Here are this week’s Life Pro Tips.
1. If you offer someone a drink and they say they don’t drink, unless you’re very close to this person, just let it go. Asking them why they don’t drink could make them uncomfortable, or give them unwanted attention.
People stop drinking for a lot of reasons, but often when asked why they suddenly find themselves being questioned, doubted, and that others around them accuse them of judging their own drinking.
If you just say “ok” and move on, you could be preventing a potentially awkward or uncomfortable situation.
2. Stay away from the no sleep/hustler lifestyle. It creates unsustainable expectations, encourages an unhealthy lifestyle, and promotes burnout. You’ll simply work yourself into exhaustion. Instead, learn to use your time wisely and enforce reasonable boundaries.
3. Most modern microwaves have a mute function that activates by holding start for 3 seconds.
4. Express gratitude, rather than apologize, to keep people on your side when you make a mistake.
5. When moving, pack an “open this first” box of the necessities you will need for a day or two while everything is packed.
What I recommend for the Open First box:
- One towel for every person living in the house or per bathroom (whichever is more).
- One roll of toilet paper for each bathroom
- One pot (can be used to boil water as well as prepare food)
- One pan
- Corkscrew and/or bottle opener
- Can opener
- What you need to make coffee in the morning, you can get by usually with good instant or a Melitta-style cone to make pour-over coffee into whatever.
- A sharp knife for food prep
- A pair of scissors (more that one if you use bins secured with zip ties)
- One box-cutter per person who will unpack (if you use regular boxes)
- Phone charger
- Trash bags
- Shower curtain and rings (unless it’s really skanky, otherwise, you can throw it away as soon as you get a new one, remember you would be showering the next day with it anyway)
Optional:
- If you’re eco-conscious, a plate, bowl, water glass, mug, and place-setting per person
- Trash can
- Curtains and a tension rod for the bedroom if there are no window treatments.
- A fan if you are going somewhere in the summer and the AC needs to be set-up
- Two screwdrivers, flat and Philips head, duct tape, and WD-40
Also, have a separate box for first-day bedding with a sheet (plus a top sheet if you use it), blanket, and pillow(s).
