5 Simple Habits for a Happy and Productive Life 

#1 Setting goals: a year goal, a month goal, a week goal, a daily goal #2 writing a daily to-do list #3 learn to prioritize: PRIORITIZE Do the top 3 of the things from your list that are important for you #4 Take Short Cuts: don't waste time on details that don't matter. Not lazy- but SMART. Things you dread or not fond of doing- Sabotaging your day. Take the darn short cut. It's o.k. No stuff shuffling - important to declutter to have less to clean #5 be Consistent = do a little bit everyday Example) 15 minutes on your house project goals, 15 minutes decluttering, 15 minutes of you personal goals, 15 minutes on your hobby, and do your non negotiables and not letting them slip away These are my notes I took Thank you cas ❤❤❤❤❤

I love this woman so much! Every other organizer has made me want to scream with frustration! She speaks my language. I can hear reality from her and embrace it! Wow. I have a long way to go but I have hope.

I have noted that anytime when I’ve been sick, when I start feeling better, my eyes start darting about the house, looking at what I need to do, and when I start doing things again, the more I do, the better I feel!! If I’m feel aggravated at my husband, I have noted what will get me back happy again, is clean out a closet ,scrub the bathroom, mop the floors , and very quickly I’m happy again. Same thing about lollygagging around in my pj’s, hair , every which way, until 12 noon. I feel happier and more energetic if I get up, make my bed, shower, and get dressed, comb my hair and put lite makeup---- I feel happy and energized!!! It makes sense! Someone said “why do you care what you look like or even make your bed, if you aren’t going somewhere?” I do it because everytime I walk by my bedroom, or, see myself in a mirror----- I gives me a happy feeling and sense of accomplishment!!!🤗🤗🤗🤗

The cheater spray mops are the best. I give them away as gifts. Everybody has their minds blown. They love it.😍

Oh great, Cas has posted a video. Departs messy kitchen with iPad and lays in bed to watch video. Listens to first 2 minutes of video, return to dirty kitchen, cleans kitchen and feels happy. Thanks Cas.

I know you feel like laying around a lot, but I'm an RN and I can tell you that you should not be laying down too much. When you're lying down your lungs are not working normally to get your air flow going and keep the mucus out of your lungs. You should at least be sitting upright and you should be walking around a little bit every hour and trying to do a little bit of coughing and deep breathing. Hope you feel better. Plus vitamin C and vitamin D could help you get over a little quicker

Me, when you said, how are people getting so much done when I'm struggling to find time for a shower: 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 I relate ,so hard, to this !

Doing dishes while I listen, Cass! Thanks! ❤ Okay, so, when I got to the section where you said, "Do NOT go to Target. You don't need anything from there..." I started chuckling because that is where I intended to go today to pick up 2 more stacking file trays. But the look on your face and your tone stopped me in my mental tracks. I went to my stacking file trays and, with some thought, realized that 2 of them were for categories that I DIDN'T EVEN NEED! BAM! Just saved money, time and clutter that would later need to be dealt with!! THANKS SO MUCH!!💝

Cas, Great video. 5 1/2 wks ago, my Hubby offered to help me start decluttering my sewing / craft room. It took little bits of time each day for 5 wks to mostly declutter the tiny 9 x 9 room so my Hubby could paint it & clean the carpet. Now that it is done, we will start organizing & putting things back in my room. It's been a long process, but I'm excited that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm so excited to get back to making greeting cards again. 😊

I had pneumonia while I was an otherwise fit and active 28 year old. It took a month for me to be able to function near my baseline. Please give yourself time to heal. Your body is letting you know what it needs...just listen.

Horticulturist perspective: the Costco bulbs are a great value for great quality - and all you need is 15 minutes a day planting and you’ll be enjoying gorgeous fragrant bouquets this summer. What a great project/goal! 😉

I got my floors mopped (yes, I use a mop) while listening to your podcast. My 10 minute goal is to write a “thinking of you” note to someone each day and mail it.

I have been trying unsuccessfully for over a year to get my routines back in place. I have OCD (for real, not just tongue in cheek) which makes me a perfectionist, and ADHD which causes me to be overwhelmed, bored, and unmotivated. In other words, over the past year I have perfected procrastination. If I can't do all the things perfectly, then I'll do none of them perfectly. So phase 1 for the next 7 days will be to credit myself for the few things I have managed to keep in place... making my bed, doing laundry Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, taking my meds every morning. The 2 things I will add are filling my water cup and putting it beside my bed so I will have at least 20 oz of water every day when I take my meds, and doing my simple 10X10 exercise program when I walk my dog. Takes me about 10 min to do 10 reps of each exercise and hold each stretch for 10 seconds. My big goal is to lose 30 lbs by my birthday (end of May, big 50!!), and these 2 things will help me get there!

Decluttering is aa life skill that needs reinforced in schools. Clean out your desk time, etc.

Get well soon, Cas! I'm sorry to hear you're not well. You bring so much to so many people. Time to take care of you. Take it easy!❤

Cass your podcast is my go to when I need to listen to something while I clean/ declutter. I'm packing for a move right now and just opened RU-vid to binge your old episodes and bam new episode! Todays going to be a good day!! ❤🎉 love your videos I hope you never stop!

Dinner goes on my list. Tea break does too... I need the ticks on my list!

I’m 80. Have had two full knee replacements. There’s no way I’m getting in hands and knees to scrub floors. Used to when I was younger especially with tile floors. Thank God those days are over.

I really needed to hear this today!! I’ve been so lazy lately and I complain about everything without changing it but this has given me motivation to get back into doing things! Thank you for posting! Love your podcast so much! ❤

Omg I am watching this while also having pneumonia! haha thanks for giving me a distraction and get well soon ❤

I needed this today. I do everything in your list EXCEPT the consistency. I need to start with just getting dressed. I wake up in PJs and hit the day running, I am the only driver in a family of 5 adults. (Husband lost license 20 years ago, son has anxiety, daughter is special needs, and mom is 82). I know I feel better when I get dressed and brush my hair, and yet I rarely take the time to do it. I used to go a week without brushing my hair. Messy bun everyday. 6 weeks ago my Dr put me on Prozac and it's helping so much. Over the last week I went thru (purged and organized) my clothing, files, Christmas, bathroom, medication, food, and kitchen. I still have a LONG way to go. But life is getting easier.

Nancy Zimmerman had a "Sewing with Nancy" series of how to do sewing clothes in 15 minutes increments. During the Pandemic, I saw and employed a RU-vid video in doing 10 minutes a day, 10 minutes a room. It helped so much! I used the Pomodoro method now. Even though I don't always meet my goal of four 25 minutes sets a day, my apartment looks better as I dig out of my extended family's hoards. People, please leave just one book of memories, not banker boxes! Best wishes for a sped up recovery! Lungs are so important! I want my table cleared by next Friday, April 5.

I used to have a bucket list and each quarter, I would do something off my list. Need to restart this

Okay 15 minutes every day doing yoga. I do 30 minutes of qigong every morning faithfully…but since we lost our yoga teacher at the Y I’ve not been getting on the floor unless forced to. 😂. I’ll be 74 in July, I know how important it is to keep my body doing preventative maintenance! Thanks for the prompt to commit to this! 🧘🏼 ❤

25:56 I had this moment today. Since i retired, things are easier, so i don't work in the house unless i want to on weekends. My daughter came by and said, "Let's go out to lunch!" So we did! And we ate really well! I've just been resting all afternoon, and I regret nothing. Once, i would have felt guilty.

I think illness can lead to depression as well. When I had Covid pneumonia in the hospital, they'd ask me if I was getting depressed. Plus not being able to do what you want really stinks. I hope you feel better, Cas! Thank you for your videos and podcasts.

Filled a grocery size bag for the trash while listening. Realized that I have implemented shortcuts in both laundry: laundromat, all done in 48 minutes; and meals, carefully selecting prepared/cooked foods and meats at Trader Joe’s. Now I don’t feel guilty- Cas said to do it!

At work on a break, so I will watch/listen to this later tonight and get something done.

I so needed this today. Thanks, Cas!! As for the dinner issue, I like cooking and grew up with a stay-at-home mom (mostly) who made large soul food dinners about 5x/week. I work; by the time I'm done cooking even a medium-sized meal I'd be almost too pooped to enjoy it.

Needed this! Thank you! Keep them coming. 15 min upstairs then 15 min downstairs cleaning and let’s see what happens 😃

This is why partnering with the father in his work 6 days rest on the Biblical Sabbath is so important!!! 4 years in and I’ll never go back it’s so fulfilling

I’m loving this podcast… I’m 20min in, getting stuff done and laughing about the mop talk. My mom also raised me with mopping on hands and knees, or it wasn’t clean!! We didn’t own a mop until I was 15yrs old!! We only got it because my mom was then raising a newborn so she decided to take a shortcut. I still remember that day… I was SOOO HAPPY!! 😂 My memory is terrible but I remember the day my mom finally bought a mop 🙌🏼. Today I use my Norwex mop and absolutely love it! I also mop on my hands and knees sometimes, purely out of habit.

I've suffered from a chronic illness for thirty-four years which has greatly hampered my productivity and happiness. Now I'm bed-ridden most of the time, and can only get up and do light work or sit and talk with a friend for 5 to 10 minutes. Then the pain becomes unbearable and I have to return to bed. I'm happiest on days when I can accomplish things. I think God made us that way. That we should always be helping make the world a better place, such as cleaning or offering an encouraging word to another. There are many days when it is all I can do to get out of bed to use the bathroom. I'm rarely bored; only on those days when I am too sick to do anything, such as when I had COVID-19. I spend a lot of time on RU-vid learning new things about peoples, places, or things. And I play lots of Sudoku and Solitaire to challenge my mind. I can get a sense of accomplishment by completing the Daily Challenges. Maybe that will help you too.

I write to-do lists and then I ignore them 😂😮

When you are sick and “ resting”, that’s not restful. Hope you feel better soon. Then you will feel happier too!

I have alarms set for my medication, I make prayer my first conscious thought of the day. Now I'm working to add my Bible study to the day. Next will be 15 minutes of exercise each day, 5 days a week. And finally, 30 minutes on each of my projects every day 5 days a week. I want to spend most of my Saturday resting, but I have 3 tasks to do, which are clean out my cars and plan next week.

I looove the shortcuts idea! The other day instead of sweeping with the broom i vacuumed the house & it prevented dust flying up as much & i felt it was done so much faster.... i didn't time it but it felt faster so that worked out well

Listening to this for the fourth time again today~ it really got my tired butt moving! Thank you ❤

Girrrl why you wallpapering bathrooms while you have pneumonia?? 😅 You're crazy lol 💕please get well soon! I got all my groceries put away while listening to you and got some recycling sorted and put away where it goes. I've been having my groceries delivered and it makes a HUGE difference for me. Not affiliated and I hope this is ok, but I use Trello for my to do lists. I just love the dopamine I get from checking a task off and it literally gets crossed out. Of course I spent ages setting all my lists up the way I wanted them 😅but that was fun to me too. It's indeed all about finding the 'hacks' and shortcuts that make your life easier!

Hello from Sweden🇸🇪🇸🇪These are Some very great and Useful Habits... Thank you...🙏🏻🤗💖 And here is a 6th Bonus Habit one..... Do some research when it comes to your DAILY ENERGY RYTHM .... And do the most important/hard/boring Task during the time of the Day when you have the most ENERGY..... HEY activites that we feel happy about when doing them or other fun things that fills us with energy, these things we can do when we are low on energy because the refill us with thst so important needed ENERGY... .Happy Continuing Easter to Everyone!🤗💖🐣🐤🌱🌱🥀🍀🌱💖🤗🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪

Fend For Yourself!?!?!? That's what I called it and my kids are 25 to 35 now! 😅😂 So glad to hear it-ty for the memories 🥰

Cas, we are sick like you at our house too! Here's an episode idea, minimums when we are sick. I found lots of thoughts on recovery cleaning, but none on minimums for responsible adults who no longer live with a June Cleaver TV fantasy full time mom. 😂

Today Good Friday I took neighbor to dialysis ( I do this Mon - Wed - Fri). Everyday coffee with my 85 yr old mom, two loads of laundry & put away (folded), dishes done & my Bible reading (which is priority everyday like my mom). Will be taking friend to hospital for test at noon. Plus yes I make a daily to do list. I do wish I would exercise more. House tidied up. It's just me so no brainer. I do forget to eat everyday 😂😂, if I eat one meal I've done so good 😂😂. I do have a timer set for afternoon meds or I forget to take them 🤦🤦. On line ordering & pick up scares me. I wanna pick out my produce 😂😊.

We have EWYWWR (eat whatever you want, within reason) nights. It is pronounced eeewey wooer!

Cas...hope you continue to feel better each day!!! 🙏🏼❤️ You might have to take your 5K training a little bit slower til you're fully recovered from pneumonia...please consult your doctor for his/her recommendation!!! 😘❤️

Lately my husband had vision loss since Friday. I have been doing more things for him, dinners, getting his meds, .

I love your talks Cas! So much truth, empathy and insight on how we live & want to live. Its easy to get inspired & take 'baby steps' after enjoying your podcast. Thank you, big hugs!

Thank you Cas! Get well soon and Happy Easter!!💛🌿🐣🌿💛

❤️✨get well soon!

You hit the nail on the head. Thanks Cas ❤️

Wish you quick recovery 💕 garlic & sour cucumber/cabbage make wonders, try. Thank You for sharing your knowledge 💐

All great tips - thank you!! Feel better soon, Cas!

Such great wisdom...inspiring and motivating! Thank you, Cas!

#1 for. A Happier Life Watch Your Pod casts !😁😁😁

Cas, you've got pneumonia, and you're rockin' productivity!

I love fend for yourself nights. I do this mostly when we have a variety of leftovers and I don’t want to cook.

You are an inspiration! Take care of yourself. Love your podcast.❤️❤️❤️

This is very useful for me and I'm grateful. ....but please rest well too pneumonia is pretty bad ...allow yourself to be I'll.....get all your vitamins.get well soon.broken butterfly x

Gosh Cass, I hope you feel better soon. I enjoy your videos immensely you and the minimal mom have helped me make my home so easy to keep up with. I appreciate all you do and I will continue to support you because you support us. Thanks so so much.

Cas, I hope you feel better soon. It was a great video. I can relate to all of the time wasters - I do them all - cooking from scratch takes a lot of time, stuff shuffling and grocery shopping multiple times a week. I also do some of the time savers, salad with chicken on top everyday for a week. As a family, we are trying to reduce the trips to the grocery store that I make every week. I also do grocery shopping for my dad. We now have an "All out of" list on the refrigerator. We are all trying to use the list with the goal of 1 trip to the grocery store every week. My husband and I shop together at Costco maybe once a month. We both fell for the flower bulbs one year and agreed not to do that again.

Thank you Cas!!! Always love your videos!!

Bless your little heart!!

Thanks for the motivation!

❤❤❤❤love this video...sooooo inspiring

This was great!!

love the haircut!

Great video! I think this is the wisdom of our 40’s!!! Being ill and quarantine taught me a lot!

I actually do the bulk of my grocery & pet supply shopping at Target. I've been very good at not purrchasing unnecessary extras. I'll go to Sprouts & Petco for specific items I can't get at Target. 😸

Love this! You are such a blessing! 🩷

Wow! Productive people, happy people don’t let the details bog Them down… thank you for putting into words, I feel validated. I am not a detailed person, but I get stuff done- thank you Cas

Watching you makes me motivated to clean the kitchen today every time when am watching you I put on my headphones and start to clean So thanks for the motivation

I was finding doing a daily to-do list important to get myself focused, but I became frustrated and down on myself because of things beyond my control, keeping me from completing it. So, now I also do a daily done list. It goes on my to-do list, but then I cross it out. I like that sense that I am actually getting something accomplished!

Thank you thank you for the ahaha moment... why I’m wondering why life just feels like just spinning my wheels. I can see now that I don’t have goals to accomplish like life milestones.

Truth! ❤

Wishing you a speedy recovery Cas! And thanks a bomb for these wonderfully awesome life hacks. 😃🙏🏽

Cas, Just finished your book The Clutter Connection. Loved it! Really help me understand my organizing process. This bee is learning how to live with a cricket and a ladybug! You're awesome!!

Thank you so much for this. I’d been feeling guilty b/c I seem to keep getting stuck on small projects while the rest of the house remains a bit of a mess. Your perspective helped me realize I’m just sick and tired of stuff-shuffling! I recently felt guilty for spending time to make a custom holder for my sewing scissors and some small items that needed a home. But now we won’t have to rip everything apart to find these items, which will definitely save time in the long run. It’s taking longer this way but I won’t be picking up the same stuff all over again next week!🩵

Thank you so much Cass! Your podcasts always make me feel so much better and give me the boost I need! Hope you feel much better really soon!

You are so right. School prepares us to become "good consumers/followers" and kills initiative.

Thank you for such a good video!!! ❤❤❤

Great video! I love your motivational talks. Thank you

You reminded me of something I once heard Pastor Chuck Swindoll say. “It’s all in the daily’s.” This was advice his grandparents’ hired hand told him when he visited their Texas farm as a little boy. The key to life was all in what you do daily.

Decluttering photos. That's my 10 minutes a day thing. My larger goal is to declutter my home office. (Photos and memorabilia are in my office). Cas this is a great podcast-- I want to apply it to my life for sure--but please take time to really rest. Wallpapering the bathroom doesn't sound like rest to me. Of course maybe it is for you... 😅

Gr8 advice! Last 4 months i clean tidy declutter do laundry and wash dishes everyday. It took me an hour everyday I don’t have a cleaning day or laundry day. So i enjoy weekends now! Also my house is clean more than ever❤

Aloha! So funny, just before i listened to this I cleaned my kitchen counters, did my dishes, did some laundry, did my floors and I was thinking "THANKS CAS FOR THE MOTIVATION!!" (From previously 😅) I left home to pick up the kids and thought I'd listen to something and this came up!! I am happily listening now! Mahalo! I will do my goal list soon! I needed to hear this! ❤😂

Finally figured out why i have no energy to get things done since December, low iron! TMI: had IUD removed at that time and had periods again. I get up to do things like the dishes or clean the floor and I feel like I'm going to collapse onto the floor in a puddle. Of course my low blood work is "normal" according to my Dr! 😡😡 Oh well iron supplements it is!

Hope you are feeling better! I'm going to spend 10mins a day (rain or shine) on getting my garden ready for spring planting.

I use each Monday for 20 mins. 7 intend 2 mins each. Done for housework for week. Week1- front n back porch clean daily. Declutter : Week 2. - kitchen - daily. 5 min Declutter : dishes , pot n pan, m-f kitchen reset Week 3. Bathroom (s).. clean & SPARE ROOM , I add dining room also. Week 4. Master bedroom n closet &. Children room . Week 5 & week 1. Front porch, outdoor light fixtures, windows mirror. Mailbox : vacuum - blow off dust dirt n leave.. every month. If I forget where I am I look at calendar check the date to the week 1-4 & 5 week Laundry. : daily load dog cats mine his ; bedding on Monday. This is my monthly schedule to keep it in line. . I do yard work @ 15 min intervals. As I see something needs to be done. ( I’m not a list person) . Leaves. Overgrowth, barn area . Hire for yard work , home repairs , and dump the unused items. Trash n stored stuff.

😆 I'm sure planting then watching the bulbs flower in your garden (maybe some around those beautiful trees) will give you much pleasure 🌷

It's hard to do 10 minute steps to goals when you are an all or nothing person. But it really changes everything.

Hi Cas I hope you get well soon! You are amazing at what you do and thank you for all your hard work!! ❤

I am unpacking a cardboard box of Dad's ties and refolding them into a pretty bin to fit in a cubicle in my craft room. I only wanted to nap but a sense of accomplishment helps me feel awake. Thank you.

Great video!

Thank you. Just decluttered a whole storage box of cd cases while listening.

This was an AWESOME video! EVERY idea was excellent! I have already incorporated many of these, and will plan to implement the others very soon!! God BLESS!! Hoping you have fully recovered by now! Stay well! 🤗

I have a Task List on the notes section of my phone and then have it broken down into three sections. Priority 1: urgent attention/do today or next couple days. Priority 2: would like to do in near future, or if tasks from priority list 1 done then pick an easy task from list two as I’m usually running on a motivational high (ex: clean fridge). Priority 3: I don’t want to forget to do but there is no urgency or priority (ex: tire rotation, research xyz, paint kitchen).

I have a book with 2 week menu & 1 week menu. .. snak, breakfast: lunch: dinner. It’s easy to follow . Every week it’s the same : easy to follow!

Hope you heal up completely & soon

I have trouble motivating myself to finish small projects like painting the basement floor or power washing the driveway. I eventually do it, but I look at it and think about it for months before I do it. I wish I could get myself to do it right away. I'm not lazy. But I'm lazy.

We don't use mops in Pakistan every house hold here use old towels cut in short size and it cleans the floors like nothing and also its a good exercise for belly and thighs whenever you clean the floors with that rag