Dear Humans,

I’ve discovered a new life hack. I continue working on a task—dishes, laundry, grading—until it’s completely done. I know it seems easy. But I assure you, it is not.

Because the secret is picking a task that the person completing—you—is likely to finish. And what that person is going to be like when they’re elbow deep in soapy water, staring at a pile of to-be-sorted socks, or halfway through a stack of math tests is often a mystery to us.

So the real life hack is knowing ourselves. Our limitations, our bad habits, and our strengths. And accepting that this afternoon’s version of ourselves won’t be a whole lot different than this morning’s.

Sincerely,

Mr. Curt