Changing the oil on a car, unclogging a toilet, tiling a bathroom…what do these have in common? They are Do It Yourself activities that may or may not come easily to you. Paying an expert to do a job effectively is worth it to many, but sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone to learn to do something handy yourself can be very satisfying. Decide on a DIY task; don’t be a dummy.
When people get greeting cards (for many occasions), many will hold on to them especially if they are particularly sentimental or humorous. Recycle them in a nontraditional way by re-sending them. Share that funny commentary with the one who originally gave it to you or spread the humor to someone new. Don’t try to hide that it is re-used either. Add commentary to previous remarks and even sign it again.
Even if you do not eat out much, having a menu on hand for your favorite food haunts is helpful when you are craving that certain something. Hard copies of menus can be kept in an envelope or electronic copies from restaurant websites can be bookmarked or kept in a folder on your computer desktop. It’s also a helpful way to make decisions when you have out of town guests and you are planning to go out for a meal. Each time you go out for a meal, grab a copy of the menu to add to your collection.
Chores around the house and yard can be daunting if they are put off for any amount of time. It can be easier than we would like to think to ignore things that can be done, especially if they are not urgent. Choose one task to do when you move from one room to the next on another errand. Is the laundry room on your way to the bathroom (we know what needs to be done there!)? Pick up any stray items that could go in the washer: socks, dish towels, a t-shirt and start a load of laundry. Then go do your business!
Many shopping websites have registers or wish-lists. Hop on one of these and create your earmarked set of items you would like. The next time you have a birthday or gift-giving occasion where you could be the recipient, let family and friends know you have pre-selected items to get you just what you want. Encourage others to create these carts too so you don’t spend hours shopping for a sweater they do not like!