How to Do More with Less

No one wants to settle for less.

And with Cat Footwear, you can embrace lifestyle choices that can enable you to do more, with less.

Here are some of our top tips and tricks to enjoy efficiency and maximise on what life has to offer!

Productivity

Are you productive? Or are you just busy?

Understanding the difference between these two concepts is the first step towards managing your time and being able to #DoMore with less of it.

2 useful methods when it comes to productivity are Bullet Journaling and the Eisenhower Matrix.

1. Bullet Journaling

The bullet journal system, affectionately known as BuJo by those who use it, was created by Brooklyn-based digital product designer Ryder Carroll, who used the learning disabilities which he grew up with as inspiration to figure out alternate ways to be focused and productive.

Bullet journaling is a mindfulness practice disguised as a productivity system. It uses a specific set of bullets that enables you to see exactly where you are being productive and where you are lagging behind. This way, you will know where your time goes and be able to hold yourself accountable for it.

In organising your tasks by month and by day along with your goals, this virtually free system can save you both time and effort when done correctly, and allows you to get as creative or minimalistic as you like with it.

All you need to start is a blank journal and Ryder’s free tutorial.

2. The Eisenhower Matrix

Also known as the urgent-important matrix, the Eisenhower matrix is a way of prioritising each of your daily tasks so that you are using your time – which we have so little of – for the correct things.

Eisenhower Matrix
^{Photo Credit: nextlevelgents.com}

To start, divide your page into 4 quadrants. As shown above, label your headings above as ‘Urgent’ and ‘Not Urgent’ and label your headings on the side as ‘Important’ and ‘Non Important’.

All of your tasks from your to-do list should fit into these 4 segments. And once it is in its place on the chart, they will be prioritised.
A task that is:

Urgent and Important will need to be done first.
Not Urgent but Important will need to be scheduled on your calendar.
Urgent but Not Important will need to either be delegated or delayed.
Not Urgent and Not Important can be deleted or done last.

Reviewing your daily to-do list through this lens will allow you not only to #DoMore, but to #DoMore of the right things.

Relationships & Mental Health

One of the biggest roadblocks when it comes to being able to #DoMore for ourselves and for others, regardless of our resources, is that we say ‘yes’ when we should say ‘no’ – and we say ‘no’ when we should say ‘yes’.

This is one of the most difficult things to master, but with practice and the right mind-set, it is more than possible.

Little by little, teach yourself to say ‘no’ to things and people that do not serve you or your life purpose. Then teach yourself to say ‘yes’ when opportunities come your way, even if they are scary and take you out of your comfort zone – because it is only in that space that we can grow.

If you’re looking for more opportunities for growth, read our blog Urban Hobbies to get you to your next level and discover the right hobbies for you to increase your confidence and creativity levels, destress, and even make more friends.

Relationships

Money

Investing is the act of devoting time, effort, energy or money to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result. So the term ‘investment’ can almost be defined as having the intention of getting the most out of a little – it is letting your money #DoMore.

The misunderstanding is that many people think you need to already be a millionaire to start investing – which couldn’t be further from the truth. The best time for anyone to start investing is now, regardless of how much money you have.

It all starts with saving a little bit of money each month, which you can put into a savings account or invest with a financial planner who can manage your portfolio for you. Little by little, you will see the growth and be able to #DoMore for yourself and with your money.

And if it feels like you don’t have the spare change to even begin to think of investing just yet, maybe you can start a side hustle to create the passive income you need to take that step. Read about everything you need to know in our blog The Official Guide to Conquering Your Side Hustle.

Meal Prep & Planning

If you really want to have more time in the day, think about the amount of time spent in the kitchen.

A popular way to optimise your weekday meals is to cook and freeze over the weekend. You can make everything from curries to pastas and casseroles, divide them up into the right portions for you and your household, and just heat and eat when you’re ready.

Another pro tip for when you are actually cooking is to do the dishes while waiting for your food to cook. This way, after you’ve eaten, you have minimal dishes to wash and you can swiftly move on with the rest of your plans.

But if you’ve minimised your kitchen time as much as possible and still feel as though you are losing precious time, start listening to podcasts while cooking and cleaning. If you feel you are missing out on downtime, listen to the many entertainment podcasts out there. And if you feel that you are missing out on time that could be used to grow yourself or your business, listen to the many educational podcasts that are available.

Because the bottom line is: There is always a way to streamline your chores.

Fashion

Sustainable fashion is about having less. But this does not mean that you are living a life of not having enough to wear. On the contrary, it means that you buy high-quality products so that they may last you a longer time. Not only will they not need replacing as soon as other items, but they are also more likely to offer you better comfort and other benefits.

This is one of the reasons that Cat Footwear is made with durability in mind – we pride ourselves on creating products that hold up to extensive wear, which means fewer products in the waste stream over time.

Take the Cat Footwear Glenrock Mid, for example – this fashion-forward dark mahogany ankle boot is the definition of a fashion investment, because aging well isn’t an accident. From the choice of leather to the expert stitching and hard-moulded sole, Glenrock was built with age in mind. They’ll look great the day you buy them, and they’ll look even better once you’ve gotten to know each other a little while.

^{Photo Credit: The Dapper Advisor}