Life Hacks:

Sahil Bloom’s Most Powerful Life Hacks - a series:

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

Confucius

The spirit of this quote rings true: We humans have a tendency to manufacture complexity. We make progress in our lives—personally or professionally—and decide that the best way to celebrate that progress is to sprinkle on a new bit of chaos.

It's a rather frustrating (and hilarious) species-wide trait:

We book the relaxing vacation, only to fill every moment of it with activities that leave us more drained at the end than we were at the beginning.

We get the promotion that will reduce our money stress, so we celebrate by buying the boat that is constantly in need of servicing and repairs.

We feel busy and stressed, so we cut something out of our lives, only to feel stressed about not feeling busy, so we add something back in.

We can all come together and laugh at our "complexification" of life. But after we have that good, hearty laugh, let's talk about ways to simplify it.

Here are some short, timeless insights for simplifying your world—"hacks" for your life, careers, relationships, health, money, and more...

16.  When you're starting your career, ”swallow the frog" for your boss to get ahead.

Observe your boss, figure out what they hate doing, learn to do it, and take it off their plate. It's an easy way to add value, put up a win, and build momentum.

17.  Set your emails to have a 60-second delay before sending.

You notice most mistakes immediately after hitting send —the delay allows you to catch them. Also, if you're sending an email in the heat of the moment; the delay lets you cool off and reassess if it's worth it before it enters the world.

18.  When trying to learn something new, attempt to teach it to a friend or family member.

See what questions they ask and how those questions expose gaps in your knowledge. Study more to fill in those gaps. The act of teaching is the most powerful form of learning.

45 Life Lessons That'll Put Everything Into Perspective:

Regina Brett knows a thing or two about handling life’s many curveballs. The author wrote down 50 life lessons the night before her 45th birthday after being diagnosed with breast cancer and turned them into a bestselling book: God Never Blinks 50 Lessons For Life’s Little Detours. In the decade since then, these lessons have gone viral numerous times on the internet.

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. Save for retirement, starting with your first paycheck.

9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

10. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

11. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

12. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

13. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

14. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

15. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

16. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

17. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no            one else.

18. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

19. Burn the candles; use the nice sheets; wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

20. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

21. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

22. The most important sex organ is the brain.

23. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”

25. Forgive everyone everything.

26. What other people think of you is none of your business.

27. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

28. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

29. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.                  Believe in miracles.

31. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

32. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.

33. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

34. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

35. We'd grab ours back if we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s.

36. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

37. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful, or joyful.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you are loved.

39. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

40. The best is yet to come.

41. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.

42. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

43. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.