Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

381–390 of 428 posts

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

#381

Post by kypro »

mettamage wrote: post #53

Some that come to mind. __Health__ Melatonin. There is no other way for me to go to bed and this knocks me right out (I use 0.2 - 0.4 milligrams). Sleep mask (no more waking up because a stray light hits my eye) I'd say sleep earplugs but I have a sound in my ear, but otherwise earplugs Mosquito repellent scent (for sleep as well). Silicon earplugs when going out, I never thought I'd get ear/hearing damage because I…

If you have trouble sleeping have you tried a weighted blanket?

My girlfriend brought one recently and it’s weirdly relaxing having something so heavy resting over your body. I’ve found it helps me with just lying still and I think the weight subconsciously makes my body feel heavier and more tired than I actually am.

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

#382

Post by JeremyNT »

Arrath wrote: post #141
mettamage wrote: post #53

Some that come to mind. __Health__ Melatonin. There is no other way for me to go to bed and this knocks me right out (I use 0.2 - 0.4 milligrams). Sleep mask (no more waking up because a stray light hits my eye) I'd say sleep earplugs but I have a sound in my ear, but otherwise earplugs Mosquito repellent scent (for sleep as well). Silicon earplugs when going out, I never thought I'd get ear/hearing damage because I…

For some people, me included, melatonin can cause an uptick in very real feeling and (depending on mental state) very weird dreams. Do be mindful of that. On the other hand if you're practiced at lucid dreaming this can be a real trip.

I've found that the "weird dream" side effect is very dose responsive. Most melatonin supplements I see include doses much higher than are required, in the 3-5 mg range. Very small doses (as the OP mentioned, in the 200-400 microgram range) should be plenty as a sleep aid and (for me anyway) avoid the enhanced dreams.

I will sometimes take 5 mg when I wake up in the middle of the night in an attempt to induce lucid dreaming, although since I've fallen off of my dream journal my LD abilities are diminished (even with the melatonin).

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

#383

Post by Gustomaximus »

TrevorJ wrote: post #175

Opinel #8 pocketknife. Inexpensive. Timeless design that was last tweaked circa 1960's. Entry-level hardtail mountain bike. I understand more of my geographic area than ever before, and am in moderately better shape, to boot. Old comfy secondhand leather chair. Have my personal PC hooked up to a cheap old flatpanel TV. I've had many productive weekend hours working on personal projects in comfort. There's something a…

While more expensive, Leatherman Charge.

I have this on my belt and it comes out multiple times a day. I felt a bit silly at first having it on my belt but now I feel naked without it. Incredible handy to have + have to call out good replacement policy as I broke pliers once and they sent a replacement easily and no questions.

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

#385

Post by loxs »

kalev wrote: post #87
warent wrote: post #44

Food scale I got at Target for like $20. Over quarantine, I started getting fluffier than I'm comfortable with and reached my highest weight ever. I eat healthy, so my only guess was that I was eating too much. Simply adding a food scale made me cut 15 pounds in a couple months.

How do you know how much you should eat?

1. If you don't do any sports, you need 50 grams of protein daily (roughly, you can adjust somewhat if you are taller/shorter). If you do some sports, 100 to 200 grams of protein daily. Those are numbers from scientific papers, do your research if you don't believe me. Fats and carbs can vary and you can experiment depending on how you feel.

2. Start to measure and write down the weight and macronutrients of everything you eat.

3. Measure your weight every morning and adjust calories every week by 100-200 depending on your weight gain/loss. But do not fall below the desired protein amount. You should learn to do it reliably within a month.

4. Take your average daily weight every week and try to not lose more than 1-1.5% of your body weight weekly (increase calories if losing faster).

5. When you reach your desired weight, start increasing by 100-200 calories daily, until you reach equilibrium for your weekly average weight. That is your optimal calorie intake.

6. Start learning patterns and you'll figure out how (what and how much) to eat in order to maintain your body weight. After several months of daily calorie tracking, you should be able to eat within reasonable margin of error without measuring anything. At this point you can stop measuring calories.

7. Every now and then, when you gain several extra kilos, repeat the above process for a month or two.

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

#386

Post by cdaringe »

ternus wrote: post #227
kpennell wrote: post #41

Eye Mask - I sleep so much better and longer with one on. I recommend one that doesn't sit on your eyes directly (has a bit of concavity).

I strongly recommend the Manta Sleep mask (no affiliation, just really like them). Adjustable non-contact eye cups, plus you can get different eye cup "mods" like cool (keep in freezer) or warm (microwave) cups that feel amazing. Amazon, or mantasleep.com.

The Manta has thicker materials compared to other masks, so when I turn my head on my pillow, the mask is often pushed off my face slightly. You can tighten it of course, but then its a comfort tradeoff. I wouldn’t recommend manta for this reason.

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

#387

Post by tenfourwookie »

flycaliguy wrote: post #348
tenfourwookie wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure. I love the fact that I can travel with the weather. Too hot? Go where it isn't. Too dry, go to beach. Forest fire surrounding your van in Northern California? Freak out for a couple minutes, and then drive to another forest. ;) The temptations of the lifestyle are many; but, be careful. That much freedom can ruin. You might not be able to return to “normal life", where people supplicate themselves to unbeli…

I lived with that freedom and had that exact same thought. “3 weeks vacation… wait… that’s like 40 weeks of work…” And yeah, I always miscalculate that joke to further distance the normies.

It's ruined me to such an extent in that regard that I can't do 9 to 5 at all. I'd just be staring at everybody in disbelief - You work how many hours a week? I don't work that many hours a month! - and would probably be burned as a heretic.

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

#388

Post by rat_melter »

Velcro Cord Wrapping Tape: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002433097616.html I bought 4 different colors for wrapping different wires that go to different kinds of devices.

Magnetic chargers for all my devices: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002239613192.html For context, I never transfer data through cords for my devices. I have semi-permanently affixed these chargers to my devices and now I have chargers that work for all of them. Life-changing purchase.

Cheap Earbuds: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000507169624.html I bought 10x of these for ~1 USD each, and it put a pair in every bag, box and jacket I traveled with so I'd always have a set with me no matter what. Very convenient.

Metal card wallet: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32808543399.html Going on 3 years, fairly durable for the price. Reduced wallet size by forcing me to discard (pun intended).

Sleep mask: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KC5DWCC Also life-changing. I have 16 windows in my room and this allowed me to finally sleep past daybreak.

Ear protection: (not exact pair, but similar) https://www.amazon.com/12010-34dB-Highest-Safety-Muffs/dp/B0... Combined with the aforementioned cheap earbuds, these replace 200+ USD noise cancelling headphones for ~15 USD total and allow me to concentrate at work.

Rechargeable batteries (AAA and AA), and recharger: I use these for everything that requires batteries.

The Phoenix Project (Book): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1942788290/ This book helped me change my career trajectory in a positive way.

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

#389

Post by silicon2401 »

neilsense wrote: post #137
LeoPanthera wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Brushing after breakfast, rather than before, is recommended for maximum cleanness. If you only brush once a day, brush last thing before bed.

It is, however, disgusting.

I'm the opposite: I think it's disgusting people brush before breakfast, just to dirty their mouth right up again with breakfast and walk around un-brushed afterward

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

#390

Post by skeeterbug »

Kosirich wrote: post #365
Yes2020 wrote: post #217

Bolt-on forks and trailer ball receiver for front loader bucket. I use these just about everyday, to lift, move, and position stuff. Would not be able to live where I live at my age without them. Wood door shim to scrape food cooked onto pans. Free and gets off stuff scrubbies won't, without scratching the s** out of a pan using a metal one. Saves ruining wooden spoons doing the same thing. Battery powered, brushless…

Is it Ryobi? I'm looking into buying the set of weedwhacker, hedge trimmer ect.

I just got the Ryobi 40v weedwacker and leaf blower. I did my 1 acre lot and it still had one bar of battery. I even did some thicker brush areas to put it to the test. Would definitely recommend!
Post reply on HN