As I was going through older notes from the last few years, I stumbled on one titled “Current Challenges”. This note was me documenting whatever obstacles I was up against at that time. And as I went through each list, 99% of those challenges are no longer there. From the small ones to the big ones. All gone. I recommend you do the same. Take the time every few months and make a dated list of anything that’s bothering you. This small list is a simple way to steer your life in the direction you want to go. Identify. Document. Adjust.
Twin boys. Toddler daughter. Hospital Tech Support. Writer. Runner. Gamer. Creating in public again.*
Tips
Reduce White Point
Have you ever needed your phone to be dimmer than the lowest brightness? I didn’t think it was needed, or that it was even possible, until recently.
But in a pitch-black room, even the lowest brightness is too bright. That’s where this accessibility feature comes in. I searched through accessibility, and discovered the Reduce White Point feature, and learned a few tricks that would help dim the screen even more.
To find it, go to Settings, Accessibility, Display & Text Size, Reduce White Point. But I turned this option into two shortcuts (Dim, Bright), and then an automation that dims the screen when it’s time for bed, and brightens it when the sun comes up.
After downloading those two shortcuts, create an automation shortcut that runs the Dim Screen shortcut when bedtime starts, and then create another automation that runs the Dim Screen at sunrise.
A Beam of Light
That little orange button on the side of the watch. I use it constantly throughout the week. For one simple thing. A flashlight. There’s always a dark area to walk through. When Rose wakes up, or when I need a bottle of water in the middle of the night, or if I’m leaving my office and walking back into the house. As soon as I enter a dark space, without thinking, I press the little orange button and a beam of light brightens up the area. I’m still fascinated by how simple and quick this process is.
Using Streaks
Meditating. Log weight. Time in daylight. Run two miles. Log food (but also burn more calories than I consume). One hundred push-ups. One hundred sit-ups. Six different habits being tracked daily using the Streaks app. The ones with the hearts next to them are monitored automatically, thanks to the Health app (which is connected to the Apple Watch and my scale).
Netflix Has Audiobooks
Did you know that Netflix has audiobooks? Not really, but close. Press the “Audio & Subtitles” button and select “Audio Description”. Now you’ll get a narrator breaking down each moment for you. I cut the grass last week while listening to an episode of The Sandman, and the audio description explained every scene to me. (“With an uneasy look, he turns his attention back to the house”).
Space Between Time
Something I learned years ago: When planning out your day, don’t bounce around from one thing to the next without space. Instead, give yourself extra buffer time between each event or task.
If you have to be somewhere at noon, leave at eleven, or ten. Give yourself enough time to not rush, and to do smaller things that are similar or nearby. Most importantly, give yourself the mental space and clarity to not be overwhelmed as you transition to the next moment.
We can call this rounding out the day. In designer terms, you’re taking away the harsh lines. Do this for everything in your day, and you’ll end the day feeling much more fulfilled.