I’ve noticed in my short existence that I tend to do many things differently from most people. Some of those things probably work just as well, whereas others make me wonder “why doesn’t everyone do this?” Here are eight things that may make you feel like you’re cheating the system, too (in no particular order):
- Walk – No, I’m not saying “go for a walk,” I’m saying design your life so that you walk more. Live close enough that you can walk/bike/razor scooter to something that you frequent whether that’s work, a grocery store, a friend’s house, a bar, or preferably – all of them. Why spend 15 minutes driving to a gym to spend half an hour on a treadmill? If you’re fortunate enough to have legs that work – use them.
- Smile – All of the time. Even when the cashier gives you the wrong change. People’s intentions are usually good, especially when they’re dealing with someone who isn’t being a dick.
- Drink Water – Or I could say “don’t drink soda or coffee.” It’s a waste of money, health, and teeth. Save your caffeine tolerance for when you really need it.
- Buy Used – I’ve already told you about my philosophy as this applies to music. Buying my clothes at a thrift store yields items that are not-so-watered-down versions of what I would get at my other favorite clothing store, and that are a fraction of the price. This strategy transfers well to books and furniture. When you buy used you get the adventure of discovery, and avoid the flat artistic experience that comes with only consuming the contemporary.
- Underorganize – There are a number things you can apply this to, but I can’t give a better example than my “inbox/outbox” method of doing laundry. Should you keep all of your financial documents etc. in a filing cabinet? Probably, but recognize when your organizing reaches the point of diminishing returns.
- Live Small – What’s that, you can’t afford a three-bedroom, three bath house with a huge yard and garage in a neighborhood where #1 is possible? Good. Then you won’t buy so much crap. You’ll save money in the long run, and you’ll be happier, too.
- Remember How Adaptable You Are – How long could you live if you were transported to the middle of a forest? You would probably surprise yourself, so don’t be afraid of perceived “big” changes in life. It’s a part of human nature to do what is necessary to reach at least previous levels of happiness, but risks succeeded will get you there and then some.
- Don’t Make Lists of Rules – or Follow Them (They All End This Way) – Such things are only made by bloggers hoping to get lots of del.icio.us bookmarks. The world is too complex to be condensed into a list of rules.
How do you cheat the system?
Daniel said,
December 14, 2005 @ 7:21 am
Great tips. I’ll try a few. Not sure if I can give up caffiene though. It’s not that easy
Jon said,
December 14, 2005 @ 7:21 am
Am I missing something? Are you cracking a joke at yourself with #8?
Josh said,
December 14, 2005 @ 7:28 am
I like the list but Living in a small-mid sized city in NW ohio this
“Buy Used ‚Äì I‚Äôve already told you about my philosophy as this applies to music. Buying my clothes at a thrift store yields items that are not-so-watered-down versions of what I would get at my other favorite clothing store, and that are a fraction of the price. This strategy transfers well to books and furniture. When you buy used you get the adventure of discovery, and avoid the flat artistic experience that comes with only consuming the contemporary.”
Is pretty difficult, See the thrift store clothes here can pass for a college attire that is o so popular right now but unless you drive ~1 1/2 to a larger city the clothes you speak of do not exist. Thankfully we do have a used music store which has “decent” used prices and selection.
Doug said,
December 14, 2005 @ 7:32 am
During slower periods (thanks to realising that not everything in life is go-go-go), I tend to write down things that I want to do later in the day. Not so much ‘need’ to do, but things that I actually want to do that I would normally forget about / be distracted from if I got caught up in every little thing that happens in the first half of the day.
kadavy said,
December 14, 2005 @ 8:05 am
I’m surprised by that Josh. I find the thrift stores in my much smaller native Omaha, Nebraska, to have better selection and be cheaper than the ones I see in Silicon Valley. I think all of the hipster thrift stores in SF snatch up all of the good stuff. You must be experiencing the same problem with the stores in Detroit and Indianapolis.
Dan D. said,
December 14, 2005 @ 9:02 am
EVERYONE SHOULD DRIVE A CHEAP MINIVAN FOR A FEW YEARS. After getting a nominal raise at my first job, I leased a pimped-out Isuzu Rodeo that ended up costing me $420 a month. Six months later I decided to start a business and that damn car payment was the bane of my existence until the 4 year lease was over.
After realizing I just paid all that money and owned NOTHING, I bought an 8 year old, used minivan from some guy in the paper and paid it off while realizing my ass was just as comfortable inside the van with a sweet stereo.
Who cares what the people outside think. They’re too busy wondering what people are saying about them anyhow.
Cyan Samurai said,
December 14, 2005 @ 10:02 am
I’m with Dan D. I’ve owned exactly ONE new-off-the-lot car, and spent plenty of time cursing it during the last year of the payments! (at least I bought it, never…NEVER lease a car, the dealership gets to sell it twice and you get nothing!)
Now I own a used Jeep Cherokee (Live in the mountains so yes I often need the 4×4), paid for in cash, and I’m not afraid to drive for fear of scratching or damaging it.
Capt. Jean-Luc Pikachu said,
December 14, 2005 @ 11:06 am
You should mention some tips for alleviating caffiene withdrawal, since people who try tip #3 will suddenly find themselves w/ ginormous headaches…
lakotapixel said,
December 14, 2005 @ 8:23 pm
I agree with every single one of those tips. It’s absolutely fantastic advice, but some people just may not be ready for it. In the Bay Area, these rules are key to happily living here. Thanks!
Derek Scruggs said,
December 14, 2005 @ 8:49 pm
Good stuff. Re: organizing, I adopted the “Getting Things Done” method from David Allen a few years ago and it changed my life. Organizing is only works if 1) it’s easy and 2) it makes your life less stressful. The principles in GTD gave me a system so good that it’s painful *not* to follow it.
I tried quitting coffee. The first few days sucked and the next month was just blah. I went back to it because I like the way it sparks my mornings.
Scott Williams said,
December 15, 2005 @ 8:46 am
I’d add meditation to this list. Give your brain a rest from all of the crap you jam into it eadh day.
kadavy said,
December 15, 2005 @ 8:53 am
Agreed on meditation, Scott. I don’t do it as often as I should, but I think that “walking” is my substitute. Its good to have some time in the day where you aren’t sitting in front of a computer.
Scott Williams said,
December 15, 2005 @ 12:27 pm
Yeah, you’re right, walking works as meditation too, as long as you aren’t plugged into the i-pod.
I like your list and try to adhere to your items. It’s much more satisfying to score a good deal on used clothes or other items. I don’t dumpster dive yet, but I never say never. Now, if I could only kick that demon caffeine out of my life …
someone said,
December 15, 2005 @ 12:31 pm
Here’s where progression took me.
Walk … sold our second car
Drink Water … haven’t had more than a half gill of booze or caffeine in ages, it tastes better when you only average a half gill a month
Buy Used … borrow or make it myself (music too)
Underorganize … married a slob
Live Small … rented apt at 7% of income, no fat mortgage
Smile and Remember How Adaptable You Are … these came naturally
Dan said,
December 15, 2005 @ 1:34 pm
I don’t agree with this philosphy, it doesn’t account for the needs of a productive professional.
Adam Heine said,
December 15, 2005 @ 6:16 pm
Dan wrote:
I disagree. Before we moved to Thailand, I was doing all of these (*pauses to double-check… Yep, all 8 of them*). I owned a condo in San Diego (paying less for mortgage than we were for rent, and owning something to boot), held a nice software engineering position making $60k+/year and climbing steadily, had a beautiful wife and two new and paid for cars that worked beautifully. Is there something more that a productive professional “needs”? I can’t think of anything.
(Side note: The whole Thailand thing ended up being an extension of many of these rules (in particular, #6 and 7), and I am no less happy. Still have the condo and the wife. I suppose I could go back to being a “productive professional” anytime I wanted, but I wouldn’t want to. That’s just my personal choice though.)
slade73 said,
December 15, 2005 @ 8:12 pm
Great list — very daoist!
Ron said,
December 16, 2005 @ 6:21 am
I agree with living small. It forces space efficiency on you. Less is more.
I live in the city and sold my car years ago and never looked back. I walk everywhere, however I count my iPod Shuffle amongst my survival gear. I get to enjoy and discover new music again (the library is a great source for new music) and it blocks out unwanted conversations, street noise, blaring car stereos, cell phone and other unwanted stress inducing sounds the big city has to offer.
Give up caffienne? It’s easy. I’ve quit many, many times.
eddie said,
December 21, 2005 @ 9:10 pm
I love it. It’s nice to stumble upon a message that talks about a better life, that doesn’t focus on purchase.
I might add:
sell your first car, invest in your house.
trade a depreciating object for an apreciating object like a kitchen or deck.
library cards are worth more than gold cards.
travel very slowly.
getting out of your routine lets you question your actions and reflect on your values.
fresh lime and fresh herbs
it’s not just the base boost button, it’s the “on” button.
thanks,consider yourself bookmarked.
eddie
Valerie said,
December 22, 2005 @ 2:02 pm
Regarding #1:
I sold my car about 3 months ago and it was the best thing that ever happened to me (and if I’m saying this during December in Chicago that’s a big deal). I walk or take the L everywhere. An unmentioned benefit of this is that you get to connect to your neighborhood more this way. Partially because you have to support the businesses near your home that you can get to on two legs, and partially because you can notice more things about the area when you are walking than when you are driving.
kadavy said,
December 23, 2005 @ 11:35 am
Valerie, what you’re talking about is exactly why you can’t really condense life into lists. The benefits of following this advice carry on to so many things. Being more in touch with your neighborhood and patronizing the same businesses leads to friendships with business owners (which sometimes leads to perks). I’ve found that it really leads to a more sustainable sense of “home.”
gochess said,
January 3, 2006 @ 4:15 pm
Is Happiness really amendable to Lifehacks?
Hey, we started a wiki page just to be systematic…
http://wiki.43folders.com/index.php/Happiness
Happy New Year!
PS - and David, thanks for all the fish…
Sam Beaven said,
January 4, 2006 @ 3:22 pm
One little comment on the books front: I’ve found one of the neatest tips is to buy a PDA.
No really.
In buying a PDA (specifically a cheap Palm Zire 31), I was able to read the contents of the Project Gutenberg Library in an easy format. Plus, less shelf space - with just the onboard 14.4 Megs you can cram a boatload of books, and with the 1 Gig MMC I recently obtained… blimey.
It’s also useful on the (more frequent than I’d like) occasions I feel it necessary to buy new books - eBooks tend to be cheaper, and there’s no shipping to contend with.
I don’t use it for organizing though. I actually have a moleskine for that…
Alan said,
January 11, 2006 @ 1:09 pm
Coffeine is contained in all my favourite products. I can’t get rid of the habbit to drink coffee in the morning or to coke at lunch time.
Annie said,
January 14, 2006 @ 3:08 pm
In regard to suggestion #8, does that apply to the list you’ve compiled? You didn’t call them rules, but regardless of what it’s called, isn’t it basically the same thing? I’m not knocking your tips (I think they’re great), just thought that last one seemed to nullify this list.
timtsoup said,
January 20, 2006 @ 6:59 pm
The easiest way to wean yourself off caffeine is:
#1- Start eating an apple with breakfast. Maybe start at half and work your way up to a whole one. I add mine to yougurt, along with nuts and banana. Apples are much more eye opening than caffeine.
#2- Tea. Now that the apple is waking you up, slowly move toward tea maybe 2x per week, then 3x, etc. Start with a rich brew via a double tea bag, then bring it down to one. Soon you may be able to get off caffeine altogether.
Roger said,
January 23, 2006 @ 11:14 am
Regarding organizing paper records, my system is very simple. At the beginning of each year, I get a plastic container with a lid that is about 10X14 inches so that it holds 8.5X11 sheets with a little to spare. As the paperwork comes in and is dealt with, it goes into the container. At the end of the year, I write the past year (2005) on it and put it on the shelf.
I know that the older stuff is near the bottom and the newer stuff is near the top. Since I so infrequently need to find old papers, the time spent is much less than if I obsessively file everything in order in separate folders in the file cabinet.
After a few years, dispose of the old stuff appropriately and re-use the container.
Rinse, lather, repeat.
Thanks for the great list, BTW.
My doctor suggested cutting back on the caffeine. I’m at one cup with breakfast and decaff items like water after that.
Life is too short to be taken too seriously.
Moose said,
April 1, 2006 @ 11:09 pm
I have the best clothes collection I have ever had because my girlfriend shops for me at ‘thrift stores’ (we call them Op Shops in Australia). For her shopping is fun, and she spends so little that she doesn’t care about me paying her back.
So I have loads of wicked gear, never go shopping, never (directly) spend a cent on clothes, and never, ever fold any of it up.
Flow like Water…
Betsy Markum said,
April 8, 2006 @ 3:17 pm
I can’t believe it, my co-worker just bought a car for $70007. Isn’t that crazy!
josh Koenig said,
April 23, 2006 @ 10:20 pm
I hate driving and would love to walk but live in LA.
Also, water kicks ass and takes names.
Michele said,
May 28, 2006 @ 6:35 pm
I love this! I can already see where I fall short. It begins with the 16oz coffee in the morning then moves on the obsessive organization and re-organization of my files, inbox and weekly projects. And then ends with my review of my daily to-do list to make sure there is a check next to each item listed.
Mark Buckman said,
June 6, 2006 @ 1:55 pm
Yes! #2 is one of the best tips I have followed for years. You’d be amazed at how much a smile can soothe the wild beast.
I used to be one to get upset, especially at bad drivers (Hence starting Platewire.com) but now I just smile and wave, strangely enough that makes them angrier, but keeps me calm
latha said,
June 7, 2006 @ 1:36 am
step 1 : I practice this , this give me energy and supress stress.
Lani Lee said,
July 19, 2008 @ 2:03 pm
I live in LA and walk almost everywhere! Just so you know you can. I chose to pay a little more on rent so I could pay a lot less in gas. I have roller blades, a skate board, and a bike that meet my different needs. I also have an old volvo a friend was donating for a tax break and donated to me instead. It sits in my garage (not collecting street cleaning tickets) and gets to go out maybe once a week to Venice beach! And me and my girlfriends usually carpool. If I have to go further than that I borrow my friends PRIUS. (i know the bad stuff about them, but can’t help using the good as much as possible) I had a $75k Toureg that I loved that took all bio diesel but times have changed and I dont live in a waterfront modern green machine any more.
Still happy. Never drank coffee, although enjoy an iced one here and there. I think my life fits into the rules with out much effort with the exception of buying used. I do buy used and borrow, steal, and dumpster dive, but I am a bit of a fashion girl and splurge once in awhile. But my home is full of vintage, my body full of water, and my faces full of smiles. And apparently my blog is full of corny crap.