Life Hacks

You’re already plenty smart, capable and driven.

But do you know how to pick out the best wine when you’re at a new restaurant, take a gallery worthy photo from your smartphone or reliably remember the names of everyone you meet? We talked to 15 alumnae who have expertise and experience on a wide range of topics. Take their advice and prepare to become an even better version of yourself.

INSPIRE INSTAGRAM ENVY

The Instagram account that Shirley Braha ’04 created for her 14-year-old Shih Tzu, Marnie, has attracted 2 million followers, along with love from celebs including Taylor Swift and James Franco. She shares a few of her social media secrets.

Know where you fit in. You’ll often have to develop a narrow niche to really stand out—something Braha understands intuitively. “If I posted a photo of me eating a salad on Marnie’s account, I’d probably lose 200,000 followers in a day,” she says. “My followers follow Marnie because they like Marnie.”

Tell the stories only you can tell. Even the quirky ones may resonate. “One of Marnie’s favorite activities is walking down aisles in stores, which is kind of a weird hobby, but she loves it,” says Braha. So she shot a short video of Marnie’s stroll through a drugstore, added music and put it on Vine. The video went viral.

Don't compromise your values A little attention can lead to offers from advertisers or promotional partners, but be wary of them. Braha, who earns a living from her Instagram work, says she’s protective of what Marnie represents. “When the idea of a project makes me uncomfortable, usually for moral, aesthetic or financial reasons, I back away,” she says.

EAT WISELY

Devin Alexander ’93 is the author of eight cookbooks, including The Biggest Loser Cookbook, a New York Times best-seller. She offers advice on making better choices with your diet—and with yourself.

Fill up on vegetables. Start with salad-worthy greens and colorful veggies (ones not smothered in cheese or dressing), which will fill you up faster and more healthfully than that unlimited breadbasket

Remember the many consequences of alcohol. Getting a little tipsy on wine or cocktails doesn’t just add empty calories; it can lead you to make bad choices with food, too. Imbibe modestly.

Cut yourself some slack. Alexander knows that many people are hard on themselves when they make food choices they later regret. She says a more measured approach can help. She advises keeping a photo of yourself as a young child on the lock screen of your smartphone, and looking at it every time you’re tempted to denigrate yourself after your best-laid plans—food or otherwise—go awry. “You wouldn’t tell a 3-year-old that you hate them and that they’re a terrible person,” she says. “Don’t do that to yourself, either.”

TAKE A BETTER SUNSET PHOTO WITH YOUR IPHONE 

The awe-inspiring colors of the setting sun over a city skyline, a beach or even just a thicket of suburban rooftops fill us with the urge to capture their fleeting beauty. So why is it so hard to duplicate the majesty of these experiences with our iPhones?

“Cameras are stupid,” says professional photographer Julia Hoggson Vandenoever ’96. “They’re machines. Good pictures are the result of the person behind the camera.” Here are her tips for taking perfect sunset photos on your phone.

Turn off your flash. Your tiny flash is no match for the sun.

Use the exposure lock. Instead of simply pointing and shooting, hold your finger on a neutral area—not too bright or dark—and wait until you see the box that shows you that you’ve locked the exposure. That will prevent the sky from being blown out and the water or land from being too dark.

Brace yourself. “In low-light conditions, you’re going to notice camera shake,” Vandenoever says. “Lean against something to steady yourself, then hold your breath. Press and hold the shutter button and let it take 10 or 15 frames. The middle ones will probably be the best.”

Edit wisely. “Pictures straight from the camera rarely look great,” she says. “It’s post-processing work like cropping or brightening, with the help of apps like Snapseed, that really make a big difference.”

Make Your Meetings Count 

Lynn Fantom ’75 is co-founder and chairman emeritus at ID Media.

Buy Amazing, Planet-Friendly Chocolate 

Simran Sethi ’92 is the author of Bread, Wine, Chocolate: The Slow Loss of Foods We Love.

Don’t Be Intimidated by Weighty Restaurant Wine Lists 

Esther Mobley ’11 is a wine, beer and spirits writer at the San Francisco Chronicle.

Edit Your Wardrobe 

Holly Horning ’83 is an image and branding consultant and coach.

Let Go of Your Stuff 

Decluttering can be a big job, but Ellen Rubin Delap ’80, president-elect of the National Association of Professional Organizers, says a few simple principles can help you better manage your belongings.

Fail Better 

Bibi Gnagno ’07 is the program coordinator at Duke University’s Women’s Center.

Tell Your Family History Through Food 

Photos are one way to preserve favorite family memories, but Carole Murko ’83, founder of Heirloom Meals, says it can be just as powerful to record our family history through the recipes, rituals and stories linked to shared meals. Here, she shows us how.

Outlast the Competition 

Mary Asmundson Dunbar ’64 ran her first marathon in 2009 at age 67. In 2013, she qualified for the Boston Marathon. She hopes to finish in the top three of her age group at the 2017 Boston Marathon. She has a few winning ideas about setting goals.

Remember Anyone’s Name 

Cynthia Green ’83, founder of Total Brain Health and author of Your Best Brain Ever, shares strategies to help you remember the name of the person you just met.

Create a Touch of Smith at Home 

Next time you organize a mini-reunion, consider serving a familiar and beloved treat from the Campus Center Café: the Smith Mudslide.

Devise a Better Password 

Lee Ramos Locust ’76 is information security program leader at Synchrony Financial.

Build Rock-Solid Confidence 

Confidence can get you everywhere, and Susan Ford Collins ’62, president of the company Technology of Success and author of The Joy of Success, focuses on two key principles.

Need More Advice?

Alumnae share helpful advice and ideas in their latest books.

This story appears in the Fall 2016 issue of the Smith Alumnae Quarterly.

Illustrations by Rebecca Clarke