It’s Probably Time to Buy Better Headphones
When we last collected our staff’s weekly updates , our editors were rethinking our cleaning approaches, trying new cocktails, improving makeup routines, and cheating our outdoor gear.
We’re spending a lot of money this week on headphones, pushing ourselves to sleep more, and finding innovative ways to calm ourselves down in the harsh summer heat.
What updates have you made this week? Let us know in the comments.
Replace your worn out sneakers
My update is a pair of high-top red Converse that replace my old acid-eaten rough gray Converse. They look good with everything, especially cropped shorts.
Claire Lowe, Food and Beverage Editor
Don’t settle for imperfect headphones
I am picky about mobile headphones, so, probably, in my life I went through a dozen models. This month I switched from Phiatons, which are clunky and easy to break (well, I broke mine), to BeatsX, which are prettier, more convenient and easier to store. But I really miss active noise cancellation.
Nick Douglas, staff writer
Strengthen two-factor authentication
I started looking into two-step (and two-factor) authentication for all the basic services I use, switching from text messaging to authentication apps whenever possible. I’m even considering resurrecting my Google Voice account and using that number for sites that only send text- only login codes. Separately, I (finally) switched from crappy bath towels to fluffy hotel-style bath towels, and now I want to shower three times a day.
David Murphy, Senior Technical Editor
Store beauty products in the refrigerator
I keep these blindfolds (along with some simple masks) in the fridge and they are a nice cooling treat in the middle of this hellish New York summer.
alisia adamchik, staff writer
Do not snag headphone cords on door handles
I bought Bluetooth noise canceling headphones at a big discount on Prime Day. They don’t muffle enough noise for the NYC subway, but the lack of wires ensures I don’t get tangled up in strangers or doorknobs when I walk around.
Joel Kahn, Senior Video Producer
Go to bed on time
Most of the work on this is ongoing, but my theory is that by writing it here, I will force myself to continue. However, my update is that I am trying to set a fixed bedtime on weekdays. I already wake up at six in the morning almost every morning, regardless of the day, but I am much less agreeable about when I actually go to bed and almost never get enough sleep. No more! It was a mixed success, but training myself to think that 11 o’clock in the evening is “turning off the lights” is already changing my idea of my time in the evenings, so I really hope that I can make it a more regular habit – and I will be much better rested in in general.
Virginia K. Smith, Editor-in-Chief