Not talking about the usual stuff like working out or eating better. I mean the weird, small things that somehow made a big difference.
Examples:
– Started using a lint roller on my car seats. Looks way cleaner now.
– Switched to bamboo socks. Never going back.
– Began carrying a tiny notebook. Helps me remember stuff and feels kinda cool.
What’s your “didn’t expect this to help, but it did” thing?
Comments
Here’s an original copy of /u/bustysugarbaby’s post (if available):
Not talking about the usual stuff like working out or eating better. I mean the weird, small things that somehow made a big difference.
Examples:
What’s your “didn’t expect this to help, but it did” thing?
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Flannel pajamas.
Stick Vac.
Reading How to Win Friends and Influence People. Learning how to talk to people without making it all about myself has been great.
Naps.
Bidet
High-quality toothbrush. My Sonicare was worth every penny
Wait, are we ranking beard oil along with the air fryer?
I gotta get some beard oil asap
A thin wallet. And shorts that you can wear to work, climb, hike, and swim in.
Cookie scoop. I was making chocolate chip cookies with a tablespoon, which is messy and inexact. The cookie scoop changed my life.
It sounds stupid but I was in my mid 20s when I got a smart phone. I would always say no it’s a distraction there’s no utility to it but then I got one and it was such a game changer. I know it’s something that’s so ubiquitous. Like I may as well say driving a car or breathing air. But I was literally the last person among everyone I knew to get one.
clean room with a shelves and wardrobe
Traeger pellet smoker. I make my own bacon now. 🥓
A close second is my Milwaukee vise grip pliers. After using the less quality ones and smashing knuckles too many times they are amazing.
It’s not “small”, but a standing desk
I was adamantly against it. Swore I’d never use it
Now I’m standing more than I’m sitting.
Beard balm kidding ….
Compression socks. I can run up to 12km pain shin-splint free.
Heated mattress pad. OMG.
Rollerblade wheels for my office chair.
Empathy
A rice cooker
Really easy to clean and it’s just “Fill her up and let her go”. I never really had an issue using a regular pan but the fact that I can now cook multiple things AND rice and I know the rice cooker is going to be solid on its own is such an amazing thing.
Insta Pot. – You can make so much good food that cooks itself, so easy
I got Astra blades for my safety razor. Didn’t know they made razors that good. Had to wait a month but im glad I did
A divorce
Induction cooktop. So much quicker and more efficient than gas or regular electric
Edit: gas not has
Bamboo backscratcher. My parents got it for me over 20 years ago. Still amazing!
I didn’t know how vital water was as a youngin i drank nothing but sodas but as time passed i learn the value of h20 absolutely didn’t know the importance water 🚰
Squatty potty. Professional movers. The best mattress I could afford.
Vacuum sealer, no more freezer burn on meats, faster to thaw stuff out too
Contact lenses.
I wore glasses from the time I was a kid until I was around 25, and I really disliked having to. Changing to contacts was legitimately a tremendous quality of life improvement.
Unless some sort of medical issue renders me unable to continue using contact lenses at some point, I would never, ever consider going back to glasses.
100% cotton underwear. Let them breath
A queen sized memory foam mattress topper. Even a Motel6 bed is comfortable now.
Chest freezer, I can meal prep extra stuff and just throw it in there and add it to the inventory. Now I have health home cooked meals I can reheat in the microwave when I’m too tired or lazy to cook something. I also have enough room to keep home made stock, fresh picked berries for the winter etc without having to overcrowd my freezer.
4 roller luggage!
Merino wool
Learning to actually say no. Not dramatic, not rude, just “no.” Changed my life more than any gadget ever could.
Heated car seats and remote start. Getting in a defrosted car with warm seats makes winter much more bearable.
Trauma shears. They’re dirt cheap and great for most light duty cutting applications like zip ties, straps(like cargo straps), boxes, those stupid plastic ties on big boxes etc.
bamboo socks you say? ive not heard about this. I wear work boots for a living so im very interested in a better sock for my feets
Bamboo underwear
A job that I am actually really good at and sincerely enjoy. It’s insane how much of an impact just that has. Don’t get me wrong, I’m also making triple what I ever had in my life up til this point, but that’s just the cherry on top in my eyes. As much as my work can still be a pain in the ass sometimes, it’s not a struggle for me to get up at 4am for a 12 hour shift and those shifts feel like they only last an hour or two.
Good socks. Merino wool, sized, with good cushion… I’ll happily spend $25 for a pair.
I started carrying an EDC flashlight. It’s flat, clips on my belt, and stays charged for weeks, over 6000 lumens. Seriously I’ve only charged it once and bought it two months ago. Never thought I’d carry a flashlight everyday but then I used it multiple times at work the first week and never have to mess with my weak phone flashlight anymore.
MagSafe phone mounts. In my car or at my desk I always know where it is, it’s never in my way, and it is always charged. Being in nightstand mode in those places is great too because it cuts down on distractions.
Heinz ketchup
Butter instead of margarine
Using chopsticks to eat instant noodles
(If I were a dog up for adoption, my cage would have “very food-motivated” written on it)
Switching from boxers to boxer briefs
Better contacts.
Had always gone to a chain optometrist but recently had crosslinking procedure in both eyes and the doc recommended I go to a local independent.
OMG. Best. Optometrist. Ever.
Dude worked with me over months as my eyes changed from the crosslinking and currently we’ve settled on using my left eye for close sight and right for far sight and he’s added astigmatism correction.
My eyes are royally fucked, have been since birth, and yet now at 47 I’m seeing better than I ever have in my life, all because of a person who takes pride in his work and the time to get things right and experiment instead of churning through appointments.
Hip hook for my lower back pain. It’s a device used to relax your illiacus and psoas muscles. It has given me relief after 30 years of suffering.
Noise cancelling headphones (whatever type you like, but get the best you can afford). Going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day. Finding a type of exercise you enjoy and can do consistently for months/years at a time. Finding something or someone you can be loyal to; humans thrive in situations where they can perform well and we are at our best when working for a team. Find a hobby that isn’t based on a screen, read a book, go hiking, build something. Everything now days is screen based and that’s fine but having something (or things) in your life that are more physical is good for perspective and variety. Speaking of screens, take a break now and then, make sure to look up and out a window or at least something far away, your eyes will thank you.
Tied my keys to my wallet.
Guitar.
It’s not a small thing now, but I picked it up pretty casually, I’d always wanted to play, got one for my 30th, and just started practicing 15 minutes a day without really thinking about it. The first six months I was terrible, and then suddenly something clicked, and I started practicing more, and craving it, and 12 years later I’ve played virtually every day for 12 years and I can’t imagine my life without music in it.
It allows me to summon a flow state at will, within moments, at any time. I’ve never found one other thing in life that’s like that. It can relieve anxiety, lift depression, calm anger, because I just disappear into the fullness of playing. To think I went 30 years without this!
A good mental health provider, as a man, and a veteran, having someone outside of my family that I can talk to about my problems is helpful.
I bought a flip phone ( old one without internet) and turned off social media consumption
Bar keepers friend for my steel cookware.
Nose hair electric clipper
Traded the smart watch for a real watch.
Fiber
Starting a skin care routine. Wash, moisturize, tretinoin prescription at night makes my skin look years younger
A few years ago I bought tires, and there was a promotional giveaway for 20 ounce Yeti tumbler. I think they cost like $40 at the time, and I wasn’t going to spend that on a drink cup. I wouldn’t say it’s changed my life, but I use that thing nearly every day. In winter, it keeps my tea enjoyably hot for hours. In summer, it keeps my cold drinks cold for hours.
A bonus is that I take it with me in the car even if it’s empty. If I’m going to a fast food place and order a fountain drink and tell them I’ve got my own cup, about half of the time they decide to just not charge me for the drink. If I’m buying a fountain drink at a gas station, they sometimes give a discount for having my own cup and every once in a while just comp me the drink.
E-bike if you’re <30 min from work and live near retail and or services. Like an extra 10k saved from not needing a car per year.
Blocking ads globally in a web browser. It’s a night and day difference. I can’t use the web with ads anymore.
Also quitting cable tv and streaming ad free. How did we even tolerate 1:3 ratio of ads to content before? It’s crazy how we just let advertising make up the background to our lives.
Advertising is a scourge on society
An excavator toy, for when I go to the beach. It takes me back to my childhood, playing in the sandbox. It made going to the beach much more fun, especially when girlfriend wants to chill and stay on the sunbeds. I’m there happy making holes, and girlfriend is happy that I’m next to her.
A double edged razor. Went from disposable safeties to a 100 dollar Henson and man… Such a smooth shave. Less plastic waste and saves money in the long run too.
Robot vacuum.
Get a decent one with some good features (attachable mop, programmable zones/routes) and it will literally change your life. I’ve vacuumed maybe ten times in 7 years since I got it, and those were for small messes that weren’t worth turning it on for.
For general cleanliness and upkeep of your home, it’s so worth it even if you have to shell out some money.
100% linen bed sheets. Haven’t had night sweats in months.
My bikes. My daughter bought me a bike at the beginning of Covid. I’ve gone from 260->200 pounds riding, weight training and changing my diet. Also, I stopped drinking alcohol completely.
Getting an Ipad. I used to be”ehh it is just a silly piece of tech cant be better than a windows laptop” and after being a part time teacher my mindset was” carrying a old ass laptop is hurting my back also i want a drawing display as a hobby maybe i can learn concept art” and OMG… I should have bought the Ipad back in first year of university. My only regrer is getting a 11″ instead of 13″.
And I ditched every big piece of tech. It helps me on my both professional and personal life. It has started my indie videogame artist as well.
Stretchy jeans. I can’t go back to non-stretchy ones since then.
Helldivers 2
Daily wear: Black Blazer/sport coat.
Lightweight enough you don’t have to take it off except on the hottest 10% of days.
Provides a layer of wind protection and warmth while remaining lightweight and machine-washable. (Can Scotchgarde for wet climates)
Pockets hold more than a man-purse or fanny pack. (Mine has keys, wallet, spectacles, napkins, phone, blood sugar monitor, insulin, needles, business cards, and a pen.) Never forget something in your pocket or sit on your keys again! And as long as you don’t lose the blazer you have everything you need ready to go in 3 seconds.
Instantly commands respect as semi-formal attire without being daunting or off-putting.
People assume you’re business-adjacent (i.e., you have money and a purpose) and treat you accordingly.
Air, gym oil, and beard fryer
I like a lot of the suggestions here but for me it was antidepressants. I knew I was probably depressed for years but I was always able to “survive” and since I didn’t have good insurance that was always good enough.
Then this year I decided to get better insurance through work, I started working on getting bariatric surgery which required a psych evaluation and they recommended I get tested for depression and ADHD, so I did. Now I have antidepressants and ADHD meds and my life has improved significantly. I have a better relationship with food and lost a good amount of weight even before surgery. Got better at work and overall just became happier in life.
So long story short, if you think you may be depressed get tested. You can save yourself a lot of time and misery.
Theragun
I’ve wanted a dog for the longest time. I was around dogs for most of my upbringing, and not having one was a constant source emptiness. It was never realistic for my work schedule and living situation until recently.
I was happy when I brought my boy home from the shelter last month, but I had no idea how much having him in my life would improve things for me. Just from a strictly selfish pragmatic standpoint he’s been a massive improvement. I’m no longer lonely all the time. I am no longer bored. Taking him out for poo walks 3 times a day has me walking 4+ miles a day and I’m at the lowest weight I’ve been in 15 years.
But the unexpected thing is how much joy I get from bringing him joy. When he prances about on a walk, when he bounds towards me with toys, when he goes apeshit at the sprinklers. He is just so mirthful and exuberant. Even when he sleeps, he radiates joy. He’s unlocked memories from parts of my life that I thought I had completely forgotten. My blood pressure is lower; I no longer have my ears popping or overwhelming sinus headaches.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. He shits 5 times as frequently as I do, and roughly 0% of them are anywhere near a toilet. He destroyed some things that were expensive to replace, not that he knew any better. He’s a chore to walk because he’s hyper-reactive and wants to play with every dog, human, bird, squirrel and shadow he sees. He refuses to come home when the walk is over. He’s scared of hallways with corners.
Having someone tell me they love me.
Got my first ILU at 45. Was stunned how much I needed to hear that.
Sex with no condom, feels a million times better.
A full Neuropsychological exam.
Turns out been autistic and gifted is something that makes it really hard to traverse live without help.
Pocket knife. They come in so useful I don’t know what I did without it.
Fountain pen. I’ve got Fude de Mannen Sailor. It’s relatively cheap and small. My writing changed, and my thinking followed. It is also great for drawing. Some basic drawing skills are free to acquire and they do improve how I look at the world too. They greatly help with distances, proportions, memory and dexterity.
Victorinox hunter or similar pocket knife is a game changer as well. From opening letters and milk to making gnomes from sticks. It is a great tool.
Huggies baby wipes. Had our first kid. Started wiping my butt with baby wipes. Poor man’s bidet. Gets yer butt crack squeaky clean. I keep a few packs in my locker at work, and a pack in the car. I started using them to wipe my hands (with a dot of hand sanitizer) whenever I come out of the store/ get gas- and I think I’ve had one cold in the last 15 years! Which is game changer #2: don’t touch your face before washing your hands really good- I read that that’s how cold/flu/etc generally transmits- through the face- because you have more of some kind of cells in your face than elsewhere- can’t remember the name right now.
reading. fiction, non fiction, essay collections, epics, poems, all of it, can’t believe i’ve been ignoring this aspect of the human experience honestly
Got me my first puppy at 41 yo. I always loved dogs, and have had cats as pets for about 25 years. But wow, after getting my pup, I changed. I’m happier, I go outside more, I get more exercise, I sleep better. They’re not for everyone, but I wish I did this much sooner!
Solitude. Cigars. Going clean-shaven. Not watching any rage-bait news and not caring about politics. Prokofiev. Putting lines through my zeros to distinguish them from the letter “O” and strokes through my 7s to distinguish them from my 1s.
Realizing I don’t have 45min. In entire day of doing nothing. Also, i finally learned how to relax. Finally doing something for myself.
Stopped keeping my wallet in my back pocket. It’s done wonders to help my back.
This and painting. I started oil painting after being told I could never draw, and if I can’t draw, I can never paint (years ago by art teachers in high school). It’s done wonders for me, and I never knew it would be something that would be so good for me.
Self tailing winches for the sailboat I live on.
So on a, regular winch, which you use to tighten the lines to your sails or your rigging, you have to hold the line while you winch. With a self tailing winch, once you clip the line in, you don’t have to hold the line at all, meaning you can either use both hands to winch the line down or in my case, keep one hand on the tiller while winching with the other.
As a solo sailor, I cannot begin to express how, much of a game changer it’s been upgrading from regular to self tailing winches
Regular full body massages. It really helps relieve stress.
Under cabinet lighting. Less than $100 and it’s a total game-changer in the kitchen.
git worktree