6 Things I Gave Up to Simplify My Life

[@rosalindhb]

Younger youtubers/social media personality I feel share way to much of their personal lives and information. I'm 55 and only come here for education information. I love your channel. Watching the news/social media through me into a serious depression. I check in for a few minutes only just to stay current. My mental health is better because of it.

[@HopefulEmpath]

I agree with your points about social media. It can be used for good or have negative effects. I left Twitter (I mean X) and Facebook in 2017 with zero regrets. I want education and information, not stressful arguments. I love this channel too.

[@AcidRetroArtiboe]

I want information not a friend

[@wk8082]

I want information from a friend.

[@papajeff5486]

1. Over commitment …may make one late, like over booking seats on an airplane 2. Stop trying to make everything perfect, the gift is more important than its wrapping 3. Quit engaging in time wasting activities 4. Stop worrying, spending time, paying attention to things over which I have no control 5. Stop neglecting sleep 6. Reduce or eliminate data, information overload. A lot of news, information is unvetted, maybe untrue.

[@JimzAuto]

1:11 2:02 2:53 3:55 5:53 sleep 6:44 bool ‘building a second brain’

[@13thBeatleJr]

7. Deactivate social media

[@claudiettepel6542]

At 70+ fully retired I learn a lot from you and I never want to stop learning

[@sparkle.s]

Same

[@michaelfortney7510]

I love your honesty and integrity and lack of ego. I know you’re successful, I’m sure financially secure and guessing well liked and popular…but you’re grounded. That’s not easy. I congratulate you. I always feel better after your videos.

[@billleedale3340]

Better to be approximately right than precisely wrong.

[@raycatlin3554]

🎯 Thank - you , I needed - that ! Good health !

[@KH-vw9yl]

I agree that privacy is important and your personal persona might cloud your financial message and hurt the profitability of your channel. It is good to have a video like this once a quarter perhaps but for the most part I am glad you stick to what we watch and care about, financial advice.

[@starryknightJAK]

Great advice, I’m guilty of wasting time on things I cannot control, not to mention the anxiety it causes.

[@brent1387]

Best takeaway from this video: Take time to have dinner with your daughter!!!!!! All the best!!!!!

[@HolySchmidt]

Thanks Brent!

[@chiaraperry472]

We care! You daughter is so wise!

[@eddiequest4]

You are correct in your assessment of your value on this channel. I prefer your high quality information. But the personal side is unactionable. Keep up the good work.

[@idamariarosenberg8659]

Thoroughly enjoyed this segment

[@Anniei01]

Great information. I especially appreciate the tip about decreasing the time watching news channels. I've found that reading a newspaper is far less distressing than watching people yap on tv! I watch your videos as I'm about two months from retirement and I've found them very helpful and thought-provoking - in a good way. I'm working to set up structure for myself in retirement and the first thing my retired friends advised me to think about was sleep - set a schedule! Thanks for your work.

[@kevindecoteau3186]

Oh, picking apples, just went on my list for the weekend. Sleep is so very important!

[@jimv77]

For me changing careers and getting a work from home job made my life much simpler. *15 second commute with no traffic jams. *No more getting ready for work and packing lunch or even waiting my turn at the break room microwave. Also I guess it was actually exhausting in my previous career. Now wife and I go for daily walks after dinner and I feel 10 years younger. I picked up a lot of the little home chores like cooking and cleaning and my wife is happier and she can take a quick nap when she gets home from work before dinner.

[@lilblackduc7312]

It seems like you won all the way around!

[@peterschorn1]

A useful concept for me is a corollary of "time is money." That corollary is "There is 'cheap' time and 'expensive' time: use cheap time whenever possible." What I mean is this: five-six months before a deadline, time is "cheap:" do as much as you can to prepare for that deadline in that time. A day or two before that deadline, time is "expensive:" do only what you must during that time--ideally nothing, if possible. Time _may_ be "cheap" and "expensive" in terms of money, but it _always_ is in terms of stress. Think of all those papers you wrote the night before they were due! So doing things when time is as cheap as possible not only produces a better, more accurate outcome, it also goes a LONG way towards de-stressing my life. (I'm not going to pretend I thought this up: airlines price tickets exactly this way)

[@markcummings6856]

Take a Hike… it’ll do you good. Thanks for the video.

[@steventogami898]

For me being retired, don’t fret, worry about the actions by others you cannot control. Adjust, and move on to things you can control.

[@mspock7]

A nice chat today, thanks. Love the Holy Purge!

[@dovgoldstein3755]

Your videos are very helpful to me and have been adding bavyrast deal to my quality of life. Thank you sir!!!

[@richdouglas2311]

C-I-A model: C -- Control. There are very few things that I have control over. I -- Influence. These are things I might be able to nudge in the direction I wish. A -- Accept. With the vast majority of things, I can neither Control nor Influence them. I simply must Accept them and move on. (Accept doesn't mean "surrender," though.) An example: Driving up to a red light at an intersection, I must Accept the fact that I have to wait until the light turns green. I cannot Control it, nor can I Influence it. However, if I come up to the same intersection as a pedestrian, I might be able to Influence the situation if there is a "walk" button I can press.

[@MrGoodaches]

Right off, Geoff stated something peculiar in our American culture that I became aware of when I worked a few years with Germans. When my German colleagues gave a time estimate to get to a meeting across town that time span included getting out of chair, walk time to car, maneuvering out of parking lot, total drive time, and walking to and through the building and getting seated at meeting. Ask my American colleagues for a time estimate to get to a meeting and their time span would likely only cover the time from exiting the first parking lot to turning in to the destination parking lot. This mindset of travel time was also convenient for execs who wanted to insist that managers could attend multiple offsite meetings in a day and still perform numerous other in office duties.

[@gtrguyinaz]

All of your videos are great… seniors should pay close attention…. I nevertheless waste time… but only on things that are pleasurable…

[@jimobrien4421]

Agreed on all points! Did the same and quality of life has improve.,😅

[@amyyates8273]

This is SUCH great advice. I need to cut down on social media and dial up the meditation for my own sanity. But you’ll have to pry the NYT Games app out of my cold, dead hands. 😊

[@HopefulEmpath]

Haha the NYT Games are my morning ritual for a few years now. 😊

[@gsogymrat]

Wordle and Connections every morning.

[@Kitiwake]

What are you doing during meditation?

[@cl-jh8bu]

⁠and Spelling Bee and Strands

[@joiab11]

I like the personal content too - I am happy for you to go apple picking with your family 🍎❤

[@dbworxmedia]

like your style guy. you've clearly raised a bright daughter as well.

[@derekmorin6680]

In my 40s & I watch and learn giving consideration to my future. Thank you for the information.

[@ScooterOnHisWay2024]

Simplification is the best way to live. Then you can be in this moment & commit to what is happening right in front of your face. That is easy to do when you have few or no 'filler' items on your docket.

[@HolySchmidt]

Love that!

[@davidbrighten2572]

Very good video. I have implemented a similar lifestyle change over the last 25 years. I am also a CPA and a partner in a CPA firm. The changes that have been most meaningful are: I only have meetings between 11am and 4pm and I always leave 1 hour of spare time between meetings, all incoming phone calls must be scheduled, a phone call is a meeting, I rise at 6pm but only leave for the office at 9:30am, this gives me time for reflection and a full hour of good exercise every day - daily exercise for 25 years is a gift! My cell phone is put away by 9pm. I don’t provide my personal cell number to clients and I don’t answer work calls after 5pm. Shut down from work at 6pm daily, and have other activities to relax and spend time with family. Take a minimum of 4 weeks vacation a year. Frankly, by limiting work time, I am more financially successful. My mind is clear, I have less stress, I delegate more. My road to retirement is to continue to reduce work time gradually over the next 5 years, eventually reaching the point that I won’t be missed at work and I won’t miss going to work.

[@raycatlin3554]

Thank - you Mr. Schmidt 🎯🤺 Good Health - 👋. .

[@AhJodie]

Thank you again for calmness and common sense!

[@sonjafountain9878]

I prefer the method that you use in presenting suggestions and information in your videos...

[@joanweinzierl982]

Been watching you for a while, Geoff, and I've learned a lot already on how to prep for my upcoming retirement. Thanks for all your insightful observations! (And while I agree, a whole video on apple picking might not fit your channel's purpose, it was kinda nice to hear that it's an experience our families share). Regards to your very wise daughter! :))

[@Jane5720]

I’m glad you had such a wonderful conversation with your daughter, she may have a point. My financial advisor that I’ve known for 25 years. We always do a little chitchat before we get down to business and I am interested in his family and what he does and his life and I think that he is mine as well. He does have a form that he asked how you want your information presented so he tailors it to each client he has As far as a gift, you are correct that they will hopefully keep the gifts and you will dispose of the wrapping paper, but I’d like to present a beautifully wrapped present, including flowers in the bow and other things so when they unwrap it, the gift wrap is truly a wonder And they don’t even want to unwrap it because the matches the flowers matches everything else and I use very high end gift wrap. It’s just a little something that I’d like to do. I know it’s weird but would rather wrap a gift then put it in a bag because I think part of the gift is the unwrap.

[@ynAMe6Aj]

This was very good. A topic I would like to see you cover is an insider view of the financial advisor industry. One thing I've notices is a shift away from the simple hard financing to the more esoteric things like personal goals and quality of life. What trends do you see that are good and what trend should be approached with skepticism. What should we expect to see emerging in the near future.

[@stevemyers8588]

Very nice video. I appreciate all the financial advice you have given AND this more personable, take a step back advice, too! Thank you.

[@fordwayne3833]

Whatever makes you happier.

[@LisaSimplified]

Good advise from your daughter. Very astute.

[@Jeff-p5i2w]

At some point, you have to wake and smell the roses . I can't tell you how many people I have met in my life who are consumed by work and money . Then they find out they have illnesses, and it's too late to enjoy life.

[@carolb6581]

Geoff, thanks (to both you and your daughter!) for this wonderful & informative time with you!! 🤩👏🥰

[@seanhenriques808]

Your daughter is right on the money. We do enjoy getting to know more about the people whose content we enjoy on the regular as the kids say. Thank you for your channel and for sharing your wisdom.

[@sabinekoch3448]

I know what your daughter means! I enjoy hearing a few personal bits which make the rest of the goals possible… as a teacher of 48 years , I LOVE wasting time.😊 Your daughter is a gem.

[@artsie8282]

Love your content. For future videos kindly Realize you can section your video into six pieces so we find the beginning of each piece.

[@jackiefields1607]

Thanks for sharing. Some good tips.

[@towritemichelle210]

Smart to listen to your daughter!

[@HolySchmidt]

Chip off the old block, and then some!

[@ColdPotato]

I was amazed what I could do/accomplish without the internet in the 80s/early 90s. Now I struggle to be as creative/achieve as much. I think much has to do with the information overload you mention. I mean people with slide rulers sent a man to the moon.... The world have evolved into distractions fighting for our attention.

[@bigmouth912]

Great advice 👍. I like the red hat on the shelf. 😊 wink wink 😉

[@JohnDoe-xr5is]

I gave up the news as of Nov 4th 2024. No more websites, no more broadcast TV news (haven't had cable in years). I don't click on news information youtube videos. I DO visit financial websites every day...some of which will try to entice me with non-financial 'news' articles, but I don't click on them. The reason is I don't want to concern myself with the chaos that is the US Federal govt. And I have to say, I don't miss the news.

[@gsogymrat]

I used to feel the need to finish reading books but now if I am not interested I stop and move on.

[@yankeedogg2212]

Agreed

[@desertfish6239]

I appreciate that you are not a political channel. There are other KZbinrs who aren't supposed to be but can't resist. I quit watching them and I limit my news watching. I am much more relaxed now.

[@williamschlotterer9802]

Great video. Thank you.

[@flyguy2021]

Covid resulted in everyone scheduling on line meetings back to back for every hour of the day. Eventually even the noon hour became a meeting time. Spent more time accomplishing less than fewer in person meetings.

[@genglandoh]

Freshmen year of college many students signed up for multiple clubs and or sports. They spread themselves very thin and some ended doing poorly in their classes. So when I retired this year I am taking it slow in signing up to things.

[@williamschoemann4209]

I use my cell phone for making and receiving calls. There are no games and no news.

[@Molly-eq1ix]

What did you do with the apples????? Thanks for showing us your human side.

[@vv5179]

You give sound advice, Geoff.

[@markweber2725]

My daughter had a similar observation. We need to give thanks to our daughter’s clarity.

[@michelleyard1022]

I start every meeting at five minutes after the hour. I work in a mostly remote environment and this gives people time to get coffee, water and to "run down the hall." It is a gift I give myself and those who work with and for me. It's a must-do if you work in the virtual world

[@whyme7996]

until people who couldn't make it on the hour learn they get 5 more minutes which means slowly they stop being able to make it 5 minutes after. It's idiotic.

[@philwilson8617]

#2 - As we CPA's would say, "Fairly Stated" rather than "accurate".

[@HolySchmidt]

I’d say the fairly stated point is, well, fairly stated! All the best Phil.

[@lak1294]

Your daughter is absolutely right! It really helps to bring personal things into the conversation. People relate to it and become more invested in the content (pun intended). 😂

[@whyme7996]

Just say NO to a parasocial relationship with random strangers on the internet. The younger generations tend toward mental fragility due to their over sharing on the internet and no understanding of the differences between the real world and a cyber reality. And I don't need to "know" you. We are not friends. Your Daughter needs to know you and I'm sure she thinks that you're great. but to be honest, I don't care if you went apple picking. Just like you don't care that I went and did something..it's irrelevant.

[@privateer4203]

Maybe a bit of personal information helps the viewer determine if the creator is a nut job selling fringe ideas or a "normal" fellow with good intentions.

[@whyme7996]

@@privateer4203 Yeah.. because nut jobs and conmen couldn't just make up some personal information to sell fringe ideas. As an adult, it is my responsibility to take the information presented and decide if I want to follow it. BTW, Even a nutjob could give good advice upon occasion.

[@idamariarosenberg8659]

You’re a smart, great guy so I’m game for anything you share.

[@13thBeatleJr]

Deactivated Facebook and Twitter. Never been happier with inner peace.

[@michaeltomasso3371]

I think you raised a smart daughter.

[@kburkes4245]

I think apple picking in upstate New York makes a great topic. As someone who's from New York and loves NY apples ❤️ I hope you got some Macintosh!

[@M_SC]

I instantly liked you more when you said you went apple picking with the family

[@eminbc]

People who share too much think they are so interesting. Others only find you interesting if you ask about others or show interest in others. When your favorite note is Mi Mi Mi it gets boring real fast. Universal not generational.

[@bruceshootingstartradingpo262]

Thanks

[@HolySchmidt]

You bet

[@kahvac]

Close enough is fine !

[@xcr440sp]

I'm in "Upstate" NY !

[@rickjurado2398]

Let me ask a hopefully simple question. I want to consider giving one of my kids (let's say) $10K and use the funds from my retirement IRA (as I am already retired). Do I pay taxes on that withdrawal of $10K? That's the simple question, because if I W/D the fund and retain it, I would surely pay a tax on it. Do I then have to file this on my tax return? Wouldn't my financial institute issue me a 1099 or 95 (can't remember number) that a W/D occurred and have to report that on my tax returns or do I state with the institute that this is a gift?

[@HubertKirchgaessner]

5:11 Excellent advice, but why’s that (thumbnail) lady wearing the Russian flag on her cheeks???

[@AndyBerman]

Disappointing to see any Russian media here with all the misinformation they are spreading.

[@lilblackduc7312]

"Curb Appeal"?

[@declanfarber]

Yeah, that’s seriously creepy. What’s he trying to imply.

[@richardleydon6506]

I was thinking the same thing. Well, whom ever does his editing either really didn't know or was making a statement.

[@drumsnbass]

She just cute. Enjoy it for what it is…

[@gregorythomson7813]

Started downsizing my wardrobe after retiring. I've never been known for my fashion sense, but after retiring, I've been reducing it considerably more. Shorts and a t-shirt are my normal daily attire since retiring. So I've got a couple pairs of shorts, and started with 3 good quality t-shirts - dark grey, light grey and tan. Updated it recently to add three new colors - green, burgundy and white t-shirts added. Next in line is to get a new pair of jeans and some nice pants that fit me, just in case needed - and a shirt to go with them. Have been doing the Marie Kondo and Swedish Death Cleaning things recently to also clean up some clutter. And have stopped keeping most monthly statements or have gone paperless on most of them except for a few, as well as shredded A LOT of paperwork going back sometimes 40 years with things like paycheck stubs, monthly financial statements, tax paperwork older than 20 years. It's all helping to clean up many years of accumulated things that I don't really need, and/or want, around anymore.

[@Beautyrest575]

I need to do that too. Fortunately I don’t have a lot, but still too much!

[@playme129]

Anyone can post anything on the web, internet, KZbin, or even social media. No one checks it for accuracy, and a lot of it is contradictory.

[@randolphbehm877]

I don’t believe in obsessing over politics for hours every day but if one only watches tidbits from the mainstream media they will be led astray.

[@RichardQuaid]

Here is some solid advice, don't waste your time with liars. #30,000 in one term is too much. Don't cry over fact checking.

[@randolphbehm877]

@@RichardQuaid Did Trump Collude with the Russia to win the 2016 election like the MSM led us to believe for 2.5 years? Was the Hunter Biden Laptop "Russian Disinformation" Like MSM professed and the Social media outlets were pushed to suppress for that reason? You know darn well Harris Knew Biden was demented within the 1st year of his term but she waited for that strategic moment to out him knowing there would not be enough time to hold a primary that she would surely have lost. So much for the party of democracy. 30,000 BS out of context "lies".... Keep drinking that Kool-Aid Quaid....

[@RedSoxYaz]

Just reached SS Full Retirement Age 66 and 8 months. Still working. Job is satisfactory. Pay rate several times more than what I could earn from a part time semiretired minimum wage job. Retirement nest egg is approximately 7-8 times annual salary. Wife retired on disability. Empty nest. Health good. Debating the following. Do I take SS now and invest it as I am still working? Or do I hold off on SS growing the amount by delaying until I retire in maybe 1-2 years?

[@jimmydee1130]

Great vid, but.......Where's the PURGE page?

[@wardpenny]

Yes, I went to the URL you provided and got a "404 Not Found" error...?

[@JMM7171]

Good daughter. Wise beyond her years. And you played a part in that. 🎉

[@HolySchmidt]

Thanks JMM too kind!

[@nakamakai5553]

Not striving to get everything 100% perfect has brought my weekly anxiety way down, and triggers a memory of wisdom that several mentors gave me over the past 50 years: Sometimes just showing up is 90% of life

[@kevinfestner6126]

I need to stop chasing my shadow and arrive at a retirement savings amount. Once I reached my number, I reevaluate and, of course, the magic number increases.

[@SuperChicken666]

As far as advancing the ball is concerned, I'm retired. I have no ball.😊

[@jaymetheaccountant]

Always enjoy the content sir - you'd be the perfect neighbor - if you move to Minnesota let me know I will kick one of mine out 🙂

[@HolySchmidt]

As a midwesterner who moved to NY, I love Minnesota!

[@2023Red]

I agree with you, not your daughter. We all do things like pick apples or walk the dog. I like the videos on finance and retirement. Your daughter seems to want to be another Julie Andrews.

[@PawPaws_Place]

I didn’t know you lived in upstate New York. That’s interesting. Maybe a video for us about what would be nice to see there if we make a trip out that way. I mean many of us retiree’s travel. So lots about you besides financial advise may be beneficial without you even knowing it. Love your videos. 🤙

[@HolySchmidt]

Thanks Paw Paws!

[@sct4040]

You absolutely do not need to share your personal life on KZbin. Not necessary.

[@lindawilson4625]

Thanks! It's good that you listened to your daughter :-)

[@HolySchmidt]

She is wise

[@noreenn6976]

If your channel was about vlogging your day to day life, then you might share the apple picking story but that's not what this channel is about. I'm here to learn.

[@johannamiklos4352]

I appreciate that I don't know your private life.

[@realbartlett8882]

Best episode ever !

[@johnlcallaway]

I watch this channel for finance information. I don't need to know you, I don't care what you did on the weekend, or your views on life management. I grew up when privacy was important and we only shared our life's with people we know. Not thousands of complete strangers. This modern infatuation with sharing personal moments with the world appears to be more of a narcissistic behavior for people craving attention. That being said, I also know where the back button is and can move on if I don't like a video. I don't expect you to cater to my selfish desires as I'm a mature adult and not a child. For the most part. My advice to you, for what little it's worth, is to make videos you enjoy doing and do them well. No matter what it is, there will always be an audience for it If I like it, I'll watch it. If not, I'll move on and not leave a hateful comment. If I find I no longer watch your videos, I'll quietly slip away, you'll never even know . Because I'm mostly a mature adult. Thank you for the tube and effort you put into your videos. Especially the ones I watch.

[@d.thomas1541]

So why is your post the longest?

[@whyme7996]

@@d.thomas1541 And still we don't know anything about John except his opinion on the oversharing of personal info by YT people...how do you not notice the difference?

[@patriciaduenas1321]

Are you sunburned from the apple picking? I think your channel is fine. ❤

[@andydogdixon1]

Your daughter, wow wow wow. All I can say is we’re barely 1 minute into this video and I’m choking up in tears. What a blessing you have in your life.

[@joycegonzales4994]

I enjoy you, but I understand you have a personal life that doesn’t affect us.

[@kahvac]

Apple picking will add years to your life !

[@EllenDuke-y3d]

Thank you for sharing some information about how you function. I identify with information overload. Remember to take time to smell thr roses. 🌹 🥀 🏵 💐 🌹

[@jefffuhr2393]

Please tell your daughter we said, *"Thanks!"*

[@marycallan1937]

Your intro is great (funny), but show us more of your personality, relax a bit, joke, be a bit light hearted. SMILE!!!

[@anthonylee5982]

🌳 🍎 🍏 👏🏼

[@OTseven]

😊

[@jps0117]

Which number is "Russian girls"?