Improving your comfort and wellbeing can be achieved with simple, practical changes.
Remove tripping hazards from your space
The Mohawk Home Dual-Surface Felted Pad is our top choice for any floor covering that doesn’t have a rubberized, non-skid backing. It not only prevents you from tripping, but also improves your rug’s feel underfoot.
Replace any standing desk mats, kitchen mats, or other mats which have become curled at the edges. Wirecutter’s top pick Ergodriven TOPO is used by several journalists who work from home. They say that it still lies flat even after many years of use.
Stick trackers to the things you fear losing (or lose) most
Save Future You from the hassle of searching for lost items by using a bluetooth tracker. Tile Trackers are available in many shapes and sizes. They use Bluetooth technology, which is relatively inexpensive, to pinpoint the location of an item.
Lighting your hallways at night
You know that Future You does not like to stumble through a bathroom visit in the middle of the night. Take a moment to update your lighting. Try a trio stick-on rechargeable motion-sensor lights for high-traffic zones that do not have electrical outlets. As senior editor Grant Clauser used Philips Hue intelligent bulbs to keep an eye on his children when they were young, you could set up a motion-sensor system similar. These battery-operated, motion-sensor lights are perfect for areas such as the bathroom, or a closet, that you want to be able to access without turning on overhead lights. Senior editor Catherine Kast uses them in order to avoid waking her husband, who works late at night.
Automate the lighting in your home
Plug-in smart bulbs and outlets are also a great option if you have ever felt stressed or anxious because you left the light on when you went to sleep or left your house. Our picks may seem daunting to those who are new to smart-home technology, but they’re actually very easy. Download the app, pair the device with Wi-Fi, and you can control our top choice, the TP Link Kasa Smart Wi Fi Plug. You can now use your phone from anywhere to check if the lights are off and if the power is cut to any outlet. Wyze Bulb Color is also connected via Wi-Fi, and controlled by buttons and voice commands in the Wyze App. You can find out more about how to make your smart light work better by reading this article.
Banish disgusting sponges for good
There is no rule whatsoever that you need a sponge for your kitchen sink, especially if your partner leaves it floating in brackish water—so if you hate how gross and stinky yours gets, just replace it. (We’ve previously recommended the OXO Good Grips Dish Brush and OXO Good Grips Bottle Brush as sponge alternatives.) If you can’t imagine life without a kitchen sponge, spend a few dollars on a sponge holder that’ll keep yours perched in a perfect air-drying position, like the Universal Kitchen Sink Magnetic Sponge Holder or the Yamazaki Home Faucet-Hanging Sponge Holder.
Hack your hydration
In our experience, the key to drinking more water throughout the day hinges on strategic planning. Think about what’s stopping you from sipping more and look for an easy solution. Is your water too warm? Or maybe your bottle needs constant refills? You may find that you’re more likely to drink water when it’s cold and carbonated. A SodaStream and a good insulated water bottle (we’ve previously dubbed the Takeya Actives Insulated Water Bottle the Goldilocks of drinking vessels) might fix your problem. Some Wirecutter staffers are more inclined to drink from a tumbler with a straw than a screw-top bottle. Another smart trick is to invest in the Pur Plus 30 Cup Dispenser, which can replenish a gigantic Stanley cup a handful of times before it needs to be refilled.
Invest in an umbrella before you need one
The majority of people do not think about umbrellas until they are caught in a heavy downpour. You can invest in a good umbrella now instead of grabbing a cheap one at the drugstore. This will ensure you are prepared for the next time it rains. Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella is our top pick. It can withstand high winds and beats those rickety umbrellas from gas stations that flip inside out with a little breeze. Sofia Sokolove is the audience development manager of newsletters. She says, “I bought a decent umbrella and am embarrassed at how much it improved my life.” “And, because it works, I have been less likely to forget it.”
Organise your most frustrating drawer, cabinet or shelf
Look at the area that you find most annoying. You may have a disorganized makeup case, a cluttered junk drawer or an unorganized pantry. Spend a couple of minutes organizing it. Signe Brewster of Signe’s Kitchen suggests that you invest in a five-tier pan organizer rack so it is easier to reach your pots. You can mount a rack that holds pot lids on the cabinet’s door.
You can reuse stiff cardboard boxes for organizing T-shirts and sweatshirts in dresser drawers. You can cover boxes with contact paper if you don’t want to see logos each time you open the drawer.
Stock up on your cleaning products in the areas where you use them most
Cleaning is a chore, and carrying your cleaning supplies around the house will not make it any easier. Each room that you clean most often, such as the kitchen and bathroom, should have a caddy containing multiple cleaning tools. You won’t need to gather supplies each time you clean.
You’ll be more inclined to clean your house between deep cleanings when you don’t have to climb stairs. You can do the same for cleaning your tub and shower. If you have a scrub brush that dispensates soap (like the one by OXO), you will be more likely to clean the corners once a week, while you leave your conditioner on.
Stocking your car with convenience (and safety!)
Spending a few dollars now on essentials for your car will help you to survive minor and major inconveniences in the future. You’ll thank yourself when you spill coffee or your battery runs out.
- Keep cleaning supplies in your vehicle, such as Clorox Disinfecting wipes and paper towel, along with an “auto-garbage” can to store trash.
- Invest in an affordable first aid kit that includes all the essentials to treat minor cuts and scrapes. This includes bandages, gauze and alcohol prep pads. Our budget pick is the First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit. It’s affordable and includes all of the essentials.
- You may still want to buy an ice scraper, even though winter is over. This way you will not have to worry about it later in the year when another snowstorm hits. We recommend the Hopkins SubZero 80037. It is the best for clearing ice from vehicles of any size and sweeping off snow. Don’t forget your roof either!
- No matter how careful you may be, it’s easy to end up with a dead battery that needs a jumpstart. You don’t have to depend on someone to jump start your car. By keeping a portable Jump Starter, such as the Weego Jump Starter 44s in your trunk, you can do it yourself.
Spend a little extra on things you enjoy to create good habits
You can make it more likely that you will actually follow through with a new habit by spending a little money on the items you need. If you want to spend more time journaling, then treat yourself to an notebook. We have some options starting at just $10. Spend a few dollars more to get a nicer floss if you don’t like flossing.
You may not even need to buy anything to make this trick work. As long as it’s something you enjoy, like Jackie Reeve, senior staff writer: “I wanted to see my quilt every day, on a newly made bed,” she says. This was a huge motivator, and I became an advocate for making the bed. It improved my overall sense of calmness and well-being. I was surprised at how much this did for my mental wellbeing.
