Life Admin Life Hacks

In this episode, Mia delves into the world of circular fashion with expert Kathrin Baumann.  Discover how circular fashion can reduce your mental load and save you time in managing your kids' or your own wardrobe. Resources Little Renters [https://littlerenters.com/] - Children's clothing rental Promo code: LIFEADMINHACKS10 This provides your subscribers with a 10% (or $5) monthly discount for the first 3 month of subscription to Little Renters. The Volte [https://thevolte.com/] - Adult clothing hire For the full show notes, head to http://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/Life Admin Life Hacks. [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/podcasts/life-admin-life-hacks-podcast/episodes/2148577240] Subscribe to our Momentum newsletter [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/maintain-your-monthly-momentum] Find more inspo and tips on: 1. Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lifeadminlifehacks/] 2. Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lifeadminlifehacks] 3. LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-admin-life-hacks/?viewAsMember=true]

In this episode, Mia interviews Sharon Collon, an award-winning ADHD coach, who shares insights into the strengths and challenges of the ADHD brain and how individuals and families dealing with ADHD can get organised in a way that works for them. Resources * The Functional Family [https://www.thefunctionalfamily.com/] * ADHD Families Podcast [https://www.thefunctionalfamily.com/podcast] For the full show notes, head to http://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/Life Admin Life Hacks. [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/podcasts/life-admin-life-hacks-podcast/episodes/2148570656] Subscribe to our Momentum newsletter [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/maintain-your-monthly-momentum] Find more inspo and tips on: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lifeadminlifehacks/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lifeadminlifehacks] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-admin-life-hacks/?viewAsMember=true]

In this episode, Mia and Dinah discuss the common experience of overwhelm and share practical tips and strategies for managing it effectively. They explore the contributors to overwhelm, such as perfectionism, decision fatigue, multitasking, and comparisonitis. They emphasise the importance of mindset shifts, time management, setting boundaries, self-care, mindfulness, and organising and decluttering as key strategies for dealing with overwhelm. Resources * The Art of Adulting program [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/adulting] * Book: Reasons not to worry:How to be Stoic in chaotic times, Brigid Delaney [https://www.amazon.com.au/Reasons-Not-Worry-Stoic-chaotic-ebook/dp/B0B4N3RD9H/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Q9YFKXCS8VKO&keywords=stoic+philosophy+bridget+delaney&qid=1707025049&sprefix=stoic+philosophy+bridget+delany%2Caps%2C279&sr=8-1] * Watch: The Minimalists: Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81074662] For the full show notes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks. [http:/www.lifeadminlifehacks.com] Subscribe to our Momentum newsletter [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/maintain-your-monthly-momentum] Find more inspo and tips on: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lifeadminlifehacks/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lifeadminlifehacks] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-admin-life-hacks/?viewAsMember=true]

In this episode, Mel Kettle discusses perimenopause with Mia and Dinah and its impact on mental load, productivity, and life admin. Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, marked by hormonal changes and various symptoms. It can last for a significant period of time, during which women may experience changes in their menstrual cycle, hot flushes, night sweats, and other physical symptoms. However, what is often not discussed are the cognitive symptoms, such as brain fog, increased anxiety, and short-term memory loss. Get tips for navigating this transition. Resources * The Art of Adulting [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/adulting] * Mel Kettle's website [https://www.melkettle.com/] * Australasian Menopause Society [https://www.menopause.org.au/] * Dr. Jen Gunter's book "The Menopause Manifesto" [https://www.amazon.com.au/Menopause-Manifesto-Health-Facts-Feminism/dp/0349427607] * Dr. Jen Gunter's Instagram: @DrJenGunter [https://www.instagram.com/drjengunter/] * Lara Bryden's book "Hormone Repair Manual" [https://www.amazon.com.au/Hormone-Repair-Manual-healthy-hormones/dp/1760980072/ref=asc_df_1760980072/?tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463538285886&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6139826554042816098&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9071834&hvtargid=pla-1209224613022&psc=1&mcid=90e6be5bc92333eb9515e96ebf89f647] * "Not My Mother's Menopause" podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/chapter-one-not-my-mothers-menopause/id1556805104?i=1000554998328] For the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks. [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/podcasts/life-admin-life-hacks-podcast] * Subscribe to our Momentum newsletter [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/maintain-your-monthly-momentum] Follow the latest tips and hacks on: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lifeadminlifehacks/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lifeadminlifehacks] * LInkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-admin-life-hacks/]

Mia and Dinah talk about how to find more time in your day for reading, exercising, studying, family, yourself...all the things. They canvas 12 ideas you can start experimenting with today. Resources * The Art of Adulting online membership [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/adulting] For the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks. [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/podcasts/life-admin-life-hacks-podcast] * Subscribe to our Momentum newsletter [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/maintain-your-monthly-momentum] Follow the latest tips and hacks on: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lifeadminlifehacks/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lifeadminlifehacks] * LInkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-admin-life-hacks/]

Mia and Dinah talk about what it means to be 'on top of things', how to diagnose why you might not be on top of things, and the essential tools, mindsets and processes to adopt to get on top and stay there. Resources * Monthly Momentum Digital Calendar [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/digitalcalendar] For the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks. [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/podcasts/life-admin-life-hacks-podcast] * Subscribe to our Momentum newsletter [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/maintain-your-monthly-momentum] Follow the latest tips and hacks on: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lifeadminlifehacks/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lifeadminlifehacks] * LInkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-admin-life-hacks/]

Mia and Dinah interview certified money coach, Marion Mays, to discover how to improve your financial IQ and EQ, build wealth, finding the right financial professional advice and managing your finances systematically. Resources * Thalia Stanley Group [https://www.thaliastanley.com.au/] * Money Smart For the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks. [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/podcasts/life-admin-life-hacks-podcast/episodes/2148366777] 1. Subscribe to our Momentum newsletter [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/maintain-your-monthly-momentum] Follow the latest tips and hacks on: 1. Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lifeadminlifehacks/] 2. Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lifeadminlifehacks] 3. LInkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-admin-life-hacks/]

In this episode, Mia and Dinah talk about what life admin is and is not, and describe the different categories of life admin, so that you can approach it in a more systematic way. Mia and Dinah share their definition of life admin and explain that it is not housework or parenting but it often overlaps. Life admin is the third piece of the domestic labour puzzle and includes the scheduling, booking, shopping, paperwork, and planning that often facilitates housework and parenting tasks, but also has its own areas of responsibility. For the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks. [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/podcasts/life-admin-life-hacks-podcast/episodes/2148366770] Subscribe to our Momentum newsletter [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/maintain-your-monthly-momentum] Follow the latest tips and hacks on: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lifeadminlifehacks/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lifeadminlifehacks] * LInkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-admin-life-hacks/]

Discover gift-giving hacks for the festive season to save money, reduce your mental load and and buy group gifts efficiently. In this episode, we interview Ali Linz, co-founder of Group Together, about the benefits of group gifts, common mistakes when buying gifts, and the benefits of a systematic approach to gift buying. Resources * GroupTogether [https://www.grouptogether.com/] * Get Ready for Christmas Checklist [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/christmas] * Catherine Hamlin  [https://hamlin.org.au/] * Fred  Hollows Foundation [https://www.hollows.org/au/home] * Oxfam Christmas gifts [https://unwrapped.oxfam.org.au/occasion/charity-christmas-gifts] * Kmart Wishing Tree [http://kmart.com.au/wishingtree] For the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks. [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/podcasts/life-admin-life-hacks-podcast/episodes/2148335912] * Subscribe to our Momentum newsletter [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/maintain-your-monthly-momentum] Follow the latest tips and hacks on: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lifeadminlifehacks/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lifeadminlifehacks] * LInkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-admin-life-hacks/]

Discover smart strategies for a memorable and meaningful holiday season without breaking the bank.  Mia and Dinah talk about celebrating Christmas given the high cost of living and how people can enjoy a low cost Christmas with some clever hacks. They discuss: * Setting a Budget * Cost-Saving Strategies for Buying Gifts * Budget-Friendly Holiday Meals: * Travel Hacks for the Holidays: For the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/podcasts/life-admin-life-hacks-podcast/episodes/2148296570] - https://shorturl.at/duyG1 * Subscribe to our newsletter [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/maintain-your-monthly-momentum]  Follow the latest tips and hacks on:  * Instagram * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lifeadminlifehacks] * LInkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-admin-life-hacks/]

In this episode, Mia and Dinah follow Obu's journey from an affluent upbringing to navigating financial constraints, setting the stage for a discussion about helping women take control of their financial wellbeing. Obu Ramaraj is a money management speaker, author of two books: Smart Women: Smart Home Loans - what your lenders won't tell you and Smart Women Smart Habits - powerful practices to create your ideal financial future. She's the CEO of Smart Money Solutions. Her mission is to help women take control of their financial lives, helping women transform their relationship with money to transform their relationship with life. The key topics covered include: What is financial wellness and how to improve financial literacy * Obu highlights the common mistake of women relying solely on their partners for financial decisions, emphasizing the importance of financial independence and open communication in relationships. * The absence of financial literacy in traditional education is highlighted, with Obu stressing the importance of understanding where one's money comes from and where it goes. Uncovering Money Stories, Limiting Beliefs and Emotional Spending * Recognizing one's money stories and limiting beliefs is paramount for making sound financial decisions. The conversation spotlights the psychological factors influencing financial choices. * The issue of emotional spending is discussed, with a focus on identifying triggers and developing healthier habits to curb impulsive buying. Aligning Values with Financial Priorities * Creating sustainable financial plans involves aligning financial priorities with personal values and desires. Setting specific financial goals is a fundamental aspect of financial planning. Money management Obu emphasizes the importance of financial tracking and the availability of apps and tools for tracking spending is discussed, along with the value of using spreadsheets. The conversation encourages individuals to create separate financial buckets for savings, investments, and daily expenses to ensure proper allocation of funds. Superannuation and Retirement Planning * The discussion delves into the topic of superannuation, emphasizing the need to understand fund and investment options and the benefits of regular contributions Insurance and Emergency Funds * The conversation highlights that insurance isn't solely for major events and recommends having a financial safety net to cover unforeseen expenses. Investment and Overcoming Risk Aversion * The conversation addresses the common tendency of women to be risk-averse when it comes to investing. It encourages women to overcome this fear and explore long-term investment options. LIFE ADMIN RESOURCES * Obu Ramaraj's website [https://oburamaraj.com/] * Obu's Savvy Finance Tracker [https://oburamaraj.com/budget/] * Episode 70 - Your Money Mindset  [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/podcasts/life-admin-life-hacks-podcast/episodes/2148205324] * Episode 68 - Managing investments [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/podcasts/life-admin-life-hacks-podcast/episodes/2148205326]  * Episode 30 - Sorting out life insurance  [https://www.lifeadminlifehacks.com/podcasts/life-admin-life-hacks-podcast/episodes/2148205363]

In this episode, Mia and Dinah interview Casper ter Kuile, author of The Power of Ritual and co-founder of The Nearness, about infusing meaning and ritual into daily routines to transform how we approach life admin tasks. The inspiration for his book, The Power of Ritual, came from his secular upbringing and his curiosity about intentional living. * Casper highlights the need for intentional community-building in a world with fewer traditional religious structures. * The conversation delves into the scarcity of meaningful rituals in modern life, with weddings becoming one of the few grand moments. * Casper shares an example of his personal ritual, the "State of the Heart Order of the House" meeting, as a way to bring intentionality into daily life. * Rituals are defined as habits with added layers of meaning, serving to remind us of what's important and fostering gratitude. * Casper suggests reframing daily habits, like brushing teeth, with intentional practices to turn them into rituals. * He suggests starting with habits that already have some joy or meaning. * The three key steps to create meaningful rituals are: intention, attention, and repetition. * Intention: Begin by understanding why you perform a certain task. What is the deeper purpose or meaning behind it? * Attention: Pay close attention to the task at hand. Engage your senses, and be fully present during the ritual. * Repetition: Establish a consistent rhythm for your ritual. It doesn't have to be daily; it can be weekly or as suits your lifestyle. * Casper shares personal examples, like using a moisturizer application as a daily ritual for reflection. * He highlights the importance of creating a communal aspect to rituals, where people can share their experiences and challenges. * Find ways to make tasks less lonely by involving others, such as co-working sessions for administrative tasks. * Rituals connect us and make us feel part of something bigger, even in a virtual setting. * Consider how rituals can bring people together, foster support, and add meaning to routine tasks. * How a tech sabbath embraces traditional sabbath ideas in a modern way * How to go 'ritual spotting' * Connecting with nature and moments of transcendence to bring more spirituality into our lives during daily activities  LIFE ADMIN  RESOURCES * Casper ter Kuile's website  [https://www.caspertk.com/] * The Power of Ritual  [https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-power-of-ritual-casper-ter-kuile?variant=32894732140578] * The Nearness [https://www.thenearness.coop/]  SHARE  * Please head to the Life Admin Life Hacks Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Life-Admin-Life-Hacks-277520802977057/],  Insta [https://www.instagram.com/lifeadminlifehacks/] or Linked In [https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-admin-life-hacks] pages to connect with listeners and share your thoughts, questions or suggestions.

Much loved the world over, Swedish-born Kristina Karlsson is the Founder of kikki.K,  Founder & Creative Director of Dream Life,  author of bestseller  Your Dream Life Starts Here and host of the Your Dream Life podcast. which has over 2.5 million downloads in more than 160 countries.  In the episode, Kristina: * discusses how her journey began when she moved from Sweden to Australia, searching for her life's purpose. Her partner's suggestion to write down her dreams led her to create her own business, Kikki.K, which offered beautifully designed stationery products. * emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals and dreams. She advises people to start with a dreaming exercise to determine what they would do if they couldn't fail, if they had all the resources, and if their health and energy were at their peak. From there, she encourages breaking down those dreams into actionable steps. * suggests creating an ideal week or time-blocking your schedule to allocate time for various activities, whether personal growth, work, or family. She also emphasizes starting small, dedicating just a bit of time each day or week to work on goals. * advocates for having a dedicated home for everything. She believes that this simple practice can save a lot of time that might otherwise be wasted searching for items. * discusses how she combines both paper and technology in her organizational approach. The key is to find a system that works for you/ * talks about the power of rituals to create a productive and fulfilling life. She suggests incorporating morning rituals, like spending even just 10 minutes on personal growth activities, to set a positive tone for the day. She also recommends having dedicated time slots during the week for working on dreams and goals. * regularly reviewing and adjusting your routines and systems is essential to staying on track and improving productivity. * her perspective on achieving work-life balance, emphasizing the importance of avoiding burnout and focusing on self-care. * that daily self-care practices, such as meditation, writing morning pages, and going for walks, play a crucial role in maintaining balance. Kristina's morning routine involves meditation, writing, and taking a walk, which helps her find clarity and inspiration. * that she doesn't view work-life balance as a strict separation but rather focuses on integrating her passions into her daily life. * her interest in health and longevity, mentioning that she's studying to become a health coach and is passionate about inspiring others to pursue their dreams and live healthy lives. * the significance of creating space for oneself, mentioning that she dedicates Sundays to unplanned activities and relaxation, which allows her to recharge and cope with life's challenges more effectively. RESOURCES The Dream Life Store [http://www.thedreamlifestore.com/] Follow Kristina on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kristinadreamlife/] SHARE Please head to the Life Admin Life Hacks Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Life-Admin-Life-Hacks-277520802977057/],  Insta [https://www.instagram.com/lifeadminlifehacks/] or Linked In [https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-admin-life-hacks] pages to connect with listeners and share your thoughts, questions or suggestions.

In this episode, we explore the AI tools Chat GPT and Google's Bard to expedite your life admin and drop your mental load. We talked about: * the key differences between the tools * Chat GPT has been trained on data up until 2021and is better at responding to analysis queries * Bard is continually drawing information from the internet so it has the latest information and research * Bard generates multiple drafts of its response and ChatGPT lets you see alternatives if you thumbs down the response. * Bard can also read out its responses and you can click buttons to generate shorter, longer, simpler, more casual and more professional versions. You can also click through to Google search results for your query, which is a good way to fact check whatever Bard told you. You can use the mic to give it an audio prompt. * For both, you can click to copy the answer and paste it elsewhere, and you can share responses with others. They both store your previous chats so you can pick up where you left off. Caveats * they're experiments and imperfect. they get things wrong. they hallucinate and make up stuff. fact check the answers if it's important. * don't type in sensitive, confidential info. they save every input they receive and might regurgitate it back to a stranger. * human reviewers might scrutinise your conversations to improve quality. Meal planning prompts with ChatGPT and Bard * give multiple criteria such as frequency, meal type, ingredients, categories, calorie count, nutrient macros or specific chefs or cooks * "Create a weekly dinner plan with a mix of comfort food favourites and lighter options to satisfy cravings while maintaining a healthy balance. Include Jamie Oliver, Yotam Ottolenghi, and Rachel Ray recipes * tell it the format you prefer so you can use it readily * " put it in a table format that I can paste into the Notes app in my phone" AI prompts for life admin writing * Use ChatGPT and Bard to draft effective letters, emails, messages * give the tool enough context: who you are writing to, why, the outcome you are seeking * suggest the tone: friendly, professional, formal, sincere/earnest, humorous, apologetic, sympathetic, inspirational, casual, in the style of a specific person * ask it to draft 3 versions so you can pick and choose the best elements AI prompts for travel Use ChatGPT and Bard to get advice about: * destinations and top attractions for time of year * transport options : faster, cheaper, more direct * currency exchange resources * visa and passport requirements * compare travel insurance policies * packing lists for certain destination and activities at a specific time of year Bard is useful here because it links to websites and shows images AI prompts for gift giving * Bard useful here as it includes links to websites and images * "suggest some gifts that cost less than $70 for a man who is turning 53. he likes fishing, skiing, foraging, DIY, barbecuing and family time. AI prompts for book, tv, film, podcast recommendations * List titles you like and ask for similar suggestions * Compile 'best of' lists of award winning titles * Collate reading, watching and listening lists to dive deep on a topic Be aware of hallucinations: ask the tools which sites can verify their responses and use those sites to fact check RESOURCES * Bard [https://bard.google.com/] * ChatGPT [https://chat.openai.com/] * Pi [https://pi.ai/talk]

Penny Locaso is the world's first Happiness Hacker on a quest to teach 10 million humans by 2025 how to flourish in life. Voted one of the most influential female entrepreneurs in Australia, Penny works with governments, educators and the likes of Google, Microsoft, Deloitte, and LuluLemon, to empower people to release their fear of uncertainty, and build a more intentionally adaptable society. Penny created the world-first Intentional Adaptability Quotient® (IAQ®) psychometric tool, which decodes the skills required to not only navigate but flourish in complex and uncertain change. She's the author of Hacking Happiness, a Harvard Business Review contributor, a passionate yoga teacher, a faculty member at the esteemed Singularity University, and a student of psychology and trauma-informed therapy with world-renowned teacher Gabor Mate. In this episode we chat about: * Penny's definition of  happiness, embracing emotional diversity and learning how to navigate a range of emotions effectively. * that women often suppress negative emotions due to societal expectations, which can lead to issues like anger being misplaced. * the concept of "Angry Mum Syndrome," a term she's exploring to understand how women deal with suppressed anger * challenges faced by women who often take on excessive responsibilities, delving into the "Martyr Mother Syndrome" and the need for better communication within families. * the relationship between productivity and happiness and that the traditional concept of productivity, often associated with constantly doing more, has become problematic. * the importance of self-care, taking micro-breaks, and recharging mental resources to maintain well-being. * that while humans are naturally good at adapting, much of this adaptation happens unconsciously. * the Intentional Adaptability Quotient, a psychometric tool she developed with the goal of empowering people to adapt intentionally,  which measures a person's level of intentional adaptability and allows individuals to assess their adaptability skills and identify areas for improvement. * removing the word "should" from your vocabulary and replacing it with "I want" to shift the focus from external pressures to personal desires, allowing individuals to prioritize tasks that align with their values and needs. * the key skills that constitute intentional adaptability - these include: * focus -  essential for dealing with distractions * courage - using fear constructively * curiosity - maintaining a sense of wonder and exploration * two practical strategies for promoting happiness and well-being * device-free family dinners, providing a platform for open communication and connection * a practice called "Rose Rose Thorn Stem Bud," where family members share positive and negative experiences of their day, fostering emotional expression and understanding. * the relevance of intentional adaptability in the context of neurodiverse individuals, and Penny emphasizes the potential for growth and development in everyone. RESOURCES Hacking Happy [https://hackinghappy.co/] Follow Penny on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennylocaso/] SHARE Please head to our  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Life-Admin-Life-Hacks-277520802977057/], Insta [https://www.instagram.com/lifeadminlifehacks/] or Linked In [https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-admin-life-hacks] pages to connect with us and share your thoughts, questions or suggestions.