Lifehacker: The Guide to Working Smarter, Faster, and Better, Third Edition

Hack 46: Make Your House a Usable Home

Level Easy

Platform All

Cost Free

Ever been on the way out the door and you can’t find your keys? Dashing around the house tearing through every nook and cranny in a stressed-out frenzy isn’t the best way to start the day, but we’ve all been there.

It’s so easy to sabotage yourself every day without even realizing it. The moment you put your keys in the pocket of the jacket you tossed over the kitchen chair, you didn’t think, “I’m going to make it really difficult for myself tomorrow morning when I have to leave for that big interview.” Yet there are so many small ways in which you can unconsciously make life harder on yourself. Personal sabotage — whether it’s in the form of convincing yourself you’ll magically remember to pick up milk at the store or thoughtlessly surfing the Web when you have a looming deadline — is a reversible habit with a little thought and planning.

In the same way a basketball teammate serves up the perfect pass for an alley-oop slam dunk, you can be your own teammate and set yourself up for success in life and work.

Take a look at your living space with a focus on usability. Your home should be a tool that helps you get things done, a space that’s a pleasure to be in, and a launch pad for daily tasks and life goals. Whether you want to relax after work, phone a family member, or keep track of a dry-cleaning receipt, there are lots of simple ways to create a living space that makes getting things done a breeze.

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