I threw this up on Metafilter too, but why not here?
-
@dabeaz Say more.
-
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 Maybe more in the area of life hack than material things, but: when I want to be aware of something at some particular future date, like something I want to bring up in a meeting or similar, adding a calendar event for the appropriate date and time and setting an alarm.
Sometimes it holds the thing itself, but more often in my case it's just a *very* brief summary/categorization and a reference (for example "see email <date and time>" so I can quickly find all of the details).
-
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?
Some of my answers to this include:
- A canning funnel. Cheap, and spill-free pouring stuff into containers is a lot easier.
- Oil all the hinges in the house.
- Get a slow-settling toilet seat, so it never slams down.
-
Some of my answers to this include:
- A canning funnel. Cheap, and spill-free pouring stuff into containers is a lot easier.
- Oil all the hinges in the house.
- Get a slow-settling toilet seat, so it never slams down.
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
-
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 Heated mirror in the bathroom, no more wiping while shaving.
I take stain removing wipes (Shout brand) when travelling, as inevitably I spill something on my trousers/jumper.
Proraso gel stops bleeding within seconds, ideal if you cut your face when shaving.
-
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 I replaced a split-ring keyring with a cable keyring. It is much easier to add and remove keys, and the non-rigid nature makes it more comfortable in a pocket.
-
@mhoye having a small store-bought first aid kit and power strip always in my suitcase.
@bo_brinkman @mhoye I second the power strip. Mine has an IEC14 socket on it, and I use it with leads that adapt local plugs to IEC. Ideal in Europe where sockets vary a lot.
-
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 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.
-
Some of my answers to this include:
- A canning funnel. Cheap, and spill-free pouring stuff into containers is a lot easier.
- Oil all the hinges in the house.
- Get a slow-settling toilet seat, so it never slams down.
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.
-
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 I hung a 3-by-30 inch strip of fabric over the row of holes in my office window blind to keep the sun from shining in my eyes for three minutes every morning
-
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
@gvwilson @mhoye Here's my blog post where I call out my office backscratcher as the best-designed technology I own.
The other stuff is good but the cost-benefit ratio on the backscratcher is unbeatable.
https://blog.plover.com/tech/office-equipment.html -
@mhoye I replaced a split-ring keyring with a cable keyring. It is much easier to add and remove keys, and the non-rigid nature makes it more comfortable in a pocket.
+1 on the key loop.
I do wish that it wouldn’t undo itself, but I wonder if a dab of weak glue or a bit of quakefast might help that.
-
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.
@suetanvil @mhoye
Oh!
Put a container (currently plastic paper basket) next to my bed, to drop clothes that need washing in when I chang einto pajamas.
Yeah, I have laundry boxes in the bathroom, but having an extra in the other place I get undressed lowered chances of dirty laundry lying around from 90% to 10%, or something like that XD -
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 hot water bottle.
-
@mhoye Keeping a sharpie and a roll of painter’s tape in the kitchen. Label anything that goes in the freezer (optionally put weights and dates where sensical) or in the fridge after repackaging
-
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 i wrapped rubber bands around the handle of my (metal) compost bin so it doesn’t make a big clanging noise anymore.
-
@gvwilson @mhoye Here's my blog post where I call out my office backscratcher as the best-designed technology I own.
The other stuff is good but the cost-benefit ratio on the backscratcher is unbeatable.
https://blog.plover.com/tech/office-equipment.html -
-
@amenonsen @mjd @gvwilson that doesn’t sound small or cheap but I have to admit the idea is compelling
-
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?
Simple syrup.
The base for coffee syrups and many other flavoured things. It is a 1:1 mix of sugar and water, brought to a boil and simmered for 5-10 minutes to sterilize, store in a glass storage container [with pouring spout].
Use to sweeten beverages (coffee/tea/cocoa/tart fruit juices/etc.) Stirring optional, no undissolved sugar. Drizzle over oatmeal, sweeten plain yogurt.
Easily flavoured - e.g. add vanilla to cooled syrup, or some cinnamon sticks while boiling it.
