We are constantly looking for ways to make life easier, happier, and more organized. As 2024 comes into focus, it’s nice to spend a little time readying our spaces and minds for the year to come. We’ve done some of the heavy lifting for you and found eight simple life improvements to ready you for a new year. Each action has a suggested product, gadget, website, or app to help!
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1. Squash low tire pressure woes for good.
Winter temperatures wreak havoc on tire pressure, and it’s frustrating to pull into gas station after gas station, searching for a working air pump to fix that pesky indicator light. Stick this portable, cordless air pump in your car or garage to quickly get your PSI back to tip-top shape in a timely, warmer manner. The best part? This gadget can inflate bike tires and sports balls, too, and it has a powerful LED light and power bank in case you need a charge or to see at night.
2. Prioritize protein by putting it in your morning coffee.
We need a lot more coffee … I mean protein …Β than we think we do. Many experts and studies indicate that daily protein values are far too low for almost everyone. If you’re trying to gain muscle, protein intake is essential. Examine, a free website with vetted, science-backed health and wellness information, has a handy protein intake calculator to see how much protein you need per day based on weight, habits, and goals.
Once I began tracking my protein on the super-simple Protein Pal app, I realized that hitting my goal of 95 grams a day was hard. That’s when I began searching for easy ways to add protein to my diet. I start each morning with 11g of collagen protein in my coffee.
3. Ditch a blank journal for a fresh, prompted one
A meta-analysis supports the benefits of journaling on mental health, but sometimes, a blank journal page is daunting, offputting, and challenging to tackle. I have recently found that a prompted journal is an excellent way to open up each day without deciding what to write about. I typically use the first half (or more, if I feel like it) to answer the prompt, then the rest of the day’s page to talk about specifics from my day or current emotive state.
4. Get a slim cordless vacuum that can do many things (and is on major sale)
Switching extensions and lugging your primary vacuum up and down the stairs and into every room can be a drag. Lightweight, portable yet durable, and versatile is a rare but supreme combo for everyday cleaning devices. While the Dyson V12 cordless vacuum is a splurge, it gets every nook and cranny of your space truly clean. And quickly. Take it easily from the stairs to the office to the garage to the car. So long pet hair, human hair, dust, and more.
5. Become a snail-mail-sending machine.
One of life’s greatest pleasures is sending/receiving unexpected mail to/from faraway friends and family. After the onslaught of holiday cards subsides, keep up your snail-mailing momentum by making it super easy to mail a card whenever you have the spark or time. Pre-stamping envelopes and upping your stationary game will make this task more fun than daunting. Just a couple of written sentences are all you need to foster connection and keep friendships fresh. We’ve got even more organization hacksΒ if you want ’em!
6. Learn how to prolong healthspan (not lifespan) in Outlive by Peter Attia, MD
I love setting book goals for the year. While 50 books in 2023 was a bit too lofty, it’s always nice to track reading progress and remember what you’ve read when asked for your favorite recent reads. Goodreads and The StoryGraph are both fabulous apps for this.
When it comes to building your “to-read” list, I cannot overstate the impact Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia had on me. I’ve suggested it to anyone who will listen. The pages are filled with data, charts, and stories from a surgeon-turned-longetivity-researcher on improving your healthspan (the number of years we are healthy, not just alive). Read. It.
7. Shift focus into overdrive with noise-canceling headphones.
As an AirPod gal who’s lost and broken a few buds and charging banks, I have officially switched to over-ear headphones. I enlisted the help of my audiophile husband to find a long-lasting pair with lots of bells and whistles for a palatable price. Headphones are all over the place regarding price and quality (you can find well-rated options from under $50 up to Apple’s $550 “Max”). I wanted something in between and landed on the Sony WH-1000XM4s (horrible name, I know).
They’re on sale for $228 (down from $348) on Amazon and are packed with smart tech like tap-to-pause, an insanely long battery life, and Alexa. They even come with an adapter for airplane screens. Take it from this tech reviewer as to why they’re still a top choice even three years after their release:
8. Find an actual all-in-one supplement.
While the evidence does not show that multivitamin supplements reliably benefit healthy people with adequate nutrient intake, one study did show that taking a daily MVM can improve episodic memory as we age. As many of my friends are beginning to start families, I know that pregnancy can deplete critical vitamins and minerals, so I set out in search of a multivitamin-probiotic all-in-one.
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that greatly benefit gut health, immunity, sleep, and even anxiety. Trendy and sleekly advertised brands like Seed and Ritual can get expensive, so I dug further to find one with 25 billion CFUs that wouldn’t break the bank. The winner is GOBIOTIX. After three months, I’ve noticed mounting energy and clearer skin.
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