I threw this up on Metafilter too, but why not here?
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I threw this up on Metafilter too, but why not here? Lazyweb, a question:
On a whim, I've added zipper pulls to a bunch of my clothes and coats. It's such a small, inexpensive thing but it's an improvement I notice dozens of times a day, especially wearing winter gloves.
So I'm thinking about aggregating marginal gains now, and wondering what other options like this I have. What is the _smallest_ thing - in terms of size, cost, effort, whatever - that has made your life better in some way?
@mhoye keep a dedicated hand broom next to the dinner table, to deal with crumbs and flour. Especially if you bake a lot.
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Get many, many boxes of tissues and then any time you find yourself getting up to find a tissue, leave a box there for next time.
Leave a full (6-roll) pack of toilet paper in the bathroom and replenish when it gets to 2 or less.
Maintain a pool of good rechargeable batteries, a charger, 'charged' and 'empty' bins, and put them in a high-traffic area so that you'll notice when the charger is done and put in the next batch.
Oh, this reminds me of my general policy wrt consumables: always have two in the cabinet. That way, when you empty the current one, you have the next in line to go to, & one for margin in case the store is out when you shop next.
Also, at least as important: the •minute• you empty [thing], it goes on the grocery list. "I'll do that in a minute/when I finish/when I come back" is a recipe for forgetting & running out.
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@suetanvil @mhoye Extending the "many rolls of toilet paper", I counter my procrastination + easily distractedness by buying most products in sets of 2+ (vitamins, shampoo, deodorant, foods, etc). Switching to the backup starts the clock early enough that I will ACTUALLY buy replacements just before the second runs out. Easier than me noticing/remembering "when I'm low"
More storage space, but also more peace of mind and fewer frustrated moments, ultimately the same(ish) price.
It me, but also: the process of finishing the current & bringing out the next includes putting the item on the grocery list. No pause, no distraction.
Knock on wood, it's been a good long while since I've run out of anything.
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I threw this up on Metafilter too, but why not here? Lazyweb, a question:
On a whim, I've added zipper pulls to a bunch of my clothes and coats. It's such a small, inexpensive thing but it's an improvement I notice dozens of times a day, especially wearing winter gloves.
So I'm thinking about aggregating marginal gains now, and wondering what other options like this I have. What is the _smallest_ thing - in terms of size, cost, effort, whatever - that has made your life better in some way?
@mhoye (1) always carrying a small tape measure on my keychain (2) a small toolset so I don’t have to go to the attic just to get a screwdriver (3) using an egg slicer to cut mushrooms (4) always-on bike lights
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@mhoye@cosocial.ca charging my phone (alarm) on the other side of the room
makes me get up at the right time way more often -
@londondreamtime@mastodonapp.uk @mhoye@cosocial.ca downside: alarm
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@mhoye (1) always carrying a small tape measure on my keychain (2) a small toolset so I don’t have to go to the attic just to get a screwdriver (3) using an egg slicer to cut mushrooms (4) always-on bike lights
@sheean the ikea paper ruler folded up in the wallet is a classic
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1. I keep an Olfa utility knife everywhere I need one so I can quickly open and break down boxes or get into stubborn clamshell packages without ruining scissors. I use the same blade on everything and keep a box of replacements.
2. Same as 1 but scissors
3. I've been using the same pack of microfibre cloths for years. I use them for cleaning glasses, lenses, computer screens, and etc. Wash gentle cycle, tumble dry low, no fabric softener.
@michaelcoyote @mhoye Twist on 1.: we have like 10 peeler knives, so you never have to wait for the dishwasher or stress about reusing. Peel all the fruit and potatoes, open all the boxes. Cheapest ones are fine.
2.: yeah scissors everywhere: kitchen, bathroom, office, laundry room. -
@mhoye a coffee scoop to use with laundry detergent. which is the correct size for the amount I usually use. It's nice having something I don't have to worry about breaking, like I did with the flimsy plastic thing beforehand.
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@mhoye Carabiner clips (could double up as zipper pulls)
Reusable velcro strips (I travel with a lot of cables...)
And yes, binder clips (they even keep filled glass slide trays secure for transport)Something slightly larger - net curtains to keep the bugs outside open windows without faffing with window mesh
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Keeping a pen and small paper notepad always nearby to scribble down anything that pops to mind, so I can trust my notes and keep my mind clear.
On a more digital note, making my downloads folder self-destruct did wonders to keeping my files clean and organized:
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@Roundtrip @arclight @mhoye @jimfl
I date •everything•. I've also finally figured out a useful indexing system for my bullet-journals. Instead of page numbers (because repeats when the file gets too big & have to start a new one) the "page reference" is just the date-time.
@cavyherd @arclight @mhoye @jimfl
Yes! I use date-page as the index for hand written journal pages.
I keep three series of spiral bound paper journals with blue (work), red (personal), black (nightstand) colors, and tags I write in [square bracelets].
This lets me use hand written ‘slow links’ to any written journal page: [red, 1Mar23, p3]. It’s very handy for linking paper journal pages and slow linking to a paper page from email, a message, a spreadsheet, etc.
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I threw this up on Metafilter too, but why not here? Lazyweb, a question:
On a whim, I've added zipper pulls to a bunch of my clothes and coats. It's such a small, inexpensive thing but it's an improvement I notice dozens of times a day, especially wearing winter gloves.
So I'm thinking about aggregating marginal gains now, and wondering what other options like this I have. What is the _smallest_ thing - in terms of size, cost, effort, whatever - that has made your life better in some way?
@mhoye Bought a bunch of cheap key tags with labels for the drawer-with-spare-keys. Not useful often, but when you semi-urgently need your spare bike key from the pile (we’re Dutch) it’s great.
It’s probably a Dad Thing that this makes me happy. -
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Oh, another one: a jar of binder clips in the kitchen. Don’t bother with ties or big “chip clips” or whatever, just fold the bag over and put the clip on it, cheap and easy.
@mhoye We got a hundred clothespins and have them in a drawer.
I rebag chips and corn puffs into small ziplock snack bags so they're portioned and there's no rush to finish a whole bag.
Electric kettle can make tea a cup at a time, instant mashed potatoes, ramen, stuffing...
I got a zillion of the same sock so I never have to hunt for pairs.
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multiple sets of measuring spoons / measuring cups so that you (almost) always have one the size you need
a back scratcher
a bottle brush to clean the inside of jars and bottles instead of faffing around trying to squeeze your hand in
a good garden knife
a cheap LED flashlight for your grab bag of tools
a seam ripper
plunger caps for bottles of vinegar and olive oil to slow/control the pouring speed
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1. I keep an Olfa utility knife everywhere I need one so I can quickly open and break down boxes or get into stubborn clamshell packages without ruining scissors. I use the same blade on everything and keep a box of replacements.
2. Same as 1 but scissors
3. I've been using the same pack of microfibre cloths for years. I use them for cleaning glasses, lenses, computer screens, and etc. Wash gentle cycle, tumble dry low, no fabric softener.
@michaelcoyote @mhoye The "mr clean magic eraser" is just a melamine sponge with borax and baking soda sprinkled on it.
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I threw this up on Metafilter too, but why not here? Lazyweb, a question:
On a whim, I've added zipper pulls to a bunch of my clothes and coats. It's such a small, inexpensive thing but it's an improvement I notice dozens of times a day, especially wearing winter gloves.
So I'm thinking about aggregating marginal gains now, and wondering what other options like this I have. What is the _smallest_ thing - in terms of size, cost, effort, whatever - that has made your life better in some way?
@mhoye if your binbags get stuck in your bins, drill a hole in the side of the bin near the bottom to let air in
(slightly above the bottom so if you are unlucky enough to have binjuice leakage, it stays in the bin)