One Simple Life Hack
The latest magic bullet.
There’s a totally irritating ad on YouTube that pops up regularly before a video starts to play. A man is clinking two spoons together next to his ear. Clink, clink, clink. Clink, clink, clink. “There’s one simple ‘hearing hack’ anyone can use to improve their hearing almost overnight,” proclaims the voiceover.
What is the sound of two spoons clinking? A Zen koan indeed. Does it work? I’ve been tempted to watch the damned ad after the five second obligatory preview, though I inevitably select “Skip” to get the hell out of there. I move on to whatever it was I wanted to watch in the first place.
Life hacks. Better simply known as “changed habits,” the old terminology. There are a few habits I’ve picked up in my adult life that have for sure been game changers.
Number One: FLOSSING
When I was a young student, dental care was not part of the university medical plan. When I finally got myself to a teeth cleaning after three years of being on my own – well, I bled like a stuck pig and wept through the torture. I thought the hygienist was a Hitchcock murderess and personally had it out for me.
“Floss everyday,” she instructed with a condescending smile, sending me home with some Johnson and Johnson mint waxed samples.
Pain – such a good teacher. I picked up the floss habit at age twenty and never, ever looked back. Every night, it’s me and the Glide.
Same with jaw issues. After years of clenching and grinding my teeth, known as bruxism in dental parlance, I finally became willing to accept the presence of plastic in my mouth every night. This came after warnings from my dentists that things were going to go south quickly if I didn’t protect my teeth. You can bet I never go anywhere without my custom fitted mouthguard. I carry it in my purse instead of checking it in my luggage, I’ve remembered to wear it in jungle hammocks and on overnight third class train bunks in India. We’ve been together over twenty years.
“This one simple life hack.”
These game changers are adjustments in lifestyle where one hits the tipping point and does not turn back. Running as a form of cardio and a freebie dose of drugs (i.e. serotonin, dopamine) to get me high, stay fit, and have an overall great day – there’s another winner. I’m committed to it at least a few times a week alongside yoga.
Even and especially when I don’t feel like it – running is another “simple life hack” that’s changed my life, also going on twenty-plus years. I needed an exercise that I could do anywhere, sans gym, and get me out of doors.
Even and especially when I don’t feel like it.
That’s the ticket.
Now, allow me to share with you the latest magic bullet remedy or golden ticket life hack.
DO NOT
LOOK
AT
YOUR PHONE
UNTIL
YOU HAVE
DONE
THE MOST
IMPORTANT
THING
OF THE DAY
For me, that’s writing. For you, it could be meditating, or exercising, or reading a book.
For me, it’s three pages, longhand, on wide-ruled paper. Always has been, since discovering Morning Pages à la Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way (1992). Three pages, nonstop.
No thinking, no rereading, no editing. Keeps the artist in me sane, the writing machine lubed. Priming the pump, J.C. calls it. That’s Morning Pages.
Regardless of one’s “most important thing” to start the day, let it be ANYTHING BUT THE PHONE.
Could be a walk, could be prayer. Could be playing piano (my husband does this – I’m envious and hope to eventually follow suit with guitar).
I’m thrilled and delighted that I’ve reached the tipping point of Making a Change! It’s like flossing, wearing the nightguard, going for that run – even and especially when I don’t feel like it.
There’s no turning back. I’ve no option, no wiggle room, no “yes, but” left in me. I know the phone is the Devil. Toxic. Like I knew Facebook was when I detached completely in 2010. Just up and left the platform, just like that. Best thing ever.
No phone before God.
No phone before the forces of creation are engaged.
No phone before the fires of inspiration are lit.
I shall not allow the Devil of the dumb-smart-phone to rob me of minutes, hours, years of creativity.
It’s back to pen and paper for me.
Okay. But first, coffee.
Oh, my gosh. I NEEDED this so much. First, I just love your writing, Erin. You are one of the most readable writers I know and you're able to communicate really deep stuff in ways I can digest. Morning pages, piano . . . I wake up and grab my phone and start reading. I get sucked into that little screen and it takes tremendous effort to get out of it. I need a new morning routine. (I also need a night guard for the grinding; I ground through my last two!).
Thank you for sharing the gift of your writing, Erin.
I hear this! 💛