Productivity Hacks by Trivio.ai | Work smarter. Live more.
Hey there,
Happy Tuesday. Same old trap every week: the one task you dread sits there all morning while you answer easy emails, and by 6 pm nobody knows what's for dinner.
So this issue brings three hacks that fix exactly that. One habit for your hardest task, one shortcut that saves a lot of scrolling, and one easy dinner trick. Plus a bonus you won't see on my socials.
Hack 1: Eat the Frog First
Quick win: That task you keep pushing to "later" drains you all day just by sitting there. Do it first, and the rest of the day gets easier.
Tonight, pick tomorrow's "frog": the one task you're most likely to dodge. The call, the report, the bill, the tough email.
Write it on a sticky note and put it where you'll see it first thing, like your keyboard, the coffee maker or your phone's lock screen.
Tomorrow, do it before you open email or social media.
Too big to finish? Set a 25-minute timer and just start. Starting is the hard part.
Why it works: The idea comes from Brian Tracy's book "Eat That Frog!" Pick only one frog a day, and pick it the night before, because deciding in the morning is how it gets pushed again. It works at home too: the dentist call, the tax form, the closet you've been avoiding.
Hack 2: Find It Fast with Ctrl+F
Quick win: Stop scrolling through long pages to find one word. Let your computer find it for you.
Press Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on a Mac).
Type the word you need, like a price, a date or a name.
Press Enter to jump to each match.
On your phone, open the browser menu and tap Find in page.
Where it helps: long web pages, PDFs, contracts, school handbooks and docs. Ten seconds instead of ten minutes.
Hack 3: The Fridge Photo Dinner
Quick win: Your fridge already knows what's for dinner. Let AI read it for you.
Snap a photo of your fridge, and your pantry if you want.
Open ChatGPT or any AI app with the photo and ask: "Give me 3 dinners I can make from this in under 30 minutes."
Pick one and ask for the steps.
Tell it to use what's about to go bad first.
Why it works: No extra store run, less food in the trash, and no 20-minute debate about dinner.
Bonus Hack (email only): The Go-Back Basket
Quick win: Stop finding the package to return still sitting on the counter a week later. Give everything that needs to leave the house one spot.
Put a small basket or bin right next to the door you leave from.
Anything that has to go somewhere goes in it: returns, borrowed dishes, dry cleaning, signed school forms, a gift to drop off.
Check it every time you grab your keys. If you're driving past the place it goes, it goes with you.
Once a week, empty it. Anything that's been there more than a week gets handled or tossed.
Why it works: You stop needing to remember. The basket does the remembering, and errands get done on trips you're already making.
From Steve
Got calls, follow-ups and a packed day to plan? My pack of 50 copy-paste AI prompts for the workday gives you a ready-made prompt for getting ready for a call, handling pushback, following up and planning your day.
It's normally $27. Newsletter readers get it for $19 through Wednesday, Oct 28: get the pack for $19.
Not your thing? No problem. The everyday hacks keep coming every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Your turn: What's your frog this week? One word is enough. Hit reply and tell me, I read every one.
Know someone who'd like a calmer morning? Send them here for my free 10-Minute AI Morning guide: https://newsletter.trivio.ai/subscribe
Have a great week,
Steve
Productivity Hacks by Trivio.ai. Work smarter. Live more.