Lifehacks

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 There are several things that we know we need to do, but somehow we don't get around to doing them.  Multiple reasons - we are lazy, we forget, it doesn't seem important but at some level we know its the right thing to do and we resist it.

I see this with my kids when its time to brush their teeth. On some level, I get it - When you are a teenage boy, hygiene isn't  really a top concern- which also probably explains why I was a virgin for so long.

The point of this post is for me to list down a few things that work for me - I'm going to call them lifehacks because that's how I think of them. They aren't unique ideas - you probably have heard of them or even implement them occasionally. But these have often helped me the most.


Lifehack #1 - Goal Setting


I set up 2 or 3 goals for the year in January. These are written down and revisited once a month.


My Goals for 2026


  1. Write Book 3 of the Waking Dead series
  2. Pitch my non-fiction to a non Indian publisher
  3. Write the synopsis (about 3000 words) for a new project for next year - a historical fiction Ive been thinking about for a while.


And that's it. 1 big hard goal, I time intensive goal and one synopsis that im not sure about yet, but it worth at least attempting so my mind can focus on the idea.

These goals should be things that push you forward. I have a goal on Goodreads to read a 100 books a year and usually I come pretty close, but that's a fun goal. The goals should be productive.


Lifehack #2 - Eat the Frog


Got this from a self help book called 'Eat the Frog.' Essentially, do the hardest task you have for the day first and the rest of the day looks easier.

In 2026, i discovered that my back really isnt in good shape. Inflamed nerves, a weak muscle near the spine and the only thing that can really do the trick is to swim and lose weight.

Now, i like swimming provided the water is nice and warm. But if I wait for it to be warm, I tend to get lazy and eventually end up skipping the swim. Also, i like the idea of swimming when I know its not necessary-Im doing it for fun. being told its essential for my flexibility make it feel like a chore.

That's where this lifehack comes in. For the past month, I drop the kids to school , get to Delta swimming complex which is close to where i live and plunge into the Olympic sized pool and refuse to exit until I've finished at least 12 lengths - which is about 600 meters. The water is a bit cold, but I keep muttering 'eat the frog' and I power through. At the back of my head, it still feel like a task I need to check off my list, but after this one chore, the rest of the day feels so much better


Lifehack #3 - Eliminate distractions

Id love to own a PS5, but I know I'll be on it  all the time. So I haven't bought one.

I've also set myself a rule - No TV in the morning - Instead after my swim, I read 

It links up to the next life hack as well - when there are chocolates ,biscuits and chips in the house, I tend to munch on those. If they aren't around, I eliminate the distraction 


Lifehack #4 - How to lose weight

This one's highly effective but I'll just save this for my next post

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