown noise, named after a person, is a low bassy roar that can help with focus.
• Gary Stobb suggests pretending to read in front of a sixth-grade class to improve focus.
• Katrina Wyble listens to audio content at 1.5-2x speed while reading along to increase efficiency.
• Speaking out loud when putting things down can help with organization and memory.
• Therapy and support groups can be beneficial for mental health and productivity.
• Use finger or nose gesture instead of interrupting people.
• Create a code word to get your partner’s attention when they have ADHD.
• Be kind and understanding towards partners with ADHD, listen to their struggles and find solutions together.
• ADHD gives a unique perspective, and non-linear thinking is essential for creative activity.
• Find your passion, celebrate the superpowers that come with ADHD, and don’t think of yourself as damaged or dysfunctional.

Summary

Exercise for Focus and Productivity

Exercise is not just beneficial for physical health but also for focus, clarity, and productivity. By incorporating movement before sitting down to work, you can enhance your thinking and creativity. Additionally, protecting your sleep through a strict bedtime routine and charging devices overnight can improve your mental health and prevent morning stress. For individuals with ADHD, taking stimulants an hour before waking up can help combat the struggle of getting out of bed.

Domestic Strategies for a Healthy Lifestyle

Clean eating plays a significant role in improving mental health and productivity. By incorporating favorite foods into your meals, you can make cooking and eating more enjoyable. To avoid food waste, label and date your leftovers. Organize your fridge by putting condiments in crisper drawers and keeping veggies in the main fridge area. Utilize a whiteboard on your fridge to create a menu and grocery list. When it comes to laundry, have multiple baskets and sort by type. Consider outsourcing tasks to robots to free up your time for more important activities.

Scheduling and Productivity Hacks

Effective scheduling is crucial for managing your time and increasing productivity. Use location-based reminders and set them with creative and personalized messages. Visual timers, such as the Time Timer, can help you manage your time effectively. Experiment with different productivity techniques like the Pomodoro technique or the Flow Time technique. Consider using productivity apps like Bear Focuser to eliminate distractions during work time. The Eisenhower matrix can help you prioritize tasks by categorizing them into four quadrants. Bullet journals offer flexibility and can be customized to fit your needs. Use colored pencils that turn to watercolor when wet to add creativity to your productivity.

Boosting Productivity with Technology

Several apps can help you enhance your productivity. Habitica is a gamified habit-building app that rewards you for completing tasks. Owwaves is a time management app that allows you to divide each day into productive slots with visual cues and color coding. Finch combines health and goal setting. If apps aren’t your thing, you can create your own system using platforms like Discord. Tools like Google Calendar can help you keep track of your tasks and accomplishments, holding yourself accountable. It’s important to be considerate of your future self and do things that will benefit them. Use designated notepads or “later lists” to jot down distracting thoughts and revisit them later. Avoid getting sucked into endless suggested videos on YouTube by using ad block extensions. Utilize whiteboards to store and upload important documents and keep duplicates of essential items.

Emotional Well-being for Productivity

Creating a conducive environment for emotional well-being is essential for productivity. Consider requesting noise-canceling headphones as a disability accommodation in open offices. Use noise-generating apps or websites to help with focus. Brown noise, despite its misleading name, is a low bassy roar that can aid in concentration. Engage in activities like pretending to read in front of a sixth-grade class to improve focus. Listening to audio content at an increased speed while reading along can boost efficiency. Speaking out loud when putting things down can help with organization and memory. Therapy and support groups can provide valuable support for individuals with ADHD and other mental health challenges. Building understanding and finding solutions together with partners who have ADHD is crucial. Celebrate the unique perspective and non-linear thinking that ADHD brings and embrace your superpowers.

Conclusion

This episode of “Ologies with Alie Ward” provides a wealth of life tips and hacks to improve your daily life and reduce stress. From incorporating exercise and clean eating to utilizing scheduling techniques and productivity apps, there are countless ways to enhance your focus, productivity, and overall well-being. Remember to be kind to yourself and celebrate your unique strengths, whether you have ADHD or not. By implementing these strategies, you can create a more fulfilling and balanced life.