Ask HN: What tiny purchases have disproportionately improved your life?

> I also don't use a dishwasher. Utter waste of energy and water.

If you run it for a plate or two, sure. If it's even remotely full, it uses way less energy and water than you do washing in the sink.

A personal planner, every year.

I have always struggled with bursts of hyper-productivity and then bursts of burnout and developed a problem with getting motivated. A friend gave me the advice to get a notebook and write down what I did every day in broad strokes and if I had some particular mood swings or other mental health-related struggles.

It helped me develop good habits as I am awful at repetitive stuff and sometimes I even write down my short term plans ahead of time to just have a framework to keep to day to day. I abhor planning every moment of my life to a strict schedule so this is isn't an hour-to-hour plan but a list of activities and keywords, basically. It also assures that I don't get so deep into something that I just shut the outside world out.

I've been doing this for four years now and I have never missed a day of writing things down. I don't know why but "manifesting" plans into the physical realm just makes them more... real? The added benefit is that I can tell anyone what I did each day and what I struggled with / was happy to experience at any given day of those 4 years.

I keep it really simple. I look for a national forest on Google Maps and drive there, adapting as needed. I'm generally looking for one sign: Welcome to X National Forest, and then I'm woo hoo! Home sweet home.

I don't drive deep into the forest (couple miles max), as cell service drops precipitously the further you are from main roads.

I do follow the signage. I want to sleep without worry, and rangers will not hesitate to wake you up at 3 am to move your car.

When in doubt, visit the website for whatever national forest you're in. Most of the information you need will be right at your fingertips, including important warnings like weather/fire risk.

Most national forests have what's called dispersed camping. Those are areas specifically reserved for camping and are almost completely unimproved, but I often find they're too deep in the forest for my liking. Just because there's a dispersed camping area doesn't mean you can camp only there.

Is national forest? Yes.

Is campsite? Yes, but doesn't even need to be a campsite. Park anywhere that's safe and doesn't obstruct, unless restricted.

Is empty? Yes.

Is unrestricted? Yes.

If restricted, abide? Yes.

Is safe? Yes, mostly. Remember bears and bear etiquette. Remember the zero-worry rule: If you're worried about where you're parked, leave. Don't assuage your worry as paranoia, listen to it and find another spot. Even if you unpack your whole van and setup camp. If you're worried, pack up and go find another spot. Peace of mind, especially if you're alone, is worth the aggravation.

Internet? Two bars. Woo hoo!

Trees/shade? Yes.

Score!

Is mine for now, so don't burn it down.

When I exit, not so much as a toenail do I leave behind.

If campgrounds are what you want, the online reservation system for USGOV campgrounds countrywide is here: recreation.gov. Off season you can snag a campground reservation same day sometimes; not so on-season.

> If it has decent cellular reception

How much are you paying the cell companies to live their American dream on your dime?

Two things:

A Bella 5.3 qt air fryer. The basket is one piece, ridiculously easy to clean:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HRTWZJN

This has completely simplified my eating, but it's not for everyone. I'm not interested in cooking, and I'm able to eat the same things every day without issue. Right now I have a few burger patties, a chicken thigh or two, and a pork chop every day, and once in a while, salmon. Plus I cook my dogs food too, mostly ground beef and burger patties, and pork loin.

When I say this simplified my life, I no longer use a stove top, induction cooktop, frying pans, or oven, ever, and got rid of most of the cookware. If I want a different meal, I can always order out, or when it's safe, go eat out somewhere, but that's rare for me anyway. I just drop in what I want, spices as desired, turn it on and come back and eat. It will also cook vegetables, and when I used to eat them, I liked them better this way as it gave them an oven-like caramelized flavor.

Here are two different vendor/models that have the exact same basket:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MR3KWSL

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WBSVH33

My original Bella still worked, but after using it between 3 and 6 times a day for over a year and a half it was time to retire it as the front had warped. I think it was $85 at the time. Couldn't buy it again as it said and still says not in stock at the link. So I searched for ones that had the same basket, and bought one each of the other two. Before the Bella, I had a much more $$$ Philips XXL, but that was a pain to clean because you had to take the basket apart etc. so I gave it away.

One tip: I don't go above 340 in temp, though they can go to 400 -- it'll warp the front a bit over time at the high temps, and fat can get into the element and make it smoke. Usually it's 280 deg for an hour with still frozen chicken thigh, and 280 deg for 20 mins for a thin burger, 30 mins for thicker. You'll have to experiment with temps and times until you find what you like with each food.

The second thing that has simplified my (cooking) life is a hard boiled egg maker:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XTJQN2X

Makes it a snap to get the cooking done right for soft, medium or hard boiled eggs, every time, very quickly. Just over $20 and I use it to hard boil 6 eggs every other day.