48 things that make my life better

A list of simple pleasures, things, and habits I've come to swear by

Sep 12, 2024

Hello, happy Thursday!

Last week,

Emma Gannon

from The Hyphen shared a great list of 65 things that have improved her life. I loved the format, and wondered what I’d list on mine.

Turns out, I’ve got at least 48! And like hers, many of mine were integrated in the last several years, after a period of burnout and big life changes (though a few have been mainstays for a decade or more, and some are simply organizational hacks that make life run smoother). This was a great exercise to reflect on what I like best about my week to week, and ultimately, the things that bring me a lot of joy.

And here they are:

Going to the library every week. It’s just the best.
Splurging on fancy bar soaps. Because it’s a small little luxury that’s used daily.
“Catch-up” texting via computer, not phone. If you are friends with me, this is why my texts are novels. I try to use my phone for on-the-go, quick texts only.
5.5” x 8” hardcover spiral notebooks, like this. Since 2017 or so, I’ve used them as journals. Big enough to write a lot on each page, small enough to tuck into a tote bag. Looks uniform and clean when you get a whole row of them on a shelf.
Buying really good coffee beans. I like Ritual’s seasonal espresso roasts.
Ditto with tea. As mentioned here, I like ordering direct from Rishi!
Practicing the Try-On Rule before purchasing any clothing online, which is: would I pay in cash and time to try this on if I saw it in a store? If not, move along. (Essentially, the annoyance of packaging returns and taking them to UPS and often paying to try the clothes on meant so much wasted time, money, boxes, plastic, and probably clothes, it bothered me. So I try to only order what I think I’ll really love, need, and fully intend to keep for a very, very long time.)
This hot water kettle, used every single day for tea or Americanos. I love it—truly life changing.
Sambucol elderberry gummies. Swear these can ward off the early stages of a cold. Ditto to…
Wellness Formula. The undisputed champ of shortening an upper respiratory virus’s length and severity.
Gardening, but like, researching why plants are thriving or not. Even on a little patio garden like mine (with pots only!), you learn so much and the garden just gets better and better every year.
Diatomaceous earth. On that note: F**k the moths that almost killed my hardenbergia!
Paring back my skincare routine. On a good morning I use a homemade toner, a serum of some sort, moisturizer, and sunscreen. And some days, it’s just moisturizer—and that’s seriously ok. Mornings are quicker and I spend a lot less time researching The Next Hot Thing in skincare. Signed, a former 10-step girl.
Drinking very little alcohol.
Eating very little meat.
Rediscovering beans. So good! I’ve been enjoying sautéed cannellinis with summer corn, tomatoes, spinach, onions, garlic, and basil, topped with some parmesan. Easy lunch!
ToDoist. Still my go-to task organizer, 11 years running. Life would fall apart without it; or, at the very least, my taxes would not get paid.
Abandoning thongs. One day last year, my underwear annoyed me and I never went back. Now I really like these from Cosabella. And these undies were great under summer dresses.
Reading more novels. See also: #1
Easy exercise routines. I’ve given up the classes and memberships and lately, have really loved the YouTuber FitbyMik. You can stack her videos to make a workout as long or short as you want, she doesn’t yammer on, the time goes by so fast, and it’s all free ninety nine.
Shopping Etsy for any home decor needs or gifts or fun knick knacks. Recent acquisitions include custom hats for teacher gifts, this cute little bobbin frame, and a vintage butter dish I got from this shop (she has such great things!).
Joining the SFMOMA.
Going to bed early. I don’t always manage this, but when I get in a groove, ooh does it make my life better.
This CBD balm stick. A local massage therapist recommended it to me a few years ago and I’ve kept one on hand ever since. So great for sore muscles, or if you throw your back out (seriously!).
Deleting the Instagram app from my phone. I use IG, but only in a web browser. It’s clunky and annoying and far less addicting when it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, which means I can get in, get out.
Scrivener. Cannot imagine organizing my offline writing projects without it.
Planning short, local weekend trips instead of big vacation blow outs. I think I’m a short trip gal. It’s less disruptive to one’s routine, and honestly, I come back more refreshed.
Keeping clothes even when they’re considered uncool. The last few years, I’ve refused to give anything away and instead have packed things into a big plastic box. Trends get recycled so fast these days, you’ll be shopping your own things again in no time. (I did, this past year! Hello, 2018 tops!)
These under-bed organizers. Used in my daughter’s room, they corral puzzles, costumes, and more. They have wheels. They hide wonderfully under the bed. Her room would be a disaster without them.
Meal prepping on Saturday or Sunday. It just makes the week so much easier.
This tire inflater thingy. It works on bikes and yes, even on cars. No need to go to the gas station for an air refill ever again. I swear, it’s great. My husband reminded me of it when he found out I was writing this list, and I wholeheartedly agree.
Giving up on regular manicures and pedicures. I dunno you guys, making the appointment and getting there and then having the paint chip and going back a week later just isn’t important to me. I was never into manis anyway (HATE the feel of nail polish on my fingers), so…meh?
Weekly therapy. For over twelve years now. A few breaks here and there, but…yes, really.
Solar powered rainbow maker. This makes everyone in our family inordinately happy. Highly rec as a little gift or stocking stuffer this year.
Substack! Goes without saying.
Watching what happens on the creek. We live near a creek with wetlands, and watching the seasonal cycles out there gives me so much perspective on life and change and the bigger picture. Plus, it’s fun to teach my daughter to observe nature in the city. Here is a stingray I saw in the creek the other week:
Learning to identify birds, even though thirteen-year-old me swore she’d never let her mother turn her into a birdwatcher.
Bastide’s Creme Intense hand cream. Better than any other I’ve tried. Yes, including that one.
Planning weekly date nights at home. My husband and I try to carve out time on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings to “go on a date” in the living room and just talk. No phones, no TV, cocktail optional. We find the weeknight check-ins—even if just for half an hour—help us to not feel like strangers come the weekend.
These garment bags, which I use to store fall and winter jackets, so they don’t gather dust during the summer. (In SF, we can wear cold weather things 3 seasons out of four, so there’s no sense in packing them away in boxes)
Gmail filters and multiple Inboxes. I’ve set up filters to automatically label and mark-as-read any brand emails, then archive them. I read them as desired via their label folder, and I never see them in my main Inbox. Similarly, Substacks get sent to a stacked Inbox that lives under my main one, so I’m not inundated with reading to-dos every time I open Gmail. Look here for info on filters and here for info on multiple Inboxes.
Keeping cards and card stock around. It’s nice to have a big assortment of birthday cards, thinking of you cards, and thank you notes. Paper Source often has a sale section in the back with cards you’ll want to snap up.
This over door wrapping paper hanger. I use it to store ribbons, some seasonal decorations, gift bags, tissue paper…it’s honestly a workhorse and is amazing.
Being honest with people about the fact that I hate FaceTime (and realizing most people hate it in turn).
Doing FaceTime with select people anyway, because you love them.
Eating a small breakfast. I skipped it for most of my life and it was fine, but recently realized eating something small in the morning has made me feel a lot better at this stage of life.
Weekday meals with friends. One of the best post-pandemic things is that so many friends have flexible work-from-home schedules. I take advantage by planning breakfast meetups with this friend, or monthly lunches with that one. It’s nice to have the day broken up with a heart to heart catch up.
Not saying yes when I really mean no.

This was fun! You know, reading my list back, I realized so many of the items are really about simplifying my life, which has unknowingly been a theme the last few years. Part of the impetus for this was having a kid and feeling like a chicken running around with my head cut off, but the bigger piece was also getting serious about my priorities. Whittling away what was heavy or a time suck or not bringing me closer to joy and big goals. It was surprisingly gratifying to read this back and realize whether intentionally or not, I’ve been doing some streamlining and I like it.