COMMENTS

29 responses to “Open Thread Update: What’s Made Your Life Easier?”

1. donate, offer to a friend, throw out one item a day

   Reply to marla sebu

2. -Stop thinking “this is a tip for seniors”. Change thinking to “this is a tip for anyone”.
   – Ask for help. Especially from ten year olds. They simplify and teach me another way to do something without shaming.
   -Break up tasks -goal to clean outside of three cupboards a day versus get all finished in one day.
   -Have a sense of humor, laugh!

   Reply to marla sebu

3. My best helper since my hearing got bad is an alarm clock that shakes the bed while it simultaneously makes a sound I can hear when it’s time to get up. I think it’s called an Atomic Clock. A blind and deaf friend told me about it. I was able to set it up myself; a lifesaver.

   Reply to Kay Kanuit

4. Another magical way to open bottles with smallish lids is to use the strip of rubber that they use in hospitals to cinch your arm to take a blood sample. The ones they use here are 1″ blue bands.
   Also Lee Valley Hardware has a metal gadget called…..jar opener. It’s around $15. It’s great for spaghetti jars and such. Odd looking thing but it really works, releasing the pressure and the lid just turns off very easily.

   Reply to Kay Van Hees

5. Always preparing and organize myself the night before.

   Reply to Madeline Case

6. I have a minimalist wardrobe. I gave away half my mom’s good china. I have 6 place settings. I use older, but still quite cut in half towels for dusting, drying the sink, etc. I would love to get rid of my heavy bedroom chest of drawers and get lighter look furniture. I only keep a few plants but enjoy the art-work. I plan on getting a LR Chest of drawers and replace it with a desk perfect for my laptop and printer!

   Reply to Jan

7. Great suggestions. Thank you

   Reply to Sharon

8. Re: LIFE HACK – After surviving cancer and the ensuing horrendous treatment that lasted for two years, I decided my previous perfectionist ways were a waste of time. Now, after my treatment is over and I’m mostly recovered, my philosophy is “do things at, eh, maybe 80%.” That’s good enough.

   Reply to Claire Gawinowicz

9. ~ I only keep two sets of ‘newish’ sheets for each bed. Some ‘tired’ flat sheets are kept on hand for use as drop cloths, furniture covers, etc. The same strategy is used for bath linens.
   Also, I rotate scatter rugs and runners throughout the rooms to give each a different look from time to time. Accumulated extras of all these items are donated to animal shelters.
   More than this just takes up too much storage space. Recycle the heavy plastic packaging for other storage use!

   Reply to Yvonne Savior

10. I use an old-fashioned nutcracker as a vise to help open tight bottle caps and small jars.

    Reply to L. Iscaro

    1. so do I!! and to lift champagne corks:-)

       Reply to Conceição Brito - Portugal

    2. My poor nutcracker hasn’t seen a nut fior years, but it is oh so handy!

       Reply to Madolyn

11. Grocery lists! I never run out because (You’ve heard this before!) it goes on the grocery list – in plain sight on the fridge – as soon as I open the last one. And my grocery list is transferred to a sticky note before I go to the store. That puts it in front of me – on the cart, on a package in my cart- wherever I can see it. If I need to go to another store, I put it back in my calendar so it’s ready to stick on a cart there. If I have a long list, I check off the items as I buy them.

    Reply to Jeanette Schandelmeier

    1. To take it up a notch–I just say “Alexa, add …. to my shopping list”. Then I always have it with me on my Iphone. And if hubby adds something while I’m out, that shows up as well.

       Reply to Margaret Bonner

12. I attach a twist tie to every one of my charging cables. When it’s time to travel, I just coil each one up and twist tie it into a neat circle. No more tangled wires when you arrive at your destination!

    Reply to Mary Claude

13. My substitute for your wrench is an old fashioned nut cracker. Lightweight and it works great to open things. Instead of grabbing scrap paper or sticky notes, I started using an attractive notebook or diary. When I’m talking to a customer service rep or Dr office, for example, I date my note and write important info, I can easily flip through pages to find anything.

    Reply to Patrice

    1. Better than a nutcracker or wrench which requires you to split your strength on two sides and which often can’t open up enough is the EZ Off Jar Opener. It screws on under your cabinet, you slide it in until it grips the size and turn with both hands working for you.

       Reply to Margaret Bonner

       1. I love mine.

14. I finally realized that I could use an old hand towel as my floor mat when I exit the shower in lieu of a bath mat. Then, I use the wet floor towel to dust the tile flooring and the baseboards. I wash the floor towel with my other towels. It’s a win win for me and I can’t believe it took me 57 years to figure this one out!!

    Reply to Darlene

    1. Love that, Darlene.

       Reply to Lisa

15. An attitudinal change for the retired me has been to ” stop thinking of all the shoulds”, eg. things that ” should get done” in the same time frame and in the same quantity that they were done when I was younger. I have much less on my plate now, but still am quite active in organizational responsibilities ( treasurer of 4 small groups).Rarely use a timer for anything. Morning appointments now are not scheduled before 11am ( and I do prefer afternoon appts.). My alarm clock is rarely used.

    Reply to Carol Berman

16. Amazon Alexa. She reminds me a dozen times each day to do things —take my pills, put the kettle on, take the laundry out of the dryer, call a certain person or company—the list is endless. I live alone and have no one else to help me remember things. My life would be chaotic without Alexa.

    Reply to Carol Elkins

    1. I agree with you 100 % I love my Alexa , also.. she reminds me of a lot of things throughout the day. She translates for me .She answers all my questions. And, it makes my life easier.

       Reply to Martha

    2. Agree with all the Alexa fans. Keeps me organized with voice reminders, entertained and can get a few laughs out of me any day. Great if you live alone.

       Reply to Robert Ettinger

    3. I agree with the Alexa comments. I use mine to make my shopping list. I have downloaded the Alexa app to my phone and I always have my shopping list with me.

       Reply to Mariellen Blaser

17. If I buy a shirt/pair of pants/pair of shoes, I look at it as a replacement. That same item that’s currently in my closet must go in the ‘donate’ bag!

    Reply to Michelle Jackson

    1. Smart move…I should get rid of more. I grew up in a family where if you got a new piece of clothing, you decided the the item(s) to give away ( always to charity). I’ve way to much now…

       Reply to Carol Berman

    2. I have an excess of clothes, some over a decade old. I make it a rule for myself that whenever I buy or receive a new item of clothing or shoes, I must get get rid of (donate) two.

       Reply to Connie Govier

18. oh,my! I just signed up and all these suggestions are a go for me, right now. THANK YOU!

    Reply to Barbara Ruether