I threw this up on Metafilter too, but why not here?
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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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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:
Tmp Downloads - Making my ~/Downloads folder a temporary affair
Using systemd-tmpfiles to regularly clean up my downloads folders.
Hook’s Humble Homepage (matija.suklje.name)
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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. -
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)
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@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.
@cavyherd @arclight @mhoye @jimfl
I started using slow links based on the ‘blue number’ links Doug Engelbart invented and I copied for Traction TeamPage.
Every TeamPage entry has a Id of the form Blog2804 for an entry created in a space named ‘Blog’ of a TeamPage server.
I can turn a TractionId into a permalink by writing https://tractionsoftware.com/traction/permalink/Blog2804
I can slow link from my hand written journals to TeamPage using just the TractionId, and open a TeamPage link by saying it!
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@mhoye When a shirt was too stained or holey for workwear but fine for leisure or under layer, I used to forget the problem and mistakenly wear it later. Now I write the problem on one side of clothespin and shirt colour/shape on other side. Then clip to collar and back into drawer. When shirt is on me or in laundry, clothespin is clipped to box on my dresser. (chest of drawers)
I just draw giant X's in Sharpie.
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@cavyherd @arclight @mhoye @jimfl
I started using slow links based on the ‘blue number’ links Doug Engelbart invented and I copied for Traction TeamPage.
Every TeamPage entry has a Id of the form Blog2804 for an entry created in a space named ‘Blog’ of a TeamPage server.
I can turn a TractionId into a permalink by writing https://tractionsoftware.com/traction/permalink/Blog2804
I can slow link from my hand written journals to TeamPage using just the TractionId, and open a TeamPage link by saying it!
@Roundtrip @arclight @mhoye @jimfl
Mine's not that fancy. I could probably implement something like that. But that's one of those cases where the time sunk into the implementation non-usefully excedes the time spent doing it the old fashioned way. (There was a time when I might have implemented something like that just for the sport of it. But I'm old & tired, & mostly on a quest to reduce as much as I can to Stone Knives & Bearskins.)
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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?
I buy scissors by the ten-pack and stick scissors next to every place I sit down. I put them in the seat pockets of cars too.
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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 This is one of my favorites. Binder clips are handy in so many situations. Another is having a pad of post-it notes in a pocket of every coat and jacket. Never be without a way to jot something down.
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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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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?
Depends on your living situation, but I replaced the exterior door locks with digital combination locks.
Not, repeat, not, networked in any way.
My kids have codes. My best friend has a code. The neighbor across the street who we trust has a code. Now none of them need to have a key. And best of all, I am never locked out of the house because I forgot my keys.
And should one of them prove untrustworthy, that code can be deleted.
9V battery lasts 2-3 years. If your door has the right holes already, takes 30 minutes and no special tools to install.
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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 A small, non-tactical flashlight lives in my front pocket. Immensely handy a few times a week.
A 12 pack of a good gel pen, distributed about the house, along with a 5 pack of reading glasses and a few caches of index cards.
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@carolannie @landley @gvwilson Explain.
