Post: #1

I'm 40, and a big fan of life hacks. Sometimes it takes sudden and unconventional action to change the direction of your day-to-day life. In the last several months, I've done a few, and am wondering what others have done.

I have:

• Started going to sleep no later than 9pm.
• Started a passive income business.
• Started a low-carb diet.
• Started a daily exercise routine.
• Started learning a new language.
• Started to learn a new musical instrument.
• Stopped using any other method but exhaustion to fall asleep.
  

I have not been this happy with myself in years.

I am now falling quickly and gently asleep at 8-9pm, because I've had a nice, long, and productive day. As a result of going to sleep so early, I get up at 3-4am.

This gives me time to work on my passive income business. I've always been artistic, and have finally made use of that by designing t-shirts that I sell on ebay/etsy/skreened/others. This is generating small, positive, cash-flow. I enjoy the time I spend on the designs, so there is really no cost to this, to speak of.

I noticed my weight 140->158 @ 5.9" was starting to effect me. In the sense that I was having a harder time fitting into my dressier clothes and I honestly felt that I was being led around by my gut. With a pretty strict low-carb diet, I dropped from 157 to 143 in a month. I feel so much better. I LOOK better too because...

I now have a daily exercise routine. Simple, 20m. I do some basic stretches of each muscle in sets of about 20, and I lift some laughable 10lb weights in reps of 20 each time I walk by them. It is working, as pathetic as that sounds.

I started learning Ukranian, using Duo-Lingo. I do it via my iPhone. The fact that it switches from the standard to Cyrillic keyboard automatically makes this so easy to do. My ancestors are eastern European, so this really is rewarding, even if I have so little connection to them now.

I bought an accordion on Ebay. It cost me $50 and a little more to have serviced. I have always had a little knack for piano, and the coordination and mental energy it takes to learn to do three things at once (play piano, play bass buttons, push and pull the bellows) is a real and fun challenge. I love it, and its a great instrument. Laugh away, gents.

Finally, I've given up using any other method to fall asleep but just TIREDNESS. You all can figure out what I mean. Getting up early, waking up naturally without an alarm at 3:30-4am, has given me a natural and healthy sleep cycle. Unisom, alcohol, and other means are TOTALLY unnecessary. I am now out like a light.

I would love to hear other stories and other ideas. It is remarkable how the body adjusts when you make these kinds of changes. I am constantly amazed, and impressed.

Cheers,
Ace

Post: #2

I don't have another story - but I hope you keep posting in this thread.

G

Post: #3

Sounds like a great improvement.... something I should look into!

Post: #4

9pm is excessively early in my opinion, but the rest is good stuff.

Post: #5

Welcome Ace, good post.

Post: #6

Something that I have adopted is drinking loads more water my skins feels better, less headaches and less fatigue.

My recent discovery is taking a nap, not a snooze on a sofa, a proper get into bed and take an hour or so sleep. It really refreshes me and improves my concentration if I'm working on a project through the evening or going out somewhere.

Post: #7

Thanks for the kinds replies. I agree, nine seems early... But I do have the advantage that my wife and kids also check out early. So, getting to bed early and waking up when my body decides as opposed to using a clock generally feels amazing. Having 3-4 hours of quiet time is nothing to sneeze at.

Next challenge... unloading all the "stuff" and simplifying my spaces (home office, actual office, attic, basement)...

Very close to my goal (140,5'9"). Happy to msg anyone advice. Great community. I don't use the "game" advice, happily married to one of the greatest ones. Change a few key words though, and its great advice for acheiving your goals with confidence, whatever they are.

Last comment -- turned on to roosh by gavin. Thats how i ended up here.

Post: #8

Welcome to the forum brother, I don't have much to add in terms of life hacks, but I'm glad you are making the progression in your life that you desire. Keep building/tweaking and continue to share your journey.

The game stuff is great but the forum is much, much more than that. A whole manner of topics are covered here in great depth. Observe and contribute and you will benefit a great deal I'm sure, many positive zones around here.

Post: #9

(09-22-2015 10:55 PM)GlobalMan Wrote:  9pm is excessively early in my opinion, but the rest is good stuff.

It depends on the person. Some people are ready for bed earlier, then you have people like my brother who does his best work between the hours of 9PM and 2AM.




The only one I have to add is ABS

ALWAYS

BE

NETWORKING


Case in point: not that long ago i was at church with the lady. Downsides and all that yes, but I'll debate elsewhere. They told us to greet the people near us when I noticed the guy's class ring. I talked to him after the service and it turned out that not only did he have a similar background to mine but he then put me in touch with a buddy who works at a firm I'm interested in (and is notoriously difficult to break into).


Never dismiss someone out of hand. You never know where it will lead.


Here's another good one:
Almost every task you have should go on a calendar, NOT a to-do list.

Know how much time you plan to spend on things and then do your best to stick to that plan. Leaving some buffer is a good idea. All the miscellaneous crap that doesn't really matter or isn't even remotely time sensitive (e.g. learning a new recipe you've been wanting, reading up on stuff, tiny "convenience" errands) should be on your to-do list which you reference when you are in a buffer time or finish a task early.

Post: #10

(09-23-2015 09:30 PM)Easy_C Wrote:  Here's another good one:
Almost every task you have should go on a calendar, NOT a to-do list.

Know how much time you plan to spend on things and then do your best to stick to that plan. Leaving some buffer is a good idea. All the miscellaneous crap that doesn't really matter or isn't even remotely time sensitive (e.g. learning a new recipe you've been wanting, reading up on stuff, tiny "convenience" errands) should be on your to-do list which you reference when you are in a buffer time or finish a task early.

This is great, thanks. I have a habit or making to do lists and having them pile up at work and at home.

Post: #11

I am also using to do lists but I add timeframes to each "big" task. The small tasks are at the end of the to do list with no timeframe. I only write important appointments on my calendar (uni exams, flight or train departures, basically everything that is not daily life) to keep my calendar clean and organized. To manage my to do lists I use Evernote which synchronizes the lists on my smartphone with the one on my computer. I also use Evernote to keep track of all my daily expenses and to write down business ideas to make sure I don't forget them.