You might not need a system
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You're listening to an iHeart Podcast. Hey, listeners. You know I can't be bothered with lengthy beauty routines. Who has time for that? That's why I am so glad I discovered Merit. Merit is all about simplicity, high-performing products, and enhancing your natural beauty. If you're like me and prefer a less-is-more approach, you'll love that Merit can help you look put together in five minutes or less.

My favorite product has to be the minimalist. It's a two in one foundation and concealer that gives me smooth, even coverage with zero fuss. I also like the flush balm for cheeks. My shade is archival and it gives me that healthy, natural flush of color that blends in beautifully and makes me look like I spent more time on my makeup than I actually did. Ready to simplify your routine and make mornings a breeze.

Head to MeritBeauty.com and get their signature makeup bag free with your first order. For clean, effortless, high-performing makeup, head to MeritBeauty.com. Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good morning, this is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's tip is that while systems can be great for streamlining your life and reducing mental load,

you might not need a system for everything you do. There is no gold star for having a system that doesn't actually serve you. Today's tip was inspired by my Best of Both Worlds podcast co-host, Sarah Hart Unger. On the podcast we host together, she mentioned not having a system for keeping track of hand-me-downs. There's a big gap between her older kids and her youngest kid, and between her youngest kid and her niece.

Years pass before an item needs to get from one kid to the next, so she does just fine without an elaborate system of labeled bins. It turns out that for many things in life, you don't actually need a system. Some things can just happen as they happen. For instance, I recently bumped into a friend in the grocery store who said she was there most days. The grocery store is really close, and it's quick, so why not?

She didn't need a more efficient meal planning and grocery system. Some people keep their homes clean without a system as well. Especially if you live by yourself or only with adults and don't have pets, you can just clean what's dirty when you think about it. This would probably not work for my household with seven people and a dog. But if your house stays clean without a system, there's really no need to feel bad about this or to start perusing the web for cleaning schedules.

Spend your time on other things. It is all good. Some people seem to believe that systems are intrinsically virtuous. They feel obligated to have a system for everything or perhaps proud of having a system for everything. And trust me, I get it. I have a lot of systems. But systems are best for things that would otherwise consume a lot of mental energy or time. If you are not currently spending a lot of time or mental energy on something,

then a system probably can't reduce that. A system might even increase the mental cost. So if you don't actually need a system, you are wasting your bandwidth in developing and maintaining one. Instead, let things take care of themselves. No one's life is perfectly optimized. And if you go to the grocery store a few times a week and kind of like it, that is absolutely fine. In the meantime, this is Laura saying,

Thanks for listening. And here's to making the most of our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at laura at lauravandercam.com. Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Hey, listeners.

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Hey listeners, I am all about simple beauty routines. That's why I love Merit. Their products make looking put together effortless. For example, there's Flush Balm, which is a sheer, buildable cream blush that blends in seamlessly for a healthy natural glow. And let's not forget The Minimalist, which is a two-in-one foundation and concealer that's perfect for those days when you need quick, natural coverage.

So if you're looking to streamline your beauty routine too, head to MeritBeauty.com. You'll get their signature makeup bag free with your first order. Simplify your routine and feel beautiful with Merit.