I should've done that years ago...

July 10, 2008 7:09 AM

What is something simple that you have discovered that has changed you day-to-day life? Preferably something that you are now amazed you didn't think of it, or try it, sooner... The reason I ask this question is that I had one of these moments recently and now wonder what else I'm missing out on!

My recent experience was so simple it was ridiculous.

I was so tired when I got up the other morning, that I got in the shower and realised that I hadn't turned the bathroom light on. I went with it and soon discovered that showering in the dim, almost darkness of morning, is a relaxing, soothing experience. In fact, it makes getting up in the mornings pleasant! Since then, it has been "no light" all the way!

I have a couple of others but this one was the best by far...

posted by paterg to sports, hobbies, & recreation (7 comments total)

Segregate the silverware by type as you load the dishwasher instead of sorting through the jumble when it's time to unload.
posted by OilPull at 7:32 AM on July 10

I discovered in college that I was lactose intolerant. Presto, no more daily stomachaches.
posted by desjardins at 7:32 AM on July 10

If you don't have your own washer/dryer and you go to a laundromat, have them do the laundry for you instead of you doing it yourself. This one thing has made the biggest difference in how I spend my weekends and how much time i have to do the things I want to do.
It's not that much more expensive, and for $5 I get to have 1/4 of my weekend back.
posted by rmless at 7:32 AM on July 10

Save all your mail and go through it once a month. (I like the third weekend.) Pay bills at the same time (electronically). Reduces this chore to about an hour.
posted by Work to Live at 7:39 AM on July 10

opposite of OliPull, I discovered that all my silverware can be mixed. Growing up, my mother made me separate the silverware. Once I realized it could all mingle in the drawer, a great weight was lifted. It sounds silly, but it was freeing.
posted by Jason and Laszlo at 7:41 AM on July 10

Switch from bar soap to body wash and your shower will stay much, much cleaner. Most of the gunk in a dirty shower is the residue of the stuff in bar soap that makes it hang together.

I learned this on Metafilter.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 7:42 AM on July 10

Toaster over! I only had a push-down toaster before, or I broiled stuff in the oven. A toaster oven makes everything better: breakfast, lunch, and dinner (well, mostly heated pie for dessert, not dinner). Also, dropping gluten from my diet changed my daily life for the better quite a bit. And also, my IUD. Wish I had tried all three a lot sooner.
posted by Eringatang at 7:44 AM on July 10