Kate McDevitt
Bio
Just like the creations I build out of LEGO bricks or the stories I create on the page, I am constantly working on building a life and figuring out how to adult. I'm Just 1 Person Blog: http://imjust1person.com
Stories (60/0)
My Journey with Cleaning
I’m just 1 person who has always struggled to keep my spaces clean. Whether it was my childhood bedroom, my first apartment in college, or my house, “messy” has always been an appropriate word to describe my housekeeping style. Because I always have so much on my plate and I’m just 1 person, often cleaning, tidying up, and other housekeeping chores fall to the bottom of my list. My technique is usually to procrastinate until the mess is so bad it can no longer be ignored, at which time I finally break down and do a massive cleaning. It is not a strategy I would recommend.
By Kate McDevitt3 years ago in Lifehack
Earning Adult Merit Badges
I’m just 1 person who has always loved merit badges. Physical representations of things I’ve learned and accomplished are something I find so satisfying. Earning merit badges with my troop or on my own was definitely my favorite thing about being a scout when I was young. I loved flipping through the pages to find something fun and interesting to learn about and do next. I made my own merit badge books for my 101 Things in 1001 Days lists, self-publishing them so I could fill them out over the course of the challenge.
By Kate McDevitt3 years ago in Motivation
Sensational Sweden (Travel from Home #10)
It started with the realization that I could indulge my love for Fredrik Backman’s stories if I fake visited Sweden, so I put it next on my list of travel from home destinations. There is an IKEA near enough to me that I could conveniently pick up food from their food market as well. The amazing food, the book, the movie, and the music all combined to be one of my favorite travel from home trips yet.
By Kate McDevitt3 years ago in Wander
Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?
I’m just 1 person who has trouble answering this question: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? A typical job interview question, I’ve always viewed it as unfair. If I’m interviewing for a job, that means I’m facing a potential, significant change in my life. If I get the job for which I’m interviewing, the next five years ahead of me might look much different from what they would look like if I didn’t get the job. My location, time commitments, financial stability, professional skills, and more might be completely different.
By Kate McDevitt3 years ago in Journal
My 5 Things to Do Today
I’m just 1 person with a long To Do list. Some days, I’ve been known to have upwards of 40 items on my list. And if something goes onto my list, I feel a bit like a failure if I go to bed without completing it. As you might have guessed, the drive to do the impossible and feel completely accomplished leads to my staying up late to try to get work done and waking up feeling exhausted. The cycle of staying up late and hating when my alarm wakes me up the next morning is a tough one for me to break. Honestly, I’m still working on it. But I’ve got a trick that helps a bit.
By Kate McDevitt3 years ago in Motivation
Setting the Right Goals
I’m just 1 person who knows how to set the right goals. It’s taken me a lot of failing to figure out how to write a goal that will set me up for success and not frustration down the road. Here, I’ll go through the SMART method of creating goals and show examples of why each of the elements is important when setting personal goals, not just professional ones. The SMART method first appeared in an article by George T. Doran in the November 1981 issue of Management Review. The acronym has changed over the years in different hands and as it has been applied to different situations, fields, and projects. But, at its core, it is a framework that can help prevent you from creating the wrong goals.
By Kate McDevitt3 years ago in Motivation
My Journey with 101 Things in 1001 Days
I’m just 1 person who likes to do things. Back in 2007, I became aware of something called the 101 Things in 1001 Days challenge when an online friend of mine drew up a list and took it on. The basic idea was to come up with 101 things you wanted to do and try to do them in just 1001 days. That might seem overwhelming, but it averages out to about 3 things a month, which is less than 1 a week. There are many “one thing a week” challenges or even “one thing a day” challenges out there, and those are fantastic, but not sustainable for me in the long term. And, unlike new year’s resolutions, there was more of an emphasis on specific things to do and more time to do some of the larger things. Doing 101 things in 1001 days, I soon found, was not only the right pace for me but also highly beneficial.
By Kate McDevitt3 years ago in Motivation
7 Safety Essentials You Should Own
I’m just 1 person with a lot of tools to help me be safer. I’m not going to venture into controversial topics such as owning a handgun, because that is a personal decision based on your training, comfort, and experience. But I am going to make some suggestions about basic safety essentials I’d recommend you own, especially if you live alone like I do.
By Kate McDevitt3 years ago in Lifehack
5 Ways to Have a Safe Workout
I’m just 1 person who works out a lot. It’s so important to make sure to consider safety when you do anything physical. I’ve made plenty of mistakes in the past, like blowing out both knees at a trampoline park and having to do physical therapy for months. Here’s a helpful article from Men’s Journal about 15 Ways You Can Guarantee Yourself an Injury when working out. Don’t be one of those people. Work out smartly and safely. Below are some of my recommendations for being safe while getting fit. I admit to having violated at least two of these, so even those of us who work out regularly can always use a reminder.
By Kate McDevitt3 years ago in Longevity
A Weekend in Ireland (Travel from Home #9)
As St. Patrick’s Day is this month, and because I’m part Irish, I decided March would be the perfect time to fake travel to the emerald isle. I had so many choices before me when I began planning my travel from home trip to Ireland that I ended up making a whole weekend out of the adventure. That meant multiple meals, desserts, movies, and books! It was time-consuming, especially as I’m not a cook, but I have no regrets.
By Kate McDevitt3 years ago in Wander
Having an “If Found” Note
I’m just 1 person who wants to make things easy for emergency responders. Because I live alone, if I’m in a situation where I’m found incapacitated, unconscious, or dead, there is no present to speak for me (and I cannot count on my cats to do so).
By Kate McDevitt3 years ago in Lifehack
Emergency Prep Kit: Organizing
I’m just 1 person who wants to make sure I’m prepared for emergencies. In a previous story, I discussed the contents of an emergency prep kit. Here are some tips and strategies for keeping all of those items organized and refreshed.
By Kate McDevitt3 years ago in Lifehack