Issue #49: 33 (brilliant?!) life hacks

The tips and tricks we've picked up — often the hard way — over the years...

I (Aja) recently spent the night in a hotel with friends when — as we packed up our bags the next morning — I realized my phone was permanently dead. (There had been warning signs.) Luckily, a nearby AT&T was opening in thirty minutes. 

The problem was, I realized upon arriving, I didn’t have any account information or means of payment.¹ And that wasn’t the only snag: I also couldn’t request an Uber or text Sam to call one for me. It was 24 degrees outside, the only working tech on my person was a Kindle, and I felt both cold and helpless. 

Luckily, I knew one trick: You can walk into any hotel in the world and ask them to call you a taxi. Very helpful when you don’t have service, you’re in a foreign country, or you’re stranded with no phone. I went straight back to our hotel and was en route home in a cab eight minutes later.

Here are some of the other life hacks Aliza and I have learned over the years. Please add your own in the comments! We’ll share the highlights next week.

1. Hotels are also great places to go to the bathroom in a pinch, eat takeout (comfortably) when all of the nearby restaurants are packed, or grab a drink on a holiday like Christmas or New Year’s Eve. 

2. Any glasses store (doesn’t matter where you bought your frames) will make minor repairs to your glasses for free (tightening the frames, straightening them, etc.) Your optometrist will make major repairs for free (again, even if you didn’t buy your frames there).

3. If you just got a haircut or blowout and it’s raining, ask the salon for a shower cap to protect your hair.

4. If you’re flying an airline with tight carry-on bag restrictions — but you still need to squeeze a few items with you onto the flight — buy a water bottle or energy bar at the snack stand, then put your extra stuff in the plastic takeout bag. We’ve never, ever been questioned

   

   Left: Aliza proudly models her carry-on luggage on a two week trip to Japan in 2018; Right: Prime example for #19

5. Leave a Google review anywhere you’re a regular to A) help them stay in business and B) increase the chances you’ll get treated like a regular (being greeted by name, asked “the usual?”, getting discounts, etc.)

6. Tell your partner you want to go on a “first date”... then choose a time and place to meet them out. Must stay in character. Guaranteed to spice up the evening. 

7. Watching all the Oscar-nominated short films makes an excellent date night — especially if you can’t decide on a movie. (Vote on your top three and then see which ones won in real life.)

8. If you need a new or renewed passport in a hurry, write to your congressperson; their office will expedite it.

9. Open bags of chips and popcorn from the bottom so the seasoning filters downward rather than getting trapped in the seams. 

10. Keep track of your friends’ schedules in their contact notes so you know when to schedule calls/hangouts. 

11. But don’t wait for the “perfect” moment to call someone — or pick up when someone calls you! You’ll likely appreciate that quick five-minute catch up between meetings or daycare pick-up more than you think. 

12. Similarly… phone tag isn’t personal. Just keep trying. 

13. Use an app to remember everyone’s birthdays. (Aja’s partial to hip.)

14. Salad kits (we love the ones from Trader Joe’s) make for delicious and quick lunches. Add chicken, tofu, or beans for protein and apply dressing to each serving versus the whole thing so the salad stays crisp over two to three meals.

15. It’s very hard to mess up an Aperol Spritz. 

16. The Google Photos search function is incredible — you can type anything from “red car” to “Cape Cod wedding” and it’ll surface all the relevant images in your photo archive.

17. Sign up for local bookstore and movie theater email lists in your city (or follow them on Instagram). You’ll learn about cool events, book talks, etc. (We’re going to see Rachel Khong and Annie Hartnett speak in a couple weeks!)

18. Use temporary tattoos to test placement/size/theme of any permanent ones you’re considering. (Or just change things up for a week. Try combining with tip #5?) 

19. Take a picture of coat check stubs, dry cleaning tickets, etc. so that if you lose them (every time), you can still get your stuff. 

20. Compression socks have cured Aja of flying aches and pains — even on seven-hour-plus flights.

21. If you’re worried about finding a parking spot in a busy area, check for cheap reservation options in advance on SpotHero. 

22. You can use your Global Entry card as an ID. 

23. Check if your neighborhood restaurants and bakeries participate on TooGoodtoGo. Aliza recently got a loaf of fresh bread, molten chocolate cake, and cold cuts for $4.99. 

24. The Whole Food florists will create a free arrangement or bouquet for you (just pay for the flowers!) 

We love Google Photos search function — and flowers!

25. Bring a notebook and pen every time you go to the doctor’s and write down notes. Not only does this give you the opportunity to better remember and process the conversation afterward, it’s a (sad but true) reality that many healthcare professionals will take you more seriously. (Then take a photo of your notes later for reference. See #19!) 

26. To soften butter without melting it, heat a microwave-safe glass and then put your butter in it. (Or as

    Caroline Chambers
    recommends, put a stick in your bra for a few minutes.)

27. You don’t have to explain your “no.” Say, “Unfortunately, I can’t swing that” — and then stop talking.

28. Dryer sheets are bad for your clothes. Use wool dryer balls instead: They cut down on drying time without chemicals.

29. When in doubt, call ahead. Especially if it’s a holiday and/or the place you’re going doesn’t have a great web presence.

30. Bring the underwear that’s seen better days on vacation and throw it away as you wear it; you’ll free up space in your bag and give yourself a reason to get some new pairs.²

31. Type “doc.new” into Chrome to start a new Google Doc (“sheet.new” and “slides.new” work the same for Google Sheets and Slides, respectively.)

32. Look at a venue, event, or restaurant’s tagged photos to get a sense of how people dress to go there.

33. If you don’t know what to talk about, ask lots of questions.

Let’s pool our knowledge. What are the life tips you’ve picked up over the years?

One more thing…

On Monday, we featured guest recommendations from Ellie Rineck, host of

A Day In Her Life

. The most popular link (by far) was the Dental Pod. Retainer wearers, unite!

Our podcast episode with Ellie is now live on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen. You’ll get a glimpse into how much we are constantly laughing with/at each other, as well as…

• How we bring Platonic Love to life each week

• Why we think friendship is a form of self care

• The controversial (?) way Aja winds down

• How the Fair Play principles can apply to parenting, wedding planning, writing a newsletter together, and more

• Aliza’s embarrassing commitment to the Stanley Cup

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1. Definitely a little too reliant on Apple Pay at this point…

2. One of the first — but definitely not the last — pieces of wisdom from our friend Ariel!