"Why Didn't I Think Of That?"

Here on my blog, I strive to share simple, everyday tips and tricks that can help make your life a little bit easier. But sometimes, the tips that I want to share aren’t something I can write a whole blog post about!

And since I simply cannot waste a good idea, I tuck them away to use at a later date. Today I’ll be sharing some of those tips and tricks with you in the twenty-second edition of my ongoing series “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?”

Missed the last installment, or want to revisit some of your old favorite tips? You’ll find links to every post in the “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” series at the end of this post!

1. To Remember Something, Say It Out Loud

I don’t even want to think about how much time I’ve wasted looking for my car keys or phone after forgetting where I set them down. And I’m even more likely to do this when I’m in a hurry, which makes it even more frustrating!

But I recently learned that if I narrate the process of setting something down out loud (by saying something like “I’m setting my phone on the dresser”), it’s much easier to remember. Speaking out loud not only engages additional areas of your brain, but you’re also paying closer attention to what you’re doing, and both aspects help with memory.

2. Look Beyond 5-Star Reviews

Reading product reviews can be a helpful step when you’re researching your options before purchasing something, but not every review is unbiased or even written by a real person. So how do you find the reviews that will tell it to you straight?

Look beyond the 5-star reviews and read a few of the 4- and 3-star reviews. These tend to be more moderate and detailed, which can give you a more realistic idea of a product’s potential shortcomings.

3. Don’t Put Fans Next To Plants

A fan can be a lifesaver when it’s hot out, but it can also be the opposite for your indoor plants. Cold, dry air from a fan or A/C unit can sap the moisture from the leaves of plants, especially tropical ones.

It’s okay to have a fan or A/C unit running in the same room as your indoor plants, just make sure they’re not situated too close together. And if your plants’ leaves start to look dry, misting them with a spray bottle can help keep them happy.

4. Keep Crusty Bread Fresh

Recently, my daughter Britta noticed that her husband Neil, who helps run a bakery in Salt Lake City, hadn’t bothered to wrap the uneaten portion of a loaf of sourdough, but simply tipped it over so the cut side was up against their wood cutting board.

When asked about it, he explained that the wood surface would keep the interior of the loaf soft while preserving the crusty exterior, whereas wrapping the bread would make the crust soft or soggy. Artisanal loaves only stay fresh for a day or two anyway, so using this waste-free storage hack is a no-brainer in my book!

5. Spend 30 Seconds Cleaning

Too busy to clean? Not if you’ve got 30 seconds to spare! Believe it or not, there are plenty of things you can do to tidy your home in just half a minute!

Whether it’s treating a stain, changing out linens, or shaking a rug, there are all sorts of ways you can tidy up in less than a minute — and you’ll get a lot of satisfaction out them! Check some of them out in this post: 9 Super Quick Cleaning Tasks That Take Just Seconds.

6. Find The Perfect Fit Faster

Early during the pandemic when most stores had closed their fitting rooms, I started keeping a list of the measurements of my best-fitting clothes in the notes on my phone. Then I would bring a measuring tape with me to stores so I could get an idea of how well a particular item would fit if I couldn’t try it on.

This can be especially useful when shopping secondhand, but it’s also just a good way to speed up the process no matter where you’re shopping.

7. Have A Place For Everything

If cluttered countertops and surfaces are a constant problem, adopt the following cleaning mantra: “Don’t put it down, put it away.” To do this successfully, you’ll first need to ensure your stuff actually has a place to be put away.

Once you’ve done that, the rest is easy — just make a concerted effort to put things back instead of leaving them out, and recruit the people you live with to contribute as well.

The “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” Series

For even more simple tips and tricks that will make your life easier, check out the other installments in this series, including ones you may have missed!
Explore the “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” series archive.

What’s your best quick tip or trick?