Add More Hiking to Your Trip
When we rounded up our staff’s weekly updates last Friday, our editors succumbed to Glossier cravings, revisited Snuggie, cut down on booze, and increased our home Wi-Fi.
This week we are spending more time walking, collecting the best credit card rewards, exploring new podcasts, and rediscovering our love of crossword puzzles.
What updates have you made this week? Let us know in the comments.
Take a scenic route to work
Yesterday I was meditating on the bus in the morning, but what really inspired me for this day was walking the last mile to work. I had to take a walk in a much more picturesque area near our office area. From now on, when the weather is fine, I will get off the train to the stop early and go on foot.
Nick Douglas, staff writer
Stop fighting the need for glasses
Ever since I turned 40, I needed reading glasses, but over the past few years my vision has deteriorated from “Boy, shampoo labels are hard to read” to “Are these words or did someone just smear chocolate syrup all over the page? ? “I bought progressive lenses, but I couldn’t get used to them, so I just took them out when I needed to read something. Only: it turns out that you need to read something, like, all the time, and if wearing progressive materials made me feel old, I told the cashier: “Wait, I have to get my glasses” when it was time to pay for lunch, and I can’t figure out that the card reader made me feel even older. So I resigned myself, wore progressives for a few days and told myself that I would get used to them. And I did! Now I see it all the time. This is a miracle!
Alice Bradley, Associate Editor
This is not an office without a paper tray
While most of my books and documents are well organized, my inbox remains cluttered from envelopes until I decide to reject a pile or spend time each day looking through and organizing items that I need to save, destroy, or save for later. So, in a fit of organizational frustration, I ordered a paper tray organizer, put it on my desk, and stuck them all in there. Turns out paper tray organizers are great for organizing letters that are mostly paper.
Patrick Austin, staff writer
Get the most out of your credit cards
I started to notice the special cash-back offers that my credit card offers. (You must activate them in your account.) I timed it right and got an extra 5% cashback on AirBnbs just before booking a big trip.
Joel Kahn, Sr. video producer
Switch to technology that requires fewer accessories
I used to make calls and listen to podcasts with Plantronics Legend, a wonderful little bluetooth headset that sits in my ear and sounds great. But it uses its own dedicated magnetic charging clip. I never have him with me when I need him, and sometimes he doesn’t want to connect at all. So I ditched it in favor of a cheaper model with a micro-USB port. Turns out the most important feature is the ability to use the damn thing.
Beth Squarecki, health editor
Expand your podcast repertoire
After doing two flights this week, I was looking for new podcasts to keep myself busy. I came across two that are added to your stream:Design Matters with Debbie Millman , telling creative people about their work and ideas and Lingthusiasm , in which the two engaged in linguistics linguist ( series with prepositions – pleasure). In between flights, I read Olivia Laing ‘s Lonely City , a beautiful, touching book, half memoir, half art critic, and introduced me to several new artists, adding complexity to people I thought I knew. s, including Andy Warhol and Valerie Solanas. If you’ve ever been lonely (not all of us), I highly recommend it.
alisia adamchik, staff writer
When in doubt, add Bailey’s
I was pretty proud of my experimental cooking this week. I never treat cooking as a science or by rules. I watch everything carefully and always add or change ingredients, much to my husband’s chagrin. My grandmother used to say that the only way to find the best recipe is to experiment. I added Bailey’s cream to the spinach pie this week and it was amazing.
Adam Powers, video producer
Fake sunrise effects
I bought one of these sunrise alarms in the hopes that it will help me feel a little less sleepy in the morning. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m excited.
Patrick Allan, staff writer
Do Something Good For Your Cognitive Function
I used to know a little about crossword puzzles, but stubbornly avoided spending $ 6.99 a month on a New York Times crossword puzzle app. This week I finally gave up and signed up and it gives me absurd joy. It seems like working on larger puzzles is giving me back shape, and small mini-puzzles are perfect for spending a minute or two on the subway. Worth $ 7.
Virginia K. Smith, Editor-in-Chief
Tame your cluttered pile of shoes
My update is that I have a shoe rack, which is boring, but it definitely helps keep them from becoming a messy pile and makes it easier to sweep the foyer.
Claire Lowe, Food and Beverage Editor