San Francisco exists perpetually in the future. The nature of this extraordinary extension of Silicon Valley means that it’s a fast-moving city, and my East Cut high-rise is right smack in the middle of it. As a lead software engineer in tech, I guess I’m doing my part to make the city this way. But I will admit that I’ve come to value one thing above all else: my time. 

Time is the asset I'm always chasing. But let me be clear— I’m not chasing time per se, I’m chasing moments of purpose. High-quality moments are invaluable. Success and fulfillment, I've learned, are not a direct derivative of hours spent, but the fruit of meaningful, high-quality hours invested. 

That’s why I care about optimization. I optimize everything in my life to enhance my capacity for high-quality moments. This translates to a journey to create a life that is defined by simplicity and streamlined for efficiency. I cut out the noise and focus.

What does this look like in practice? Let's start with a wardrobe. I discovered Cuts, a brand offering comfortable, simple, and stylish shirts— an ideal go-to for tech professionals like me who are constantly bouncing between formal meetings and casual hangouts. Cuts is pretty cued into the fact that tech professionals in San Francisco like to keep it simple and comfortable, dressing like they’re perpetually ready for a 5-hour flight. 

Now, instead of pondering what to wear each morning, my wardrobe is filled with a versatile selection of Cuts shirts. This simple decision eliminates the unnecessary morning dilemma of what to wear.

Maintaining a wardrobe inevitably leads to laundry, a low-ROI task that displaces quality moments. The solution is simple: outsource it. Before you start googling “laundry pick up,” "drop off laundry service,” or "laundromat near me,” consider this: if you’re fortunate enough to be a San Francisco local, you always have a "laundromat near me" in the form of Tumble, a local startup offering an on-demand wash-and-fold service with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it turnaround time of only 4 hours.

Tumble is essentially the Uber or Doordash of laundry, a service that's conveniently close by no matter where you are in San Francisco. The benefits of Tumble extend to various facets of my life, revolutionizing my laundry routine in numerous ways:

• Time-saving: Tumble reclaims the hours I'd otherwise spend doing laundry—about 9 a month according to some studies—freeing up my time to focus on work or, more importantly, those high-quality moments I strive for.

• Convenience: With Tumble, there's no need to stock up on laundry detergents or fabric softeners; their on-demand pick-up and delivery service means I never have to leave my apartment.

• Quality Care: Tumble's professional-grade machines and processes ensure that my Cuts shirts are cared for just the way I want. I can even specify drying preferences like using a cool setting to prevent shrinking, all within the Tumble app.

• Eco-Friendly: Sustainability is important to me, so it's reassuring to know that Tumble's commercial-grade machines consume less water and electricity per pound of laundry than most household units.

• Stress-Free: My life is all about simplicity and efficiency. With Tumble, I can effectively cross 'laundry' off my to-do list and let their professionals handle it.

A 4-hour turnaround time means that on work-from-home days, I can send my laundry out in the morning and have it returned by my lunch break, ready to be put away. With Tumble, I'm not just outsourcing my laundry; I'm reclaiming my time and enabling a lifestyle defined by simplicity and focus.

Aren’t we lucky to live here and have access to this kind of stuff?

In essence, my journey to an optimized lifestyle has been about recognizing good things and integrating them fully into my life. It’s about finding those solutions that meet my needs and reflect who I am – an individual who values efficiency, quality, and of course, the freedom to enjoy a comfortable 5-hour flight on a moment's notice. 😉

Despite the exhilarating pace of San Francisco and its futuristic lifestyle, I've found that the true essence of living here isn't about sprinting at full speed, but about moving with intent. It's about shedding the unnecessary and focusing on what truly matters. It's about discerning what deserves your energy and what doesn’t. 

The real art lies in doing less and achieving more.