However distant our schooldays, the start of the academic year makes everyone want to turn over a new leaf, to work harder and smarter; to be better. None of us has the whole answer but everyone has a tiny thing that works for them, and this list is based on the hope that some of those tiny things might work for others too. I asked busy people, organised people, parents, experts and Guardian readers about the one thing they do that makes them feel marginally more on top of everything.
1. Create a correspondence corner
This is my tip: corral all greetings cards, postcards and envelopes into a single drawer or box. Add stamps. You are now a fully actualised adult and do not need to continue reading this article (joke, joke).
2. Turn off self view on video calls
“Everyone else can still see you, but you don’t have to stare at your bad hair day for 12 hours straight.” Lydia, reader
3. Try a triple list
The first of several list suggestions on this, er, list. “Every day I list three things I must do: one annoying task (eg, post letter), one uncomfortable one (eg, attend gym class) and one painful one (eg, no sugar). Having three of varying discomfort means I am more likely to do the lesser ones as a way to productively procrastinate on the bigger one.” Fionnula, reader
4. Sort your boxes
Take 10 minutes to tackle the inevitable plastic boxes and lids situation in your kitchen. Recycle the ones you can’t match.
5. Set – and communicate – financial boundaries
“It’s important to establish and maintain clear financial boundaries, especially with friends and family,” says Bola Sol, the author of Your Money Life: How to Afford the Future You Want. “Communicate your limits assertively to avoid being pushed into financial commitments that hinder your own goals. This can be as simple as deciding not to lend money unless you’re sure it won’t disrupt your budget, or prioritising your savings over social spending.”
6. Have a place for your keys
A hook or bowl for keys somewhere convenient avoids almost infinite pain.
7. And label other people’s
You might think you’ll remember the Lego Stormtrooper keyring is for your neighbours’ back door, but you won’t.
8. Become a refill person
Refill shops stock far more than you’d expect, from shower gel to snacks. The thing that got me using mine regularly was the realisation that you can take any old receptacle along – no need for impeccable Tupperware. I now bring old bubble bath bottles and plastic bags; the important thing is to go.
9. Manage your mail
“The key thing is to handle it as soon as it comes into your home,” says professional organiser Rachel Cordingley of the decluttering service A Tidy Mind. “Have a paper recycling bin by the door or letterbox to get rid of all junk mail immediately.” Cordingley also recommends putting an identity protection roller stamp by the door or letterbox – this is a quick way to obscure your personal details on post you want to chuck.
10. Do dog walk prep
Take poo bags off the roll and open them pre-walk, especially in winter when you’ll be wearing gloves.
11. Monitor passports
Set a “renew passport” reminder for six months to a year before your and your family members’ passports expire, depending on your travel plans. Also keep digital scans of everyone’s passports somewhere you can easily find them.
12. Manage subscriptions
This is boring and probably shaming, but so worthwhile. Go through bank statements for any regular payments you don’t recognise or can’t remember and check whether you are still paying subscriptions for things you don’t want or need.
13. But use them strategically
“If you need something regularly, put it on an automated subscription,” says Alex Morgan of the Mambition podcast, which explores the challenges of working motherhood. This can be useful for repeat purchases such as nappies, dishwasher tablets, contact lenses or pet food.
14. Pre-sort washing
“I bought a laundry hamper with three compartments, then trained my household to sort by darks, lights and whites. Now there’s no more sorting through piles of washing. When one section is full, I just put that load on.” Anna, reader
15. Just do one thing
“I try to make one phone call, send one email or complete one form a day – anything I can do to keep on top of personal admin so it does not overwhelm me.” Anita, reader
16. Turn off notifications
“Notifications are horrible for your concentration and focus,” says Stefan van der Stigchel, professor of cognitive psychology at Utrecht University and the author of Concentration: Staying Focused in Times of Distraction. “If there’s the possibility of new information, the brain will look for it.” Don’t let your email provider or an app decide what matters.
17. Build in travel slack
My husband is pathologically punctual, so I asked him his secret. “Always add 10% on to the average journey time when factoring when to set off,” apparently.
18. Consider your digital legacy
Make plans for your digital life after your death so your online accounts are in the hands of someone you trust. Apple users can designate a legacy contact for their Apple ID, and James Norris of the Digital Legacy Association has set up the My Wishes website, where you can create a digital will, free of charge.
19. Monitor use-by dates
“We have a magnetic calendar on the fridge door, along with a pen on a string. When we unload the groceries into the fridge, we write down the item next to its use-by date. This means we can glance at the fridge door and know that we have to use the sausages tonight, and pop that curry in the freezer because both it and the ravioli need to be used by tomorrow. It’s also incredibly handy for deciding what’s for dinner – we just pick what’s next on the list.” Cat, reader
20. Do a passive wardrobe audit
“At the start of the year, turn all your hangers the wrong way round. By the end of the year, if anything still isn’t facing the right way, get rid of it: if you haven’t worn it for a year, you probably won’t.” Rebecca, reader
21. Carry ‘vex money’
Always carry enough cash to get you out of danger or trouble if other methods fail – a taxi fare at least.
22. Keep track of scissors
Nothing vanishes faster in my home than scissors. My friend Arianna keeps her kitchen pair permanently tied to a drawer with string.
23. Unsubscribe
One day a week, I commit to finding and using the “unsubscribe” button every time an unwanted email arrives. It’s no inbox zero, but it gradually helps reduce the cognitive noise in my life.
24. Decide once
Kendra Adachi’s bestselling book The Lazy Genius Way is full of life-simplification ideas. I like: “Decide once.” Basically, decide how you want to do something, then stick to it, freeing up your brain for other things. It works best for me on gifts. House-warming: bottle of nice olive oil. Child under 11: book. Child over 11: money.
25. Prepare for gift emergencies
Speaking of gifts, keep a few nice non-perishables on hand: bath stuff, plain taper candles or a pleasing tea towel are all good. If you happen to have recycled wrapping paper or fancy bags, put them in the same place; if not, don’t worry – no wrapping is a valid ecological choice.
26. Hack sun protection
Keep sunscreen by your door keys so you remember to apply when you go out. I also keep a lip salve-style stick in my handbag; a jacket pocket or laptop case works for non-handbag-carriers.
27. Instigate micro-tidies
“I started doing random three-to-five-minute timed sessions – during a break between episodes of a Netflix binge, or after finishing a task for work. Three to five minutes feels attainable, and I’m able to push myself through it pretty easily because I can see a set finish line.” Megan, reader
28. Make mixed nut and seed jars
This is an easy way to up your plant count (assuming you aren’t allergic). “We have a nut jar and a seed jar … easy to sprinkle over food or snack upon.” Matt, reader
29. Be data-driven
Knowing what you’re doing helps you work out if you want to do it. “I created a spreadsheet with all my beauty items. I was starting to become a bit of an impulse buyer. Now when I see the amount I own, it makes me shudder.” Anisah, reader
30. Plant bulbs
It feels very adult remembering to plant something you will enjoy four or five months later. You don’t need a garden, just a windowsill: muscari – grape hyacinths – work well in pots and are very cheery.
31. Create pleasing pockets of neatness
One friend swears by a “well-organised sock drawer”; another believes in “neatly folded knickers”. Many Guardian contributors are evangelical about making their beds in the morning.
32. Draw up a reusable holiday checklist
“For going away we have typed printable lists of all the things we need. Why try to remember what you need from scratch every time? Instead print off the list, cross out what’s not applicable to this trip and then start to gather it all in. All the main items – pyjamas, toothbrush, coats – have a tick box. It takes a bit of time to set up, but the reduction in stress and not forgetting the passports is worth it.” Alison, reader
33. Alphabetise your spices
Quick, easy and actually useful. Who knew you had eight jars of cumin?
34. Try a shared calendar
“Google Calendar has changed my life. I have access to my husband’s schedule and he can see mine. Absolutely everything goes in, even reminders to book biannual hygienist appointments.” Avital, reader
35. Minimise morning pain
“I set out all my clothes and pack my workbag the night before so I can just throw on my clothes in the morning and go, like a firefighter,” says Guardian reader Emily. Another reader, Ciara, extends this to kids: “A separate pile for each family member to make the morning quicker and hopefully avoid arguments!”
36. Have less kitchen stuff
“I don’t have cupboards full of mugs; I put some away. Having fewer in circulation makes me wash up more frequently.” Tom, reader
37. Save cash
“In a bid to save money, I stash cash in envelopes organised in a folder. I do this monthly in order to have enough money put by for events like Christmas, our kids’ birthdays, summer holiday activities and family days out – each event has its own labelled envelope.” Kasmine, reader
38. Pick your moment when making plans
“For any undertaking (a trip, a house move, a work project), I sit down and visualise what needs to happen in my day, or week with key steps. I only do this when I’m not tired or hungry, because otherwise I know I’ll misjudge what needs to be done.” Solenn, reader
39. Master stain removal
Nancy Birtwhistle’s Green Living Made Easy (a treasure trove of ways to feel like a functioning adult, sustainably) is full of stain removal magic. Her teaspoon of eco washing-up liquid combined with a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda, rubbed in with an old toothbrush, is great for sun cream, fake tan and makeup stains.
40. Have a basic first-aid kit
No one expects you to be ready for microsurgery, but a mixed box of plasters, wound dressings and blister plasters in your kitchen or bathroom is sensible to keep around. St John Ambulance has a suggested list.
41. Trick yourself into hydration
Reader Emm decants water into a less intimidating, small glass. For another reader, Sam, the secret is “having at least two different flavours of squash going at once, so there’s enough interesting options to convince my brain the dopamine hit of a fun flavour is worth the bother of getting up”.
42. Stop multitasking
“It feels efficient, but many scientific studies have shown that’s not the case,” says Van der Stigchel. When you’re planning your day: “Block it in such a way that you have focused attention on one thing when that’s important to you.” Make sure you communicate your plan to people around you. “Inform everyone, ‘I’m going to really need to focus on this one thing – please don’t disturb me.’”
43. Breathe
“I have Post-its around my house – on the fridge door, on my laptop, the bathroom mirror – with the word ‘breathe’ on them. Every time I see them I take a minute and slow my breathing, which slows my heart rate and lowers my feelings of stress.” Catherine, reader
44. Have sewing stuff
Make a place – traditionally a Royal Dansk biscuit tin – to put buttons as they fall off (or spares when provided), thread, needles and pins.
45. Use phone reminders
“I automate all reminders on my phone. The most useful one has been the waste reminder, which is on fortnightly repeats so I always know which to put out and am the proud ‘binfluencer’ of our road! I also set a reminder for every birthday in my calendar so I get a notification a week beforehand. I have recurring reminders for meal plans, cleaning tasks and exercise sessions, as well as sports kit reminders for my son. It has really helped when I’m spinning lots of plates and clears some bandwidth in my brain.” Vicki, reader
46. Keep bags for life in the car
Or bike basket, or handbag – whatever you take shopping.
47. Automate savings
Sol recommends setting up automatic transfers to a savings account each time you get paid. “This small action ensures that you’re consistently building a financial buffer, even if you occasionally forget to set aside money manually. Over time, these automated contributions can significantly help in achieving your financial goals.”
48. Keep supermarket basil alive
When you buy a pot, tip it out and gently separate the contents: botanist James Wong recommends splitting it into four, snipping the weediest sprouts to keep five or so of the strongest, then planting each clump in compost and watering well.
49. ICE your phone
ICE stands for “in case of emergency”: you can add important medical info (allergies, blood group, health conditions) and an emergency contact on your phone so it’s accessible even from your locked screen. For Android users this feature is under “Safety and emergency” and in Apple it’s in your Health app.
50. Implement an after-school routine
To minimise the morning rush, devise a home-time routine for school-age kids: empty bookbag, backpack or lunchbox, prepare clothes for the next day and hand over any bits of important paper before relaxing.
51. Create a photographic paper trail
Speaking of important bits of paper (permission slips, forms, etc), take pictures of them when they cross your path. If you’re feeling extra-organised, create a “docs” album on your phone for easy retrieval.
52. Seek virtual or IRL accountability
Try logging into a livestreamed shared study and work session, such as Study Together or StudyStream. Alternatively, tell someone what you want to achieve today, and ask them to hold you to it.
53. Have a separate bills account
“Open a new bank account, change your direct debits to that, and transfer the money to cover the month on payday. Everything that’s left is yours.” John, reader
54. Ground yourself
“Stand on the earth, preferably in bare feet, and ground yourself. As a middle-aged woman, I have felt invisible and unimportant, and I’ve spent many years in the background at work. I didn’t think I was allowed to take up space. But the feeling of standing with skin touching earth, reaching back to my shoeless ancestors, has taught me that I am here. And it’s enough.” Susan, reader
55. Don’t run out
“How not to run out of crucial household supplies: always have at least two. As soon as the backup gets opened, it goes on the shopping list and you buy a new backup.” Anne, reader
56. Try coffee planking
“Every morning I get up and make coffee for my wife and me. One cup takes one minute 18 seconds to brew, and every morning for the last 12 months I have planked for this period. Simple thing, using the dead time.” Anonymous reader
57. Sort out socks
People are evangelical about chucking all your old socks out and buying 25 identical pairs, but I promised myself this list wouldn’t require serious purchases, so here’s reader Cathy’s tip. “It’s a very small thing but it’s gamechanging: hang pairs of socks next to each other on the dryer. That way, when you put the dry laundry away, you don’t spend ages looking for pairs and you can easily see if there’s an odd one floating around.”
58. And sheets
“One colour only per bed, size, room, person,” reader Alexandra advises, but I like white, meaning every bed change unleashes a festival of impotent cursing. Podcaster Alex Morgan suggests putting complete sets of bedding into their associated pillowcase. If yours don’t match, a coloured tag stitched or ironed on can help you work out what’s what.
59. Get dressed
“Always get dressed even if you have no plans, to be ready for whatever the day may bring.” Kieran, reader
60. Tackle passwords
It’s time to retire your old faithful (you know the one). Consider moving to a password manager – Google and Apple offer default ones; alternatively Which? recommends Bitwarden, Dashlane and 1Password.
61. Make Post-it lists
“Make a list – but write it on a Post-it. It fits maybe six tasks, so it helps me prioritise and it’s never an overwhelming amount. It’s easy to tailor it to unpredictable timeframes and to the amount of energy I have. If I’m feeling a bit drained, I can set myself some easier, short jobs that mean I’ll get a boost from ticking something off before I tackle something meatier.” Fip, reader
62. Stock up on change
“Fill an envelope or jar with pound coins at the start of the school year for any random collections.” Laura, reader
63. Master the freezer
“A notebook lives on top of the freezer, with a page for each shelf, as well as a pen and sticky labels. Everything gets labelled and written down, then scribbled out when eaten. Once a page becomes hard to read, I copy what’s left over to a fresh one. It’s a small thing, but the freezer is no longer a mystery.” Ros, reader
64. Create single-category boxes
“We have a swimming box – all the costumes, wild swimming gear and snorkels get dumped in there. It makes getting my daughter to the pool or nipping out for a brief open water swim much more manageable.” Rachael, reader
65. Say no quickly
If you have to say no to something (or want to – that’s allowed!), do it immediately. That gives the asker maximum time to find alternatives.
66. Budget
“For the last 30 years, I’ve devised a budget plan for every month. I allocate specific amounts for food, bills, toiletries, leisure, kids’ things, etc and really try to keep within that budget. Every couple of days I update each column, especially more recently as it’s so easy to spend money with three children and when tapping my card at the till. I calculate at the end of the month whether I have gone over or under for each category. It may sound boring, but over the years I have often been struggling financially, yet with careful budgeting I have managed to live within my means.” Sharon, reader
67. Habit stack
This – in essence, combining a habit you already have with one you want – comes from the optimiser’s bible, James Clear’s Atomic Habits; I didn’t realise I was doing it when I put my vitamin D spray next to the teabags, but it really works.
68. Travel with a back-up book
Delays can mean you read more than you expect, or you might discover you hate the book you have chosen. Bringing (or downloading) an extra is what my friend Thom calls “a power bank for the soul”.
69. Treat your home like a cafe
“I always do a roundup of the house every night: a quick 10-15 minutes cleaning the kitchen, tidying the living room, making sure there are no dishes, that the benches are cleaned down. It makes mornings easier and more pleasant when you don’t walk into mess. Think of it as if you are treating your home as a cafe: you wouldn’t close the cafe and leave it messy and unprepared for the person on the next shift.” Nico, reader
70. Log your reading
“It reminds me that I have an intellectual life and brain beyond the endless (if lovely) grind of being a mother to four children.” J, reader
71. Download what3words
You don’t have to be an extreme hiker to need this ultra-precise geo-location tool: it’s ideal for directing emergency services if there is an accident (and sometimes for helping out lost delivery drivers).
72. Pick up the phone
“End it with a phone call. Too many emails, why are we still texting about this …? Pick up the phone and the answer will be known in about 33 seconds. It’s a timesaver! You’ll solve the problem and get to know someone better.” Heather, reader
73. Take a moment
“I set aside time to sit quietly each day. Even 10 minutes is beneficial. Regardless of what unwinds in this time, it feels a kind and dignified way to step away from the busyness of the world.” Rachel, reader
74. Shop your cupboards
“Quickly checking and ‘shopping’ our shelves before we head off to the shops generally prevents us having what feels like 100 tins of tuna falling out of our kitchen cupboard.” Kasmine, reader
75. Make a reminder sign
“I got my 10-year-old to make a ‘Have you got?’ sign for the door so it’s the last thing she sees before she walks out. Also, we let her fail: it helps to remember stuff if you know the consequences of not remembering stuff. It’s really hard but I’m working on not ‘rescuing’ her.” Vicky, reader
76. Categorise your paperwork
Cordingley recommends splitting paperwork into seven streamlined categories: household, financial, medical, technical, motor, important and mementos. The “important” are best stored in a home safe, and she cautions that mementos should be really precious, not a catch-all for “every greetings card ever received”.
77. Practise proactive blanky management
The minute your baby or child gets attached to a soft toy or blanky, be vigilant to lose-proof it. Cut blankets or scarves into smaller pieces; if it’s a soft toy, buy in triplicate or, better still, ask someone who wants to buy your kid a gift to get one.
78. Use your local tailor
From 10 quid hems to more elaborate mending, get into the habit of dealing with clothing snafus quickly (my tailor does same-day repairs at no extra cost).
79. Store spare parts
Put any spare parts and essential extra widgets for gadgets and machinery into a freezer bag as soon as they enter your life and label the bag.
80. Declump your sugar
To revive lumpy, unusable sugar, Birtwhistle recommends putting it in the microwave for one minute covered with a sheet of damp kitchen towel, then declumping with a fork or wooden spoon. If you don’t have a microwave, a warm oven (50C) for approximately half an hour also does the job.
81. Keep track of praise and thanks
Reader Sarah, who works as a teacher, keeps every thank-you card she has ever been given: “When I’ve had a rough day at school, I flick through them to remember some of the lives I have had an impact on.” Another reader, Lewis, saves positive messages about himself: “When times are tough or I’m feeling down, I dig through it and remind myself of the good things people have shared with me over the years.”
82. Try Pomodoro, but be agnostic
Van der Stigchel finds productivity and time-blocking techniques such as Pomodoro helpful, but with caveats. Don’t stick to the recommended 25-minute work period – “That might be too short for some people, or too long” – and never stop if you’ve found your flow. “Flow is so special: go for it!” Also, don’t use your mandated breaks to check social media; chat with someone, or even better, go outside. “You have to do something that really relaxes your brain.”
83. Wear an apron
Always spilling stuff on yourself? Me too. Get into the habit of wearing an apron to cook and – if you’re as toddler-messy as me – eat.
84. Bullet journal
Lots of people recommended the “bullet journal” method: essentially an analogue task management system using bullet points you create for yourself in a notebook. Its inventor, Ryder Carroll, explains how it works on the Bullet Journal website. You can log and keep track of tasks, events and thoughts, daily, weekly and monthly.
85. Apply hand cream last thing
“Before I turn out the light, I slather my hands in hand cream. I have the softest hands and have been complimented on them many times!” Sarra, reader
86. Try the ‘Sunday basket’
There’s a whole philosophy and kit around the “Sunday basket”, but drilled down to its basics, I like the idea: dump everything you need to deal with in one basket, then tackle it at a fixed time on Sunday.
87. Track your baby
Use an app to manage new baby overwhelm – Baby Tracker sounds a bit dystopian, but actually helps log feeds (and which boob you have fed from) and naps when you are too sleep-deprived to remember your own name.
88. Stockpile silica packets
Keep silica gel packets: they have myriad uses, from stopping tools rusting to keeping important documents dry.
89. Sign up to give blood (if you can)
UK stocks are critically low at the moment. Signing up online at blood.co.uk takes five minutes, and nothing makes me feel more purposeful and worthwhile than giving a pint.
90. Label stuff in storage
“This is very simple but can prevent a lot of wasted time and frustration: when packing things away (clothes, bedding, etc) use clear bags so you can easily see what is inside. If you need to use cardboard boxes, make a note of the contents on the outside in black felt pen.” Sheila, reader
91. Use up ‘waste’ time
“I try to use small segments of available time to accomplish something that I have been putting off. For example, if I have 15 minutes before the Uber arrives, I make an appointment or I straighten out a bit of my paperwork. By using small bits of found time, I knock individual items off my list without a huge investment in time or emotion.” Susan, reader
92. Meal plan
Stop expecting the divine light of revelation to strike when you open the fridge at 6pm, and plan ahead. Some people have a full colour-coded monthly planner of meals, but it needn’t be any more sophisticated than sitting down once a week and making a note of what you have got in, what you plan to eat over the next few days, and what you will need to buy to make that happen.
93. Get outside every day
Reader Charlotte says it kept her sane when her son was tiny; for Cristina it’s a lunchtime habit; Sameena goes after work; mine is a non-negotiable morning routine. We all need air and daylight.
94. Have a travel drawer
Keeping adapters, local money, clear plastic toiletry bags and transport cards in one place makes preparing for a trip (almost) painless. Reader Lee suggests taking “an extension lead with four or five sockets on instead of multiple adapters for plugs”.
95. Pick pockets
Not literally – choose garments and bags with pockets for additional convenience and storage potential.
96. Book holidays early
You’ll get better rates, more choice, and you can spread the pain of payment.
97. Devise a ‘quick job’ strategy
Reader Natalie uses the “American Pie test”: chores that are easily completed in the eight and a half minutes the song lasts are mentally reframed as quick and easy. “Once you have a benchmark to work from (ie, vacuuming takes about the same time as washing up), you don’t even have to listen to American Pie on repeat,” she adds, reassuringly.”
98. Embrace (healthy) convenience
“I used to feel like buying chopped veg was cheating, but now buy ready-chopped frozen onion, and packs of mixed stir-fry veg. Maybe I’ll get back to taking time over making food, but right now speed is key.” Alex, reader
99. Assign everyone a clean laundry container
If you’re old enough to carry a basket, you’re old enough to put your own laundry away.
100. Accept you’ll never get your life together – and that’s OK
Author Oliver Burkeman’s new book Meditations for Mortals is all about embracing “imperfectionism”. Allow yourself to imagine, he says, that you’ll never actually sort your life out. “Never fully get on top of your work, never become a really disciplined exerciser or healthy eater … always feel behind with email.” It might feel bad initially, “but then comes the sense of a heavy burden having been lifted. The pressure’s off.” If nothing else, we can all try that.
