So far my epiphany to consolidate the number of gadgets in my life, and my new motto of "making things easier" is working well:
My recent decision to move all my email to GMail has been a great success - GMail manages junk mail and spam for me, and for the first time ever I can just focus on the few messages that come into my inbox each day without having to wade through heaps of crap. My email reading time is now half of what it was, and because my email is hosted with GMail I no longer have to keep an eye on a server.
Last weekend I purchased a new XBox 360 - "wait a minute! I thought you were cutting down on gadgets" - yup that's true, but this purchase is designed to make my life easier. I spend a lot of time keeping a home Media Center computer up and running. Think of this computer as a smart video recorder- it records TV, plays music, and hosts pictures taken by my digital camera. Only snag is that this computer doesn't play well with my large screen hi-def TV.
I've looked at the cable company's PVR (personal video recorder) package, and considered Tivo, but neither system gives me the flexibility that I get with Microsoft MCE for the low running cost. Enter XBox 360 - this device connects to my HD TV with little to no configuration, further more the XBox provides access to my MCE computer (now in the basement). Bottom-line: for a single purchase I have consolidated my music, pictures, TV, DVD movies, and game play into one box, with one remote, silent running, connected to my TV with no fuss. The aim is to spend more time enjoying the value that my entertainment system provides and less time maintaining it.
I'm yet not done making life easier for moi, eliminating confusing techie setups is just the beginning. I am looking for new and interesting ways to squeeze more time out of the day using the simplest methods possible. If something takes too much brain power or time, then odds are that it is something my life can do without, below are just a few ways I am planning (if not already doing) to streamline my time and to feel good about it:
* Eradicate all hosted web sites, and servers at home - as good as done.
* Showering in the evenings instead of mornings.
* Avoid eating out at lunch time.
* Working earlier when fresh.
* Taking more walks at the weekend for exercise and feel good factor.
* Limiting the late nights (especially now that the TV is set up).
* Accepting that some jobs around the home are beyond my possibility and require a contractor.
* Reduce the number blogs I read in a day.
* Eating better.
* Aggressive investment of finances.
* Starting taxes before April.
I suppose you could call my new found outlook on life a delayed set of New Year's resolutions. Hopefully I'll stick to them, unlike most resolutions that go out the window by February. The trick is not to turn my list above into a chore, because chores are hard, they make me procrastinate, and do not make life easier or happier for me. From now on whenever I think about signing up for something I shall ask myself - "Is this the best use of my time?"
Current Mood: 
determined