I like efficiency. Sometimes life feels like a puzzle. Solving the puzzle means achieving the ultimate efficiency. How do I fit as many dishes as possible into the dishwasher? How do I pack everything I need in this small suitcase? Interestingly, I found there are different solutions to those similar problems. Just like when solvingContinue reading “Tightly Packed”
Category Archives: Organisation
Multi-Tasking is For The Weak
Don’t get me wrong. I love to multi-task. The pressure of handling multiple tasks at the same time, the sense of accomplishment when I’m done… Here’s the thing, though. I try to multi-task only when I can afford to waste time or make mistakes. If time is of the essence, I focus on a singleContinue reading “Multi-Tasking is For The Weak”
Don’t I Know You From Somewhere?
I have hundreds of contacts on my phone. Over the years I’ve added friends, family, colleagues, clients, recruiters, service providers and many, many other contacts to my phone. The list has become so long it’s hard to manage. Finding a contact has become like going through the Yellow Pages. If the number of people onContinue reading “Don’t I Know You From Somewhere?”
A Sharp Corner
I am often tempted to take shortcuts. What could possibly go wrong if I don’t wear my seat belt, it’s a short ride anyway. What could possibly happen if I delay scanning this document – I’ll get to it later. The answer is everything. Everything can go wrong. And often, it will. When it does,Continue reading “A Sharp Corner”
Suck It
I don’t think I’m a messy eater. However, by the end of a meal, there are sometimes some crumbs left on the table. I don’t know how they got there, but somehow they did. I used to go and get the dishcloth and wipe the table. But that’s a bit of a hassle and aContinue reading “Suck It”
Kitchen Joe
I like smart solutions. There’s something elegant about a smart solution to a problem. It’s interesting how sometimes we are not even aware of a problem until we see the solution. One place where I seldom think of the problem before I encounter a solution is the kitchen. I work with what I have, andContinue reading “Kitchen Joe”
Happy Halfversary!
Today’s OptimisingMyLife’s 6 months birthday! This is a good opportunity for me to talk about birthdays. I forgot a good friend’s birthday. I felt terrible. How could this happen? He never forgets mine. And then I realised I’ve grown to depend on Facebook to remind me of people’s birthdays. I’m not on Facebook as oftenContinue reading “Happy Halfversary!”
Nice and Tidy
Appearance matters. I noticed that when I let myself go and don’t bother with tidying up, it has a snowball effect. What starts as a cup left on the coffee table soon becomes a messy home. The same is true for code. If I don’t keep a high bar, soon enough the whole thing isContinue reading “Nice and Tidy”
It’s Raining… Umbrellas?
It’s been roughly seven years since I moved to London. One thing I learned about London is you always want to have an umbrella (or a brolly, if you’re local) handy. You never know when it’s going to start raining. I used to buy them from just any old store on the street for £2Continue reading “It’s Raining… Umbrellas?”
99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall
There are many aspects of my life I could improve. I could be spending less time, less money, less effort. But I can’t address all of these improvements at once. Where do I start? This is a known problem, also known as the Theory of Constraints. Software engineering has a solution. The idea is toContinue reading “99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall”
Optimising My Life 