# What’s the smallest change you made in your life that made the biggest difference? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 30, 2023, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345 "2023-12-30T17:02:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/101 "2024-01-06T17:20:32Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I had trouble brushing my teeth regularly so I started using an app called Finch. It is an adorable self -care app that allows you to create routines and as a reward you get to send your little Finch on journeys and get clothes and decorations for its house. I’d never heard of this app before but decided to install it. I kind of like it. I find good habits incredibly hard to maintain not for lack of motivation but I just forget about them. And then months down the road I’ll remember what a great idea it had been and can’t understand how things like that just slip my mind. This is a good little app and I’m finding it easy to remember to open it every morning because I like dressing the little finch. Do you pay for it or just use the free version? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/102 "2024-01-06T17:28:14Z")
I pay for it. I also pay for someone else to use it through the Guardians program (like a gift subscription.) The main difference of paying vs. not paying is you get to unlock an extra thing every day, but I think that’s the only difference. They try to make it accessible for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/103 "2024-01-06T18:14:59Z")
We’ve had a couple of threads on the wonders of the bidet. I made the pricy decision to have an outlet installed next to the toilet so that I get warm water. It feels barbaric not to have one. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/104 "2024-01-06T18:34:35Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > This year… I stopped thinking about things that upset me. It is so simple to implement yet profoundly impactful. My anxiety and PTSD have improved tremendously as a result. > [@pullin](#): > > Eventually I decided I didn’t need this either, so I now live without any news shows at all. None. Same here I realized that the job of journalists is to get clicks, and that is achieved by sensationalist tactics, scares, “The sky is falling!” stories, and “That’s outrageous!” stories. All those do is make me feel anxiety from the former and anger/frustration at the latter. No, I don’t want to hear what terrible thing is about to happen in the economy. No, I don’t want to hear the breathless reporting about the hurricanes that _might_ be coming. No, I don’t want to hear about the poor woman whose house was destroyed by the police who accidentally went to the wrong address and the court has told her “too bad, so sad” None of these help my wellbeing. I don’t watch the news anymore. If something important happens (like Covid) it will find me. Other stuff, like world events, will appear in a more moderate form as posts in the SDMB! ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/105 "2024-01-06T20:15:19Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I’ve only been doing this for four days but I’ve stopped adding any salt to anything I eat. I’m a salt addict and I like my food to be super salty. Here’s a really odd thing though - my food tastes better somehow. It’s so weird. Maybe I’ve been covering up the actual taste of the food with all the salt? I don’t know but it’s been shockingly easy to just stop using salt. I did something similar, but with sugar. I cut sugar out of my diet. Before long, even things like bread and ketchup or chili tasted really sweet - there was already a lot of added sugar in those things. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/106 "2024-01-07T12:58:14Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > I just did the same recently. Really easy to install too, but you have to be very careful not to knock into the little outrigger with the control knobs on it. It’s flimsy plastic and if it breaks off, the internal passages will be exposed and cause an epic flood. Don’t you need an electrical outlet close by to plug it in? It warms the water, right? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/107 "2024-01-07T13:37:41Z")
Some warm the water, and others don’t. I bought one that warms the water, and i had to hire an electrician to put in an outlet for it. So worth it! ---
**Author:** ![Slight\_Off\_Hand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Slight\_Off\_Hand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slight_Off_Hand)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/108 "2024-01-07T13:42:16Z")
I have one that hooks into the hot water supply for my bathroom sink. No power needed. You just let it run on “clean” mode for a little bit and then you have nice warm water. Although I’ve found the un-warmed water to be not as uncomfortable as I initially feared. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/109 "2024-01-07T15:10:49Z")
Ok, thanks. Neither of my toilets are close to a warm water supply. Or electricity. I could remove the toilet, punch a hole in the wall and tie into an outlet in the opposite wall and install an outlet next to the toilet. Or just wire it directly in to the outlet on the other side. But this should be GFI I’m sure. That’s a lot of work. If we where staying in this house longer, I might consider it. It would help keep TP out of the septic system. I have used them at hotels, and must admit, they are nice. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/110 "2024-01-07T15:57:53Z")
My bathroom is actually two rooms, one with sinks and a linen closet, and the other with the toilet and tub. So i had to have an outlet installed, hooking into the power on the other side of the wall. But it was already on a GFI. (Not that adding GFI is expensive.) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/111 "2024-01-07T16:20:44Z")
Years ago we used to wake up with the alarm set to NPR. THAT was anxiety inducing, but that stopped decades ago. I set my bedroom and car clock forward some odd number (car is 11 minutes, bedroom is like 23). When I go to sleep, my brain decides its later than it is so I MUST be sleepy and falls asleep faster, when I wake up, I am always running late and hop out of bed. Its strange, but sleepy brain doesn’t process all the information like normal brain. Car is sort of the same thing…I don’t say “I have time to swing through Target before that dentist appointment.” ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/112 "2024-01-07T16:27:37Z")
Oh, also, taking up knitting. And now weaving. A handcraft reduces anxiety, gives your hands something to do (that keeps you away from your phone), creates a sense of accomplishment. It uses ENOUGH of your mind to keep you from ruminating, but leaves some mind free for audiobooks or TV (unless you are knitting a complex pattern, that takes my whole mind). Knitting is nice because it goes with you, and provides a boundary when you are with relatives you’d rather not get into deep conversations with. (The floor loom has to stay where it is). ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/113 "2024-01-07T17:09:39Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Don’t you need an electrical outlet close by to plug it in? It warms the water, right? My particular model does not, but it’s not a problem at all. The water stream feels like room temperature year 'round. Not the least bit uncomfortable. Certainly doesn’t feel like an icewater enema. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/114 "2024-01-07T17:22:23Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > Certainly doesn’t feel like an icewater enema. I live at 11,200 feet. I’m on a well. It’s… well… a bit chilly. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/115 "2024-01-07T17:42:13Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Or electricity. I could remove the toilet, punch a hole in the wall and tie into an outlet in the opposite wall and install an outlet next to the toilet. Or just wire it directly in to the outlet on the other side. But this should be GFI I’m sure. That’s a lot of work. Reading this again… Why would you need to remove the toilet? My electrician did my outlet in about half an hour. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/116 "2024-01-07T17:48:15Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Why would you need to remove the toilet? My electrician did my outlet in about half an hour. The outlet would have to go right next to it or right behind it. No room to work. I can barely get to the bolts to remove the seat. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/117 "2024-01-07T17:50:00Z")
There’s no reason to remove the toilet unless you have a very strange configuration that I’m not imagining and the GFI was the least of the expenses. I didn’t have an outlet anywhere near so I had to have an electrician run new conduit down the wall and bang a big hole in the wall on the other side of the bathroom to do it and cut a hole next to the toilet to install the outlet. Then drywall and paint the hole. Major pain but worth it. ETA: answered while I was typing this ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/118 "2024-01-07T20:27:54Z")
Based on some of the comments here, I’ve stopped following the news/politics. If it effects me, I’ll find out about it. I don’t need to know about every person/animal suffering. Even threads here that I normally follow, like Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Hamas. It’s been sort of freeing to just let it all go. I also normally put on some sort of true crime podcast to listen to while I’m working out or cleaning or whatever. Not doing that either. Just putting on something a bit more educational. If it doesn’t benefit me I’m trying to leave it alone. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/119 "2024-01-08T12:53:45Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > There’s no reason to remove the toilet unless you have a very strange configuration Not a strange configuration, it would pass code. I’ve done a lot of remodeling in my time and have popped a hole in a wall to install an outlet on the other side. I suppose it _could_ be done without removing the toilet, but it sure would make it easier. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345/120 "2024-01-08T13:45:57Z")
I’m going to try a new small change and see if it helps. I’m going to start planning on nine hours of sleep instead of eight (and lately I’m getting even fewer than eight.) If I wake up earlier, cool. But I’m going to try to set aside nine hours. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-smallest-change-you-made-in-your-life-that-made-the-biggest-difference/995345.md?page=7)