# Little life and/or sanity saving tips **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 12, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130 "2020-07-12T17:19:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/21 "2020-07-21T16:27:58Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > My contribution to the thread is, “Never pass up an opportunity to sleep, shower, or shit.” Particularly on road trips. If you see a drinking fountain, take a drink of water from it, always. (Assuming it’s clean, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/22 "2020-07-21T16:47:04Z")
Working through a pile a papers, and I’m really happy we traveled to Germany to see our favorite band in November. Because who knows when we’ll get to see them again. So my sanity saving tip: If you think you want to do it, do it. Because there might not be a second chance. Now I’m going to look up a painting that I should have bought some years ago and see if there’s a print available. Because I wish I had bought it then. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/23 "2020-07-21T19:40:26Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > So my sanity saving tip: If you think you want to do it, do it. Because there might not be a second chance. One of my favorite blues musicians is Sam Myers. Over the years I saw him maybe nine times. One winter he came to Pittsburgh with Anson Funderburg and The Rockets, and I decided to blow off the show due to snow, laziness, etc. I just figured I’d catch them next time. There was no next time. Sam died shortly after the show I skipped. When I think about Sam Myers, I think about the show I missed, not the nine I attended. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/24 "2020-07-21T20:19:16Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If you write down a list of stuff you need at the hardware store it doesn’t do any good if you don’t take the list with you to the hardware store. Well, I wouldn’t necessarily agree. When I still used to make grocery lists on paper (now I do it on my phone), the times I forgot to bring the list to the store, it helped my memory a lot that I’d written it down and I could usually complete my shopping, maybe minus one or two items. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/25 "2020-07-21T23:46:11Z")
This is why my wife and I have kept our shopping lists for all stores in a document on Google Drive that we can both access at any time. My helpful tip. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/26 "2020-07-22T01:40:41Z")
Always buy twice as much beer as you think you’ll need and you’ll just have enough. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/27 "2020-07-22T05:43:56Z")
Buy the brightest color phone and computer cases you can find. Makes them much harder to lose, easier to find and not leave behind. I use that theory for purses and canes also. Learned it from my still-wet-behind-the-kid two years ago when he advised me to not go with the skin-colored hearing aids and to instead chose the brightest color offered. Yep, he was right. I did that and was so glad I did-saved me from having to replace a $5000 pair of hearing aids, as well as led me to be loud and proud about using hearing aids rather than trying to hide them. He was wise in more ways than he thought. Got to remember to tell him that. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/28 "2020-07-22T10:56:06Z")
If you’ve reached the ‘where’d I put that?’, phase of life, I have a couple of suggestions for you that have been helpful to me. Firstly, (this is most important for my glasses), every time you put them down somewhere, ALWAYS choose a high contrast surface. ONLY put it down where you can easily see it at a glance. Never put black framed glasses on a black surface. When I’m putting something away, that I def want to be able to find again, without a major hunt, I’ve begun to consider ‘where is the first place I’d look for this?‘, and then go with that! But honestly, I’m considering a ‘Where you put that!’, document on my device, For things I need but not often, to just keep track. That way, if I was stumped, I’d have a reference! HaHaHa! ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/29 "2020-07-22T21:43:21Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > When I’m putting something away, that I def want to be able to find again, without a major hunt, I’ve begun to consider ‘where is the first place I’d look for this?‘, and then go with that! Yep - couldn’t agree more. One more solution to the where-did-I-put-it problem: with sunglasses or gardening gloves, for example - things which are not too expensive - buy several pairs. It’s easier to find one if there are four of them in the house. It’s essentially [scatter hoarding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoarding_(animal_behavior)#Hoard_distribution_and_size) - it works for squirrels, and it can work for you! j ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/30 "2020-07-23T17:40:45Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > One more solution to the where-did-I-put-it problem: One more. Some things, like my vape pen and my hearing aid, I only allow myself to put the item in a few distinct places. If I need my vape pen I know there are only 4 places where it might be, I _do not allow myself_ to put it anywhere else. My hearing aid is only possibly in three places. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/31 "2020-07-23T19:44:58Z")
Whenever you have to shake something, like a bottle of dressing, _hold the top on_. Because the one time you don’t, it won’t be screwed or snapped on and you’ll spray dressing all over the room. Speaking as someone who’s never, ever made this mistake before… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/32 "2020-07-23T19:49:43Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > Buy the brightest color phone and computer cases you can find. Makes them much harder to lose, easier to find and not leave behind. I use that theory for purses and canes also. I have the same policy with luggage. I buy the most garish thing I can find, the brighter and uglier the better. While everyone else is standing at the luggage carriage poking at every black and red bag that goes by, I walk straight to my ugly-ass bag, grab it, and walk out. Bonus, they’re usually cheaper too, because everyone just wants the black or red one. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/33 "2020-07-24T20:29:55Z")
When flying, temporarily make the image of your boarding pass your lockscreen picture. That way, when passing through security or boarding, you only need to press one button to scan it, instead of unlocking your phone, finding the image or app, and hoping the screen doesn’t time out by the time it is your turn. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/34 "2020-07-25T02:14:46Z")
That’s GENIUS! Along similar lines, folks traveling by air through U.S. airports are advised by Yours Truly to wear flip flops or slip-in sandals. The fashion gods absolve thee: thou art allowed to wear sandals with socks in this situation. Thou art absolved in advance of wearing formal shoes of any kind. Pick easy/quick slip on footwear. Hell, wear Crocs. But for your sake, and the sake of umpteen people in line behind you, U.S.-based flights are NOT the time for shoelaces. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/35 "2020-07-25T13:30:57Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > But for your sake, and the sake of umpteen people in line behind you, U.S.-based flights are NOT the time for shoelaces. I remember seeing a very angry young woman muttering about there being no Pre-Check lane. She was wearing shorts and thigh-high leather lace-up boots. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/36 "2020-07-25T13:47:11Z")
Last few times I flew TSA was announcing “keep your shoes on” so maybe it’s falling out of favor as a prevention measure. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/37 "2020-07-25T15:12:43Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Along similar lines, folks traveling by air through U.S. airports are advised by Yours Truly to wear flip flops or slip-in sandals. The fashion gods absolve thee: thou art allowed to wear sandals with socks in this situation. … > > Pick easy/quick slip on footwear. Hell, wear Crocs. > … If you’re going to follow this advice, be extra careful on escalators, commonly found in airports, as escalators like to feed on Crocs and sandals. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/38 "2020-07-26T00:37:44Z")
be sure to always check the oven because the one time you dont you’ll realize you put something plastic in it that’s melted or fried all over the stove …I just ruined our steamer/fryer that way … had some oil for fries that I intended to use again and since we have almost no counter space I put it in the oven… went to warm up the oven for our chicken last week … yeah it went as well as you’d think … the cord was just a pile of goo ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/39 "2020-07-26T17:52:54Z")
The TV show “The Middle” had a running gag where they stored a quilt in the oven. We were at the in-laws for Easter brunch this year, and my wife had ordered food from the grocery store that all we had to do was reheat and eat. I turned the oven on then made some crack about checking for the quilt, and when I opened the oven there was a whole bunch of Tupperware stored in there! So yeah, good thing I checked! (The only thing I store in my oven is my cast iron skillet, so no big deal if I forget to take it out.) ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130/40 "2020-07-27T08:32:19Z")
Oh, yeah, especially if you’ve just moved in together with someone new. Previous roommate used the oven for exactly one purpose: as a big, metal leftover pizza storage box. Gas oven, filled with _greasy_ cardboard (a.k.a. “kindling”) equals one single “We never do that again” conversation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-life-and-or-sanity-saving-tips/915130.md?page=3)