We Can Do Hard Things: Episode Summary – "Life Hacks: Strategies to Suffer Less (Best Of)"

Release Date: April 19, 2025

In this uplifting and pragmatic episode of We Can Do Hard Things, hosts Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle delve into a variety of life hacks designed to simplify daily challenges and reduce suffering. Through heartfelt conversations, shared experiences, and listener contributions, the trio offers actionable strategies across multiple facets of life, including productivity, technology, home management, friendships, parenting, and travel.

1. Introduction to Life Hacks

Amanda Doyle kicks off the episode by expressing gratitude for the listeners' engagement over the past month and introduces the central theme: life hacks to make life easier. The discussion centers on the idea that while life presents numerous challenges, small, intentional strategies can significantly alleviate daily struggles.

2. Overcoming Procrastination: "Eat the Frog"

The hosts explore the classic productivity hack, "Eat the Frog," which encourages tackling the most daunting task first thing in the morning to reduce the lingering dread throughout the day.

• Amanda Doyle explains the concept: "[04:35]...Eat the frog. Where did that come from? Well, a lot of people attribute it to Mark Twain..."

• Abby Wambach shares her personal transformation: "[06:20]...This feels like a really good procrastination hack, too."

• Glennon Doyle adds a humorous twist about adopting new habits: "[07:51]...And now we've jumped the shark. And now to you sister. What's one of your overall hacks?"

This segment highlights how prioritizing challenging tasks can lead to a more satisfying and less stressful day.

3. Embracing Proper Breathing

Glennon Doyle reveals a personal revelation about her breathing techniques, emphasizing the importance of diaphragmatic breathing for overall well-being.

• "[07:57]...I have a simple one and then a bigger one. My simple one is that I just learned that I've been breathing wrong for four decades."

• Abby Wambach reinforces the significance: "[08:53]...It's called diaphragmatic breathing."

This newfound awareness serves as a foundational life hack for better physical and mental health.

4. Managing Information and Responsibilities

The discussion shifts to the importance of not seeking unnecessary information to avoid unwanted responsibilities and emotional burdens.

• Glennon Doyle offers advice on handling sensitive information: "[09:21]...It's a good life hack to not ask to know things that you don't want to be responsible for."

• Amanda Doyle echoes the sentiment regarding emotional labor: "[12:18]...And I think everyone would just be better. More information is not better."

This segment underscores the value of setting boundaries to maintain emotional well-being.

5. Tech Hacks for a Simpler Life

Amanda Doyle shares practical technology-based strategies to reduce digital overwhelm and increase productivity.

1. Turn Your Phone to Grayscale

   • "[29:17]...if you don't want to constantly be held hostage to your phone... turn your phone to grayscale."

2. Manage Communication Preferences

   • "[29:55]...tell people you prefer not to communicate via texting to avoid constant reactivity."

3. Curate Your Social Media

   • "[29:33]...unfollow people who make you feel bad to maintain a positive digital environment."

These hacks aim to foster healthier digital habits and reduce distractions.

6. Home Management Hacks

The hosts discuss various strategies to create a more organized and peaceful home environment.

• Amanda Doyle emphasizes setting clear schedules for children to minimize repetitive questions: "[46:33]...tell them what's gonna happen that day... Point back to the schedule."

• Glennon Doyle provides practical tips for maintaining cleanliness effortlessly: "[54:14]...You know how annoying that is to find the way the fitted sheets fit."

Additional tips include preventing pots from boiling over and simplifying sheet folding, making household tasks less burdensome.

7. Nurturing Friendships

Maintaining healthy friendships can be challenging, especially during difficult times. The trio offers insights into setting boundaries and fostering supportive relationships.

• Amanda Doyle introduces the concept of a "friend caucus" during major life events like a divorce: "[40:16]...bring all the friends together for a meeting to support the individual going through a separation."

• Glennon Doyle adds the importance of clear communication about boundaries: "[39:26]...have the ending time a half an hour earlier than the time that you really must be done."

These approaches ensure that friendships remain strong and respectful amidst life’s transitions.

8. Empowering Parenting Strategies

Parenting comes with its unique set of challenges, and the hosts share hacks to foster better relationships and manage daily routines with children.

• Abby Wambach advocates for encouraging children's agency: "[48:24]...respond with, 'What do you think?' to empower their decision-making skills."

• Amanda Doyle shares tips on reducing children's repetitive questioning through structured schedules and prioritizing memorable activities: "[46:33]...little children are so annoying... have a schedule."

These strategies aim to create a more harmonious family dynamic and support children's emotional development.

9. Streamlining Travel

Traveling can be a source of stress, but with the right hacks, it can become a more enjoyable experience.

• Glennon Doyle advises organizing travel essentials in a dedicated bag with designated spots for each item: "[50:18]...I have a bag that is my travel bag. Every pocket has a specific reason."

• Amanda Doyle highlights the importance of small preparations, like photographing hotel room numbers and parking spots to prevent forgetfulness: "[50:20]...take a photo of your hotel room number so you don't forget it."

These tips help ensure smoother travels by minimizing common hassles.

10. Listener Call-ins: Community Life Hacks

Listeners Maggie, Kim, Leanne, Laura, and Katherine contribute their unique life hacks, adding depth and diversity to the episode's discussion.

• Maggie introduces the "Ten-Second Rule" for asserting needs: "[21:05]...wait 10 seconds after making a request to let it stand on its own."

• Haley shares a humorous trick for hiding dirty dishes: "[56:19]...hide dirty dishes in the stove when guests are coming over."

• Leanne offers a strategy for claiming personal space on the couch: "[56:21]...claim a corner of the couch as my own by leaving a blanket and shoes there."

• Laura suggests using black trash bags to discreetly dispose of children's artwork: "[57:28]...invest in black trash bags to hide the art from view."

• Katherine provides a laundry hack to manage piles efficiently: "[58:11]...do a load of towels to reduce the overall amount of laundry."

These contributions exemplify the community-driven spirit of the podcast, highlighting practical solutions from everyday experiences.

11. Conclusion: Embracing Easier Strategies

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reiterate the importance of integrating simple hacks into daily life to suffer less and live more freely. They encourage listeners to share their own strategies and continue supporting one another in the journey toward a more manageable and joyful life.

• Amanda Doyle concludes with a heartfelt message: "[62:21]...if there's anything you do during the days that helps you suffer less, let us know."

• Glennon Doyle reinforces their collective mission: "[62:58]...We can do our things, but we're going to try easier."

Notable Quotes:

• "[04:35] Amanda Doyle: Where did that come from?...Eat the frog."

• "[08:15] Glennon Doyle: You are supposed to inhale and your stomach goes out."

• "[21:26] Maggie: ...wait 10 seconds because it is so easy that we start explaining away..."

• "[50:18] Amanda Doyle: ...take a photo of your hotel room number so you don't forget it."

This episode of We Can Do Hard Things serves as a comprehensive guide to implementing practical life hacks that address various aspects of daily living. By sharing personal anecdotes, expert advice, and listener contributions, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda create a supportive space for listeners to discover new ways to navigate life's challenges with greater ease and resilience.