Reduce cognitive load with personal automation
There's a meme/webcomic that goes "and every week I have tasks. I did not ask for tasks." Of course it's a privilege to have tasks, but they wear you down. You have to eat, clean, and dress yourself. And buy the supplies to do these things. But here's the thing - you really don't need to spend time tracking, selecting, purchasing, and transporting those supplies, week after week.
Taking some of these decisions and efforts out of your life frees space. It might feel like small space, but the fewer personal administrative tasks you're managing, the more brainspace you have for rest (the kind of rest where your brain relaxes) and connection and whatever else. Take the time to begin automating your recurring purchases and decisions. Here's a list of tools and techniques to start with.
Groceries
It's not super desirable to order perishable goods by mail—you're risking items being less than fresh, getting warm in transit, or coming from further away than they need to in terms of your climate impact. But there are still great ways to automate filling your fridge and pantry.
Local CSAs (community-supported agriculture subscriptions): Get locally-produced produce and farm goods delivered to your door or to a central pickup location.
Thrive Market: Get a rich selection of pantry staples, like rice, noodles, cereal, oat milk, snacks, and peanut butter. Make sure to set up Autoship so they arrive without planning.
ButcherBox: I'm a vegetarian myself but my mom swears by this meat subscription for high quality, customizable orders that ensure her freezer is always packed with a great selection.
Cometeer Coffee: A new find for me from my BFF Bertha. Premade espresso shots arrive frozen and live in your freezer til you're ready to make iced coffee, lattes, Americanos, or whatever. Choose the flavors you like, and a boxful arrives on your schedule. Automatic espresso in recyclable packaging. Yes please.
Meal Subscriptions
Meal subscriptions can be tricky too. They often have a ton of packaging, come from the opposite coast (increasing your climate impact like yikes) and risk going bad in transit. There are great options in many communities to participate in meal prep subscriptions with local chefs who source food from local businesses and reuse containers. If those options aren't available for you, you can explore:
Get ready-to-heat-and-eat food from Factor or Daily Harvest.
Try well-known meal prep kits like Blue Apron or HelloFresh. If you use subscriptions like these, consider ordering kits for a family larger than yours, so you have lots of leftovers to supply lunches or dinner #2.
Household Supplies and Personal Care
Grove Collaborative is a straight up daymaker. Cleaning supplies like dish sponges, multi-purpose cleaner, and dish soap and house products like compostable sandwich bags, hand sanitizer, and paper towels just .... appear. Easily add stuff like toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, and body lotion to my bimonthly carts.
Ilia Beauty: I get most of my makeup from Ilia! Wonderful quality makeup that offers subscribe and save options, and takes back all containers for recycling.
For high quality shaving and skin care supplies, Billie and Harry's are great options to set up subscriptions that are low maintenance.
Pet Care
Okay this is definitely a niche one! But if your pup is anxious, subscribe to treats from Honest Paws.
General Tips
When buying from smaller or locally owned companies isn't possible, lean on service from big retailers. Have your items waiting for you when you order with Target online, for free. Add recurring items to Amazon Subscribe & Save, Petco, or Sephora subscriptions.
