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Life Hacks 203 | Modern Wisdom Podcast 281

Jonny & Yusef from Propane Fitness join me for another Life Hacks episode. Sit back & enjoy as we run through our favourite tools, apps, websites, strategies & resources for a productive and efficient life. Expect to learn why I brought a potato to a podcast, my biggest productivity tip for 2021, how Jonny is generating ideas in the shower, Yusef's favourite journalling app, how to ensure you never miss your creatine again and much more... Sponsors: Get 20% discount on Reebok’s entire range including the amazing Nano X1 at https://geni.us/modernwisdom (use code MW20) Extra Stuff: Buy a Waterproof paper & pencil - https://amzn.to/2LkqHBm Be careful with 2FA and use Safari. Count down from 10 and breathe fast to wake up. Powerhooks - https://www.thegymrevolution.co.uk/index.php/brands/other-brands/power-hooks.html Miniature Taser to light candles - https://amzn.to/3rcDdlq Turn on music & do some mobility for energy. Have a sacred training playlist. Evernote Legacy - https://help.evernote.com/hc/en-us/articles/360052560314-Install-an-older-version-of-Evernote Find joy today. Use a note taking app to always record insights from a book. Stop the inner voice in your head when reading - https://www.dummies.com/education/language-arts/speed-reading/how-to-stop-vocalizing-and-become-a-speed-reader First things first. Plan what you’re going to do on the night before. 6 Minute Success Journal - https://amzn.to/3r9KvXk Break large tasks down into single actions. Day One for Journalling - https://dayoneapp.com Remember that you are the common denominator. Creatine Tablets to ensure you don’t miss your dose - https://www.myprotein.com/sports-nutrition/creatine-monohydrate-tablets/10575029.html Blob Opera - https://g.co/arts/iKptTTA3QDaEm7bk7 Red Rising - https://amzn.to/3rklWHo Leave badges on for notifications. Upgrade to the quickest internet you can get. Ctrl+Cmd+Space for emojis. Get Propane's Free Online Business Training - https://propanefitness.com/mwbusiness Get Propane's Free Online Fitness Business Tips - https://propanefitness.com/modernwisdom Get free diet advice from PropaneFitness - https://propanefitness.com Get my free Ultimate Life Hacks List to 10x your daily productivity → https://chriswillx.com/lifehacks/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom #lifehacks #productivity #fitness - 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
Feb 11, 20211h 15mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Shower Notes, State Changes, and Systems: Life Hacks That Stick

  1. Chris Williamson, Johnny, and Yousef share a rapid-fire collection of practical and often funny life hacks aimed at improving productivity, training, and everyday convenience.
  2. They cover everything from capturing ideas in the shower and managing sleep and wake times, to gym equipment tweaks, digital organization, journaling, and using music and movement to change state.
  3. A recurring theme is reducing friction: making it easier to capture ideas, execute important tasks, maintain habits, and avoid being bottlenecked by tools or tech.
  4. Underlying the banter is a serious focus on systems thinking—treating tools as extensions of memory and attention, and taking responsibility for recurring patterns in one’s life.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Capture ideas wherever they appear to prevent losing them.

Using tools like a waterproof shower notepad, a pad near your meditation spot, Siri in the car, and a trusted task manager (e.g., OmniFocus) dramatically reduces the chance that good ideas and commitments slip through the cracks.

Use simple triggers to get out of bed and stabilize sleep.

Counting down from ten with rapid breaths, sunrise alarm clocks, and consistent bed/wake times (often anchored by a partner’s routine) help prevent snoozing and set the tone for the rest of the day.

Reduce friction in your training setup to stay consistent and safe.

Power hooks for dumbbells let you unrack heavy dumbbells like a barbell, opening up safer, heavier dumbbell work (bench and overhead press) and reducing the risk of injury from awkward cleans or setups.

Treat your tools as a ‘second brain’ and make notes searchable.

Apps like Craft, Roam, or Evernote (legacy), combined with tagging and cross-linking, allow you to store and later retrieve insights by searching likely future keywords—turning fleeting inputs (books, calls, podcasts) into reusable knowledge.

Use state-change rituals (music + movement) to clear brain fog.

A short playlist of high-energy songs plus five minutes of light movement (press-ups, squats, mobility) and a glass of cold water can reliably boost alertness and mood before demanding work like podcasts or deep-focus tasks.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

Turn showers, I reckon, we’ve generated revenue now from my showers.

Johnny

If I get out of bed on time when I said I would, most of the rest of the day goes right.

Chris Williamson

I see OmniFocus as like my RAM on a computer… and Evernote or Craft as your hard drive.

Johnny

The thing that you need to remember is that you are the common denominator in every experience within your life.

Chris Williamson

Find joy today… not presuming that it’s a thing that you get to do in the future once you’ve got today out of the way.

Chris Williamson

Idea capture systems (waterproof shower notepad, OmniFocus, second-brain tools)Wake-up routines, sleep consistency, and state-change techniques for energyGym and training hacks (power hooks, creatine tablets, avoiding dumbbell injuries)Digital productivity and note-taking (Evernote legacy, Craft, Roam, Readwise, Day One)Music as a performance and mood tool (protected playlists, PR songs, sacred routines)Planning, project decomposition, and daily prioritization (GTD, ‘first things first’)Mindset shifts and self-responsibility (finding joy today, being the common denominator)

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