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Life Hacks 201 | Modern Wisdom Podcast 187

Jonny & Yusef join me as we begin the 2nd Season of Life Hacks. Our favourite tools, apps, websites, strategies & resources for a productive and efficient life. Expect to learn our real life review of the AirPods Pro, how to hack your hunger when cutting, our favourite To Do List apps, how you can manage your Instagram Inbox on desktop, a huge list of our favourite things to watch on TV and much more... Sponsor: Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/MODERNWISDOM (Enter promo code MODERNWISDOM for 85% off and 3 Months Free) Extra Stuff: Get my free Ultimate Life Hacks List to 10x your daily productivity → https://chriswillx.com/lifehacks/ Check out Jonny & Yusef's site - https://propanefitness.com/ Learn to build an online business - https://propanefitness.com/modernwisdom Do your chores whilst cooking breakfast Coffee Bags 4:6:6 Method for coffee AirPods Pro - https://amzn.to/3fHhMn1 https://www.brain.fm/ Ask a friend to take you clothes shopping Reebok Nano X - https://amzn.to/3elVwyT Romaleos 4 - https://www.wit-fitness.com/collections/romaleos-4 https://gethuman.com/ Write a letter online - https://www.pc2paper.co.uk/ Pressups when hungry Clean teeth on an evening to stop hunger Go to bed earlier when cutting Omnifocus - https://www.omnigroup.com/omnifocus/ Omnifocus Training - https://learn.peterakkies.net/omnifocus-productivity The Foundation Series for posture - https://youtu.be/4BOTvaRaDjI Start with weakest side in gym Watch a subtitled film to combat dual-screening Watch Parasite on Amazon Prime Keep a list of things to watch or read Watch The Gentleman Watch Succession Watch Gangs Of London Watch Defending Jacob Skip forward to avoid ads on Siri The Productivity Planner - https://www.intelligentchange.com/products/the-productivity-planner SideCar on MacOS https://www.instagram.com/direct/inbox/ https://www.flotato.com/ Determine the maximum and minimum tolerance for areas in your life Upright induction charger - https://amzn.to/3epzOd2 Louder audiobooks for comprehension #lifehacks #productivity #efficiency - Listen to all episodes online. Search "Modern Wisdom" on any Podcast App or click here: iTunes: https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/modern-wisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: modernwisdompodcast@gmail.com

Chris WilliamsonhostJonnyguestYusefguest
Jun 21, 20201h 38mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Productivity, Fitness, and Tech Hacks to Upgrade Everyday Modern Life

  1. Chris Williamson, Jonny, and Yusuf share a rapid-fire collection of practical 'life hacks' covering productivity systems, fitness gear, diet adherence, tech tools, and daily routines. They discuss using dead time, building better to‑do systems, optimizing coffee and audio setups, and improving training with the right shoes and habits. The conversation mixes specific app and product recommendations with underlying principles like reducing friction, batching tasks, and designing environments that support your goals. Throughout, they emphasize small, repeatable tweaks that compound over time rather than dramatic overhauls.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Exploit 'dead time' by pairing chores with existing routines.

Doing kitchen chores or prep while food cooks, or setting multiple 'processes' running (like filling water bottles, emptying the dishwasher) turns passive waiting into productive micro-bursts, so future-you finds a clean, organized environment without extra perceived effort.

Use environment design and friction to make desired behaviors easier and bad habits harder.

Examples include cleaning your teeth immediately after your last meal to discourage late-night snacking, going to bed earlier to avoid diet slip-ups, and forcing yourself to pay cash for impulsive food purchases so the pain of handing over notes raises your 'dickhead factor' and curbs behavior.

Invest in the right tools where you get daily compound returns (audio, coffee, shoes, planners).

AirPods Pro with noise-canceling, a temperature-controlled kettle and brew method, stable training shoes like Reebok Nano X or Romaleos, and a focused planner or GTD app all remove friction from high-frequency activities, making it easier to focus, train safely, and execute consistently.

Constrain your daily focus with tight to‑do systems and regular reviews.

Using OmniFocus with proper GTD-style reviews, or a paper Productivity Planner/Full Focus Planner that limits you to five key tasks, forces prioritization and makes you feel okay about what you're not doing today, instead of drowning in endless lists and fake due dates you learn to ignore.

Upgrade your training and posture with simple structural choices, not just more volume.

Starting unilateral exercises with your weaker side and matching reps, using proper lifting or stable shoes rather than squishy runners, and incorporating routines like the Foundation Series or McGill Big Three can reduce back pain, improve posture, and make lifts safer and more effective.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

Future Jonny will thank past Jonny that he hasn’t even remembered.

Chris Williamson

One of the best places to get yourself to is feeling okay with all the things you’re not doing today.

Jonny

If you could bottle the placebo effect, you’d have a panacea.

Yusuf

If you’re going to the gym, stop wearing Nike Huaraches. They’re not even shoes, let alone training shoes.

Chris Williamson

The thing you consistently achieve is your minimum acceptable standard.

Jonny (paraphrasing Sam Ovens)

Using dead time and micro-routines for household and personal productivityCoffee rituals, tools, and tradeoffs between convenience and craftsmanshipAudio tech (AirPods Pro, Brain.fm, podcast listening hacks) and focusFitness gear and training habits (shoes, posture work, unilateral training)Task management systems and apps (OmniFocus, GTD, planners, screen setups)Diet and behavior design strategies to reduce snacking and overeatingSocial and lifestyle upgrades (style interventions, handling customer service, media queues)

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