October’s favorite product finds – from productivity hacks to home organization to smart devices to everything else in between.
Just when you think things couldn’t get any better they do, trust me, but not until they first get worse, and only then will they get better! That in a nutshell was what my October (and November) was like.
2020 has honestly been one of the best eye-opening as well as life-changing years of my life. Now, I am not denying all the hardships and pain the year has brought along with it, but at the same time, I am not going to take away the insurmountable amounts of good that it has also blessed us with.
All I did was to PIVOT as and when needed and tweak my approach and strategy, whether personal growth or professional life. And October was one heck of a roller coaster ride, to say the least, you can check out more details here and here.
So I will skip straight to my favorite product finds from the month in this post.
*Affiliate links used, incredibly thankful for your support.
RELATED POSTS
Loving these October Favorite Finds? Then check out my past monthly favorites post.
TOP 10 OCTOBER FAVORITE FINDS
1) BEST Office Chair for less than $70
For someone who has been working from home for a majority of these past 5 years, trust me when I say that I have tried quite a variety of office chairs. But somehow I always end up with this office chair in particular, because it is that ah-mazing! P.S. The one you see in my office is not this chair, that is a backup. Cuz the hubs has stolen mine (since he started working from home this year, gah), he loves it too! Who knew I’d have to give up that chair for this long.
This office chair is sturdy, extremely comfortable, and provides great back support. It is also stylish, and such a steal at its price. Definitely looks like a more expensive chair. The chair has adjustable tilt tension to adjust the resistance based on your preference. We have the white one and it doesn’t attract and/or hold onto dirt (something that I was worried about). The one we have now is our 2nd purchase, I used the 1st one for a long time and it had regular wear and tear from heavy usage. After donating the 1st chair I bought a few others but then went back to this one as others just didn’t fit my criteria).
2) Reusable Silicone Storage bags
I’ve tried a lot of reusable bags as there are a lot of options out there and despite the few complaints I have with this one, it is still the best that I have found and still regularly use. These storage bags are simple and easy (yep, you will be surprised that the reusable bags can be quite complex too, who would have thought!?).
The bags are completely sealed when closed and hence no leaks. These are dishwasher safe which is a huge win for me! You do need to manually dry them or let them dry out on their own. My biggest complaint is that sometimes I do need to clean them manually as the dishwasher won’t get to all the corners. And yet, this is the best reusable silicone storage bag that I have found (been using since our little one was born, it had also made the parents’ essentials list back then) so ok with that con for now.
3) Plant-Based Orgain protein powder
For those of you who have followed me on Instagram for a while, you know my relationship (more like my saga) with protein powders, haha. I’ve tried so many different brands but the organic Orgain protein powder is by far the best for so many reasons! To be honest, I hated having a protein shake until I tried Orgain’s Creamy Chocolate Fudge Flavor. Full Disclaimer: I have been using it for a few years now and haven’t had any issues but hubby feels constipated with regular use. I guess it all depends on what your body can handle.
I love Orgain’s taste, consistency, ingredients, and even the price is reasonable, especially when you buy it from Costco as they go on sale. P.S. Late last year they changed the flavor that they sold at Costco. Comes with added probiotics now, though that is better healthwise, I didn’t like the taste as much. So I tried a ton of various combinations and have now zeroed in on a recipe (will share that separately) that feels like a decadent indulgence as I break my intermittent fast every morning.
4) Multi-Surface Duster
Where was this Swiffer Multi-Surface Duster all my life? Like seriously, I picked these up a couple of years ago at Costco and have never looked back since. This duster is easy to get in those hard to reach areas and it picks up an amazing amount of dust and holds everything without dropping the dust back on to the surface or the floor.
This multi-surface duster is great for dusting electronics, furniture, knick-knacks, blinds, ceiling fans, air vents, and even the car interior. P.S. I have used the sustainable dusters in the past but they never did such a good job, so, unfortunately, had to resort to this use and throw option. I am certainly on the lookout for better sustainable options, if you know of any please let me know.
Related Post: Spring and Fall Cleaning Essentials and Tips.
5) Everything is Figureoutable
If you are just starting out on the journey of personal development and growth, then I highly recommend the Everything is Figureoutable book. But if you have been on that path for a while, then this book doesn’t offer many new ideas or hacks. It was the latter for me, and yet, I’d suggest you pick up a copy of the book.
I’ve been following Marie Forleo for quite some time and love her energy, enthusiasm, and honesty. And that is exactly what you get from her in the book too! The book has a lot of practical and actionable advice. I am a huge believer of Progress over perfection as well as stop making excuses and get to work, and Marie drives home the same points throughout the book. She shares a ton of real-life examples and offers several ‘insights to action’ exercises and challenges for the readers.
6) Moment App
I am quite certain that the majority of people reading this post are guilty of how much time they spend on their phones. I used to be that way too until, early last year, I took matters into my hands and kicked that habit out to the curb. I will be sure to share those details in a separate post (gave a sneak peek in my last Monthly Favorites post) but for now I want to talk about another app, Moment, to help you make a change. Take control of your phone and social media usage with Moment.
“Moment is like a Fitbit for your phone. It tracks exactly how much time you’re spending on WhatsApp, how many times you pick up your phone, and it even compares that to the average of other users. The app then lets you set a timed daily limit that you want to spend on your phone and then it sends you a reminder every 15 minutes when you go past that allotted time.”
7) Smart Plug
OK, the Smart Plug is a lifesaver whether you have a super curious toddler at home or you want to be lazy (or on the other hand be super productive), or you want extra peace of mind while away on vacation. If you are already an Alexa user (which I think you totally should be if you aren’t already!) the Smart Plug integrates easily with Alexa. The Smart Plug lets you voice control everything from your lights to coffee makers to everything else in between.
Firstly, I trick my little one when he just won’t stop – either when he is troubling Alexa by asking a bazillion questions while I am trying to get work done, or when he won’t let go of playing with lights just to annoy us… there’s a simple solution to address them all – a Smart Plug, and a small white lie, that they ran out of charge (hope it’s a long while before he figures it out, hey, a mom can wish!) But on a more serious note, with Away Lighting, Alexa can automatically turn connected lights on and off to make it look like you’re home when you’re away. All you need is an Alexa-enabled device like Echo, Fire TV, or even just the Alexa app on your phone.
Full Disclaimer: I am collaborating with Amazon, but this is my honest opinion and has nothing to do with the fact that I am partnering with them. I share about their products here on my own will (not part of the collaboration).
8) Marma mat
If you are a regular on my blog, then you must have already read my elaborate morning routine. And this Marma Mat got added to my routine as soon as I saw Radhi share about it on her channel. P.S. In case you didn’t know, I LOVE her and her pure soul! The first time I used the Marma Mat I could barely stand on it, but to my surprise the very next time my feet had gotten used to it. Interesting how flexible and adaptable our bodies are! Now my feet (and body) love it. I now use it every time I am in our master bathroom.
“The marma mat is inspired by the ancient wisdom and tradition of Ayurveda (Science of Longevity) and marma therapy. Marma therapy is a combination of pressure points and yoga asanas or postures whose function is to restore health and wellness, promote physical relief and body awareness, and improve mental acuity and longevity. As used by ancient warriors in India as a conditioning and recovery tool, the marma mat allows you to be your own personal massage therapist.”
9) Storage Organizer
Let’s face it, we can never have enough storage solutions, especially for our little ones’ innumerable teeny weeny things. After much research, I bought this storage organizer last year and since then it has moved all around the house based on our toddler’s growing needs and our ever-changing 2020 schedule. I especially like how big it is and how much stuff it can hold. Also makes it efficient to rotate toys so there aren’t a million toys all around the house at all times.
This storage organizer was easy to assemble and the removable bins help ease the cleanup process and to keep things organized. Even though we bought this to store toys, it can be used to store a ton of other things for adults and kids alike. It is perfect for organizing diapers and nursery items, clothes, toys, arts and crafts, books, office and school supplies, toiletries, garage storage, pet supplies, and more.
10) Stayfocusd
It is no surprise that I am always trying to be more and more productive! You gotta be, especially when you have a zillion things on your plate and you want to get them all done… So I am always on the lookout for tools to help me be more efficient and productive, day after day. And recently, I came across the Stayfocusd browser extension which assists me in doing just that.
“The Stayfocusd browser extension blocks distracting websites (Facebook, Instagram, News Channels anyone?) while you’re trying to work and thus making you more productive. You can block distractions either for set times and dates (like 9 to 5, Monday through Friday) or after you’ve reached a limit (e.g., no more than 30 minutes of Instagram per day). Sure, you could get around it by simply using a different browser, but the point is not to defeat your worst impulses. It’s to give you a tool that can aid your self-discipline toward a more productive life.”
“The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.”
Namaste,
Kusum
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