“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
Lao Tzu

“The distance is nothing; it is only the first step that is difficult.”
Madame Marie du Deffand

Making a positive change in your life does not have to be about making a huge leap.

But I believe that belief is one of those things that hold people back from improving their life and world.

A simpler way that more often results in actual action being taken and new habits being established – in my life at least – is to take smaller steps but many of them.

So today I’d like to share 10 quick habits that can help you to change your life in just 2 minutes or so a day.

Through these small steps you can start to build habits that become stronger and over time can change your life in ways you perhaps can’t imagine now.

To remember to actually do one of the things below each day I recommend writing down a simple reminder.

Put it on your nightstand so that you see it when you wake up each morning. Or put the note in your workspace so you see it early in your day.

If you like and if possible, expand on the small habit after a week or two and do it for just a few more minutes a day.

1. Just start working for 2 minutes on your most important task.

I use this one at least one day every week.

On some days I simply don’t feel like getting started with work. I’d much rather stay lazily on the sofa.

So on such days I just start to work for 2 minutes on my most important task.

That is the deal.

The thing is: getting started is pretty much always the hardest part.

After I have started moving and been at work for those 2 minutes it is usually pretty easy to just continue working on that task.

2. Review and appreciate your day at the end of it.

If you do good things during the day and get things done then that can raise your self-esteem. If you reflect upon that you have done so that is.

So take two minutes of the end of your workday. Appreciate what you did and what you thought.

That is what I will do when I am done with this article and workday.

3. Set a low bar for happiness for the day.

One thing I like to tell myself when I wake up in the morning is this: “Have a low bar for happiness today.”

As I tell myself this and try to keep it in mind during the day I appreciate things more.

The food, my work, the weather, the small events of the day becomes not everyday stuff but something I feel happy to have.

The small or what may be something one takes for granted becomes something I now often pause for a moment or two to take in and appreciate.

But if I become happier in my everyday life for the smaller things does that mean that I become unmotivated to keep working towards the bigger things?

Nope.

This way of looking at my life actually fuels me with more energy and inspiration, life becomes lighter and I feel less inner resistance as I explore and work towards both small and bigger things.

4. Breathe when stressed.

When stress catches up with you, when you start to feel anxious, irritated and or fearful because of it then take 2 minutes.

Sit down.

Breathe through your nose and do it rather deeply with your belly.

Focus on just for your breathing for those 2 minutes. Nothing else.

This will calm your mind down and you can resume your work in a more focused and relaxed mood after that.

5. Open up your senses to what is here now.

Pull yourself out of the past where you relive an old conflict and drag yourself further down a depressing spiral. Pull yourself out of the the future where you imagine a catastrophe at your next meeting, date or presentation.

Place yourself and your attention on where you really are. Here and now.

Do so by sitting down for 2 minutes.

See what is right in front of you.

Listen to the birds and cars outside.

Feel the sun shining in through the window onto your clothes and skin.

Sense the small draft from one of the windows.

Be here fully with all your senses for those 2 minutes.

This will relax your mind and body. Thinking will become easier. And an optimistic viewpoint will feel more natural.

6. When you feel the need to judge someone tap into understanding instead.

When you feel the need to judge someone you know or may not know then take 2 minutes. Ask yourself these two questions:

• What parts of this person can I see in myself?
• How is he or she like me?

Why do that instead of judging?

Because no one wants to be judged in a negative way and doing so to the people in your life doesn’t help to build good relationships.

Plus, the amount you tend to judge others often tends to be how much you judge yourself too.

So help yourself to live a more positive life in those two ways by pausing when feeling the need to judge and then choose something better.

7. Think for a minute and give someone a genuine compliment.

Spend one minute on coming up with something you really and genuinely appreciate about someone in your life and that is in the same room as you at some point during the day.

Spend the other minute or less on telling him or her the compliment.

She or he will be happy. You’ll feel good about yourself and probably get some positive feelings too from the now happy and complimented person.

It’s a good and small way to build more positive relationships.

8. Hug.

It’s a small thing but physical intimacy can reduce stress and make us feel good. So spend 2 minutes of your day on hugging.

Like compliments it can be a simple way to build warmer and more positive relationships with all kinds of people in your life.

Just use your common sense before you start hugging.

9. Be interested instead of interesting.

At the start of a conversation or to break the ice spend two minutes on asking one or a couple of questions about someone you are talking to and his or her life.

Pay attention and don’t just wait for your turn to talk again.

The interest you give will most likely be returned and you can start to build not only a good conversation but also a giving and fulfilling relationship for the two of you no matter what kind of relationship it may be.

10. Mix things up.

Try the opposite…

• Have the vegetarian dish if you always go for the meat.
• Walk away from a stupid conflict instead of making it worse.
• Let one thing go if you often cling to things.
• Say yes to something spontaneous if you often say no and stick with your daily routine.

Take 2 minutes or less in one common or negative situation in your life today, pause for a brief reflection and then make a decision that is uncommon for you.

Make a habit of mixing things up to have more fun. To grow your life in small or bigger ways. To add unexpected experiences.

To make it easier and simpler to step out of your comfort zone in general when you really need to.

And to feel alive.

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Feeling less than our best or insecure is something that we all experience from time to time. However, we don’t have to let these feelings prevent us from leading our lives or becoming the type of person we want to be. If you’re looking for ways to build yourself up, here are 10 quick tips for boosting your confidence so you’re ready to transform into your best self.

1. Look The Part

Whether or not we feel confident can often be associated with what we’re wearing. Clothes that we feel and look great in are naturally going to promote a positive response. If you haven’t updated your wardrobe in a while, consider looking for some new items like dresses that you can wear to the office or out with friends. Bonus if you can make it work for both by swapping your accessories!

2. Take Good Care Of Yourself

Taking good care of yourself is crucial to your physical and mental health. When you’re staying on top of your health, you’re going to feel much better and look your best. You can start doing this by exercising daily, eating healthy, and incorporating supplements into your routine.

3. Try Out Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations are an exercise in which you repeat a specific phrase in order to help you focus on positive aspects of yourself or what you wish to achieve. For example, look at yourself in the mirror and repeat, “I am beautiful and confident” a few times to yourself to get into the right headspace before you go forth and conquer the day.

4. Talk It Out

When you’re lacking confidence, sometimes talking about it can make all the difference. Start with some friends or family you trust. If you’re really struggling with confidence, reaching out to a professional who can help you gain some more insight and provide you with the tools you need can be the best way to cope with feelings of inadequacy and move forward. Whether your therapist employs talk therapy or exposure therapy, you can get the help you need to reclaim your positive self-image.

5. Give Yourself A Makeover

Switching up our look and trying out new things can help us discover a new appreciation for ourselves or even transform ourselves into the person we wish to be. Take some time to figure out how you can unlock a new you, no matter how little change or how much change is involved along the way.

6. Find Positive People

We shouldn’t rely solely on external validation to feel good about ourselves. However, hearing about how stunning we look or how awesome we are can feel great coming from another person. Surround yourself with positive people who aren’t afraid to give you a compliment. If you’re single and haven’t dated in a while, dust off your phone and see if you can find someone to connect with who will do exactly this.

7. Change What You Can (And Accept What You Can’t)

Everyone has things that they wish they could change about themselves. That being said, there are things we can change and things we can’t. If you’re experiencing something like hair loss, for example, there are solutions out there that could restore your hair or even make it look like you never lost your hair. However, things like the color of your eyes are permanent. If you can change something, change it. If you can’t, embrace it as one of the things that make you unique!

8. Do Something That Makes You Feel Powerful

When we do something that we’re passionate about, it kicks up our positivity and confidence to the next level. Whether you like helping others, kicking butt in your favorite video game, or hitting that high note, find something that you’re great at and do it to give you that sense of power you’re looking for.

9. Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

The comparison game can be easy to fall into. However, both you and your journey are unique and can’t be compared to anything else. Celebrate your victories and the things that make you special. After all, there’s only one of you!

10. Set Small Goals And Achieve Them

If you’re feeling like you’re just not getting any wins lately, try finding some smaller goals to tackle. This could be something as simple as clearing out a whole room or reorganizing your books by color. When you set these small goals and achieve them, you’ll feel happier and more accomplished. This will then set you up to tackle bigger goals and give you the confidence you need to crush them over time.

You’re The Key To Unlocking Your Confidence

The power to feel great about yourself lies within you. Whenever you start to doubt your personal power or greatness, return to this guide to use these tips and get your self-esteem back in order.

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“Don’t be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. One man gets only a week’s value out of a year while another man gets a full year’s value out of a week.”
Charles Richards

There are many important things in life.

Your family and friends. A hobby perhaps. Working out and staying healthy. 

The most important relationship in your life. And reading, learning and growing as a person.

But finding the time for what is most important in life is not always easy. It sometimes feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day.

But even if it may not feel like it, there are often ways to improve how you use your attention and your time.

This week I’d like to share 6 of the best questions I have found for doing just that and for shaking yourself out of a rut.

1. What are the top 3 most important priorities in my life right now?

With a lack of focus on what is most important in your life it becomes easy to spend too much time and energy on aimless actions or work.

On things that aren’t really that important but you do out of old habit or because of other unhelpful reasons.

To keep your attention in the right place it is essential to remind yourself every day of what is truly most important to you.

So ask yourself: what are the top 3 most important priorities in my life right now?

Write those three things down on two notes and put one in your workspace and the other one on your bedside table.

2. What are the 1-3 most common distractions that keep me from doing my work in a focused way?

Figure out how you can prevent those things from distracting you. It could be by:

• Shutting the door to your office.
• Putting your phone in silent mode.
• Having notifications for your email or an instant messaging program/app shut off.

3. What are the 1-3 most common distractions that keep me from having quality time with the people closest to me?

The answer could for instance be your smart phone, TV-shows you just watch out of routine and not because you like them very much or bringing your work back home.

Then figure out how you can reduce or eliminate those distractions.

4. What is one healthy limit I can start setting in my life this week?

One of the smarter ways to simplify your life and to free up time is to set limits.

Here are a few key areas that you can set powerful and healthy limits for:

• Your daily input. Reduce the number of blogs, newsletters, magazines, book clubs, podcasts, TV-shows etc. you follow. Just keep the ones you are really getting something out of.
• Email. Just check and process your email during one chunk of time once per day. Instead of checking it 10 times or more each day.
• Social activities. Write down a list of the social activities you are involved in after school or work. Maybe you are involved in a club or an activity that it is not as fun or rewarding as it used to be. Maybe you want to rearrange your priorities a bit to focus on something else this fall.

5. How can I minimize or eliminate one thing I may have missed?

What else can you eliminate or minimize?

Some meetings at work or in school? Redditing or some online forum you hang out on a lot?

Really question and reconsider your own daily and weekly habits regularly instead of moving along in the same old tracks just because it is what you usually do.

6. What is one piece of unnoticed or misused piece of free time during my regular day?

There is often quite a bit of open travel- or waiting-time during a year.

What will you use such time for as we go into the fall this year?

Perhaps you would like to read more while riding the train or while waiting for a meeting to start.

I, for example, often listen to podcasts while I’m out and about or while waiting for a meeting.

Even if you only have 10-20 minutes of commuting time each day you still have a many, many hours in a year that you may want to, at least partly, use in a new way.

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The term “lovingkindness” has long been a staple within the spiritual community, with experts like Jack Kornfield basing their life’s work on teaching it’s power to the masses. Especially in the last decade, the concept of mindfulness as a whole has surged in popularity; even our youngest generations are learning emotional intelligence & self-acceptance at a speed unlike ever before.

After I was taught the concept of lovingkindness – which, in a nutshell, means to allow things to be as they are and accept them as they come – I was fascinated by it’s simple yet powerful message. As I sunk deeper into its teachings and started applying it to my own life, I began to wonder: can you really cultivate a better relationship with the world around you just by changing your perspective?

As someone who has dealt with everything from cystic acne to severe eczema, I’ve had my fair share of low self-esteem moments. By applying the teachings of mindfulness and lovingkindness to all facets of my life, though, I’ve been able to bring back a new, improved type of healing that I, truthfully, never knew I needed – even when it comes to my skincare ritual.

Looking for ways to improve your relationship with your skin? Tired of feeling frustrated and defeated when you look in the mirror, despite how many expensive oils and treatments you lather on? It might be time to cultivate a healthier relationship with your skin and start accepting what you can’t control (aka, everything). Here’s a few quick ways to apply the concepts of mindfulness and lovingkindness to your ritual and start loving yourself 100%.

Speak Kind Words 

The way we speak to ourselves really does make a difference in our overall wellbeing. After all, if you’re spending all your time hating your skin and critiquing every “flaw”, you probably aren’t going to feel very good about it, are you? Instead, here’s permission to give yourself a break in the form of a compliment.

It sounds silly, but there’s a reason the word kind appears so much in the practice of mindfulness & lovingkindness. We often extend the most grace to others, but when it comes to ourselves, we tend to fall short. We’re even less likely to do so if there’s something that we don’t like about ourselves, such as our skin.

The next time you see something you don’t like, refrain from being critical of it right away. Instead, find something kind to say to yourself in that moment. Although it seems small, even one moment of kindness towards yourself can plant the seed of self-love, which only blooms the more you do it. Give it a go for a week and see how you feel after.

Slow Yourself Down 

It’s easy to blow through your day without paying much attention to the little things that happen, especially when you’re juggling multiple important tasks at once. But part of mindfulness is about slowing life down and being intentional with each action you take, so why not take advantage of this concept in your skincare ritual?

Even if you can’t slow down the majority of your life, you can carve out a few extra minutes to give your skin the attention it’s craving from you, especially if it’s irritated or inflamed. Even if your skin mood isn’t ideal, taking your time applying each cream and lotion is an act of self-love in itself. Appreciate the feeling of every product – what does it feel like to apply your moisturizer? How does your skin react to your nightly oil?

Bringing mindfulness to your ritual is a way to press pause on the hectic hamster wheel of life and gives you a chance to truly relish in the luxury of taking care of your body with intention. Most importantly, taking a break from the constant go-go-go of life is important to managing stress, a major contributing factor in angry skin moods.

Find Your Moment Of Zen 

Even if you slow your ritual down, you can still feel distracted or otherwise occupied while going through the motions – and that’s ok. Part of mindfulness is observing your thoughts and feelings as they occur, but not attaching yourself to or judging them.

If your skincare ritual feels too involved and you can’t relax while you do it, there’s other opportunities to practice lovingkindness and mindfulness that are beneficial. Love a good mask moment? Why not put one on for 15-20 minutes and sit with your thoughts while it works it’s magic?

If you’re familiar with the practice of meditation, you can use this time to do so – apps like Headspace make it easy to fit meditation into whatever pocket of time you have. If meditation isn’t your jam, though, no pressure –  you can simply sit in a quiet, calm place and observe your thoughts as they come. Be sure to notice your breath and be intentional with each inhale and exhale, as well.

Keep A Skin Journal 

Putting your thoughts on paper can provide a valuable perspective on your relationship with yourself, especially when it comes to your skin. Jotting down your thoughts can help cut through the static of everyday life and get you to the root of why you feel the way you do. It’s also a great way to log any changes to your complexion, which is a great way to ensure your ritual is still beneficial, or if it could use some tweaking to better serve you.

Try setting aside 5 minutes after you complete your skincare ritual to check in and write about your feelings towards skin. It doesn’t matter what you say or how you say it, so don’t get stuck in the minutiae – the important thing is to lay it all out and observe your thoughts afterward. What patterns do you notice? How do you feel after re-reading your own words?

Whether it’s adding extra “me” time or logging your perception, you may be surprised at what you notice when you’re intentional with your actions and incorporate the art of mindfulness into your skincare ritual.

*collaborative post

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“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap.’
If you want happiness for a day — go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.”
Chinese Proverb

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”
Helen Keller

Happiness must not always come from big things and events. It can come from smaller, daily habits too.

So today I’d simply like to share 3 quick tips and habits that help me to live a happier life.

1. Start by setting a low bar for happiness.

When you wake up in the morning tell yourself: “Set a low bar for happiness today.”

When I tell myself this and try to keep it in mind during the day I appreciate things more.

The food, my work, the weather, the small events of the day becomes not everyday stuff but something I feel happy to have.

The small things or what may be something one takes for granted becomes something I now often pause for a moment or two to take in and appreciate.

But if I become happier in my everyday life for the smaller things does that mean that I become unmotivated to keep working towards the bigger things?

Not in my experience.

This way of looking at my life instead fuels me with more energy and inspiration, life becomes lighter and I feel less inner resistance as I explore and work towards both small and bigger things.

I recommend to give this one a try and to see how it works for you.

And to use a reminder on your phone or on paper so you’ll more easily keep that low bar at the forefront of your mind.

2. Help someone out.

Helping someone out is one of simplest but also one of the most powerful things one can do to live a happy life.

How can you help someone out? By giving them value in some form.

Here are a handful of ideas for how to do that.

Offering some practical help.

With for example work, moving houses or cooking dinner.

Giving some good advice.

People may not always want advice but if they ask then give your best advice based on your experience.

Hugs.

The comfort of one hug or more can make the other person’s situation at least a bit better.

Encourage someone.

There is much discouragement in the world. So instead, be an exception and encourage people to believe in themselves and what they want to do.

Just listen.

Sometimes people don’t want any help. They just want to vent or for someone to listen as they figure things out and release pent up emotions.

It may not seem like much but it can be an immense help for someone who needs it. So be there fully – don’t sit there thinking about something else – and listen.

Put things into perspective.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in a problem and to make a mountain out of a molehill. But you can help out by adding your perspective.

The two of you can talk about it, perhaps laugh about it and even find the hidden opportunity within the problem that in one person’s head may have almost seemed like the sky was falling.

And remember to pat yourself on the back and appreciate yourself for helping someone out. Do not brush it off or make it smaller than it is.

Pause and take a moment to quietly reflect on how you did something good.

3. Be kind to yourself.

Being kind to yourself is a very helpful thing for healthy self-esteem and for living a happier life.

There are of course many ways to be kinder to yourself, but here are three good ones that I’ve found to be powerful.

Change your input to things that are kind and constructive.

Destructive messages from the people around you or from people further away such as media, advertising and society in general does not help you to be kind to yourself.

So, bit by bit, replace them with other daily and weekly input.

It could be the encouragement of friends and family and the help from someone close who has been in a situation that you are in now.

It could be practical personal development books and blogs that help you out with real solutions to the challenges you face and the goals you want to achieve.

Or it could be to spend more time in nature and in silence to relax and recharge yourself.

Compare yourself to yourself.

Comparing what you have and your results to what other people have and have accomplished can really kill your motivation and keep your self-esteem at a low level.

There are always people ahead of you.

So focus on you.

On what you have accomplished. And on how you can and have improved your results.

This is important because it’s a great motivator to see how much you have improved and how far you have come.

Give yourself a break.

I sometimes hear that you should always be positive or always be winning or working towards your goal. That may sound inspirational in theory.

But reality is not ideal or perfect and neither are you and I.

Life gets in the way sometimes. You may get in your own way. And sometimes you simply don’t have the energy or the courage or the time to do something.

And that’s OK.

Instead of trying to live up to some perfect image that other people and/or you may press upon you, choose to set human standards for yourself.

Choose to give yourself a break when things don’t go as you may have wished and choose to cut yourself some slack.

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Selling your house can be a particularly stressful time in your life, but there are ways to make the whole process a lot easier. Today we’d like to focus on some of the ways you can prepare your house to ensure it is ready for market. Click here and continue to read for some quick and stress free ways to sell your house faster.

Redecorate

Of course you’re not going to want spend lots of money redecorating your house when you’re going to be moving soon. That being said, it is worth investing a little bit of money in freshening it up with a lick of paint. Neutral colours are best as it helps to lighten the space and make it look larger, which will naturally appeal more to buyers. Not everyone has the same taste in decor, but a neutral blank canvas will allow potential buyers to visualise how they can make the house their own

Make Sure It Smells Nice

According to Ideal Home, the top smell that will make people more likely to buy your home is freshly baked bread, so it’s time to roll up those sleeves and get kneading. The smell of fresh bread evokes memories of childhood; it is comforting and homely and this helps to create an overall picture of what it could be like to live in that home. For the same reason, we also love the smell of freshly ground coffee.

One thing you must make sure of is that there are no nasty smells lurking around. Blocked drains (click here for help with that), pet smells (definitely don’t have any cat litter trays lying around), teenage bedrooms (open those windows pronto!) are all massive no no’s if you want to sell your house fast. If need be, bring in a professional cleaner to give your house a thorough clean and then you will find it easier to keep on top of for any future house viewings.

Focus On The Things Your House Has To Offer

People will often try to find out any problems with a house before they buy it, it’s simple human nature, so focus instead on showing them the positive and unique features of the house. Now that more of us are working from home, potential buyers are more likely to want a separate space to work in and they will want to know that it has good network connections, which someone like Leaseml.com should be able to assist with in some way. If you don’t have a designated work space it might be worth considering converting a spare bedroom into one, purely for selling purposes. It won’t take much time to move a desk and chair in there, and put a few plants and pictures up to help create the right atmosphere. Selling your house is all about creating a dream environment for people so you need to think about the most sought after rooms. Kitchens and bathrooms have always been good selling points, but now the work from home space is very much in demand, so make sure you can meet this requirement.

Declutter By Having A Yard Sale

People will be instantly turned off if they enter a house and are confronted with lots of mess and clutter. Not only does it not show your house off at its best, but it also gives the impression that you haven’t looked after the house while you’ve lived there and will make them wonder what other issues could be lurking.

Before you have any viewings it is advisable to spend a bit of time decluttering your house, getting rid of all those unwanted items either by donating them to charity or by holding a yard sale to make a little bit of extra money that can go towards your removal fees. Talking of which, if you manage to get rid of some of your belongings there will be less for the removal company to pack up and therefore your fee should be cheaper too – it’s a win win!

If you follow the advice above we’re certain you will find a buyer for your house in no time at all, and if you don’t… well you’ll get to enjoy lots of lovely fresh bread in the process!

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Cooking in a microwave may seem old-school compared to using trendy gadgets like an Instant Pot or air fryer, but anyone who’s made fast and easy microwave meals knows what a valuable kitchen tool it is.

But microwaves aren’t just for making instant ramen.

According to Ilana Muhlstein, M.S., R.D.N., Beachbody nutrition expert and creator of 2B Mindset, there’s no need to shy from the microwave.

“It’s not bad for you and has been used safely for a long time. This tool is useful for helping you shave time off meal prep. You’ll have fewer pots and pans to wash as well,” she says.

While you can make healthy microwave meals, using the microwave alone won’t necessarily give you the flavor development that grilling, baking, or pan-frying will provide.

But using a microwave during your cooking process means you’ll spend less time preparing a meal and more time enjoying it!

Here are some top time-saving microwave hacks to help you get food on the table in no time.

1. Whip up fluffy eggs

Fancy some eggs in the AM but not awake enough to deal with a hot stove? You can use the microwave for cooking eggs in just a few minutes.

“Egg mugs are great for making omelets,” says Muhlstein. “Just crack two eggs into a microwave-safe mug. Microwave for one minute, then stir in some cheese, onions, or seasoning, and microwave some more until it’s done.”

2. Make crispy turkey bacon

Using the microwave is the easiest (and maybe even healthiest) way to cook bacon. You’ll be crunching on crispy bacon in no time.

Place a single layer of turkey bacon on paper towels and cover it with more paper towels. Microwave 30 seconds at a time until crispy.

Bonus: The paper towels soak up excess grease!

3. Cook spaghetti squash safely

Muhlstein’s favorite trick is to prep spaghetti squash in the microwave.

“It can be dangerous to slice fresh spaghetti squash because the knife can easily slip,” she says. “I recommend popping a whole squash into the microwave for 3 minutes to soften it up and make it easier to slice.”

Even better: You can use the microwave to cook spaghetti squash all the way through. Just remember to poke it liberally all around the rind. Microwave for 10 minutes, slice, and use a fork to rake the flesh into strands of “noodles.”

Try this time-saving trick the next time you make Spaghetti Squash Lasagna or Barbecue Spaghetti Squash Sliders.

4. Bake a sweet potato

Baked sweet potatoes can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to cook. Use the microwave to get the same effect in just 5 minutes!

For detailed instructions, read How to Cook Sweet Potato in the Microwave.

Serve sweet potatoes as a dinner side dish, or make it a meal by loading your potatoes with savory toppings (Greek yogurt, cheese, green onions, turkey bacon) or sweet toppings (cinnamon, lightly candied nuts).

5. Speed up ripening bananas

If you’re craving banana bread or banana muffins, but your bananas aren’t quite ripe enough, use the microwave to speed up the process.

Simply poke a few holes in the banana skin and microwave for a minute or so. Then, use it in your recipe of choice.

6. Peel garlic faster

Peel garlic in a flash by popping a garlic bulb in the microwave. After just 20 seconds, your garlic will be softer and easier to peel.

Cloves will slide right out of the skins without clinging to your fingers or slowing you down!

7. Quick-steam veggies

A watched pot never boils, right? So skip the stove and quickly steam your vegetables in the microwave to serve alongside your main dish.

Put your chopped vegetables and a few tablespoons of water in a covered microwave-safe bowl, then microwave for a few minutes until they reach the desired doneness.

This strategy can help reduce cooking time for veggies that you plan to add into soups, pasta, fried rice, and stir-fries.

8. Thaw frozen meats quickly

Thawing frozen meats can take upwards of 30 minutes in the fridge or in cold water. Save time by using the microwave’s “Defrost” function.

Remember to remove meat from the foam tray and cook it immediately after it’s thawed.

9. Make a fast oatmeal

Cuddle up to comforting oats in the morning. Use a ratio of 1:1 old-fashioned oats to milk; for example, 1 cup of oats to 1 cup of milk.

Add a dash of cinnamon or honey, then microwave on high for 3 minutes. Serve with your favorite fruit or nuts.

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