Little gifts for my future self

For over a decade I continuously give my future self little gifts. The idea is I do little things now that my future self will be happy to receive or will make the life of my future self a little easier. These are small items and most of them aren’t purchases.

I didn’t come up with this idea, however I have forgotten where I learned about it. But, it is something I enjoy doing.

As I mentioned, the idea is I do little things now to make my life easier or better in the future. Here are some examples:

• I put everyone’s birthdays into my calendar and make them recurring. Then, in my task list, I set recurring tasks for two weeks before everyone’s birthdays to get them a gift.
• When doing laundry I turn all of my clothes right-side out and organize them in the order I need for getting dressed in the morning.
• I make an entire weeks worth of cold brew coffee on Sundays.
• Whenever my wife says she likes something I add it to a running note to make holiday, birthday, and anniversary shopping easier. I also keep a note of her shoe and clothing sizes.
• Every Friday on my way home I get gas so I have a full tank on Monday.
• All of our subscriptions and bills are kept in a separate calendar with their renewal dates. Then I put the renewal reminder in my task list for 3 days before it happens.

Honestly, these examples just sound like being organized. Which they are. But, I prefer to think of them as little gifts for myself.

There’s also a lot more to this list as I’m always looking for something to give myself and sometimes the gifts are minuscule. Like backing my truck into the driveway to make leaving the next day a little easier. Others are actual purchases, like buying an extra set of headlights and windshield wipers and stashing them away so I don’t have to shop for them later. A favorite one is printing little wifi stickers and putting them up around the house so people don’t have to ask me for the password.

The only problem with this system is I never stop to enjoy the easier or better life. Whatever free time I give myself I fill with other little tasks for future me. Future me never takes the time to appreciate the little gift, he’s always trying to find more gifts to give.

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