Second Cup: Better tools make tasks more fun

Go for quality when you use something repeatedly

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning.
This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's
tip is that better tools make tasks more fun. If

(00:23):
there is a task you do frequently, consider upgrading your tools.
In cases where it makes sense, the whole experience just
might become more pleasant. I really like notebooks, especially ones
where the lines are small, the cover is pretty, and

(00:45):
the paper has some tooth to it. I take a
lot of notes on things, and make a lot of
lists and come up with various ideas. And while it
seems silly, I am marginally more likely to jot things
down if my paper is nice. So when I can,
I try to use nice notebooks and pens and just

(01:06):
consider it money well spent. Similarly, since I work from home,
I wind up cooking myself breakfast and lunch basically every day.
It is nice to be able to have a hot meal,
and I have used various pans over the years, but
I finally bought a well reviewed one that wasn't so expensive,

(01:29):
but cooks evenly and rents his clean with little fuss.
That makes cooking my eggs every morning feel a little
bit more like a treat. We all have tasks we
do over and over again. Now, no doubt some folks
already splurge on the best of everything, or already know

(01:51):
what the best of everything is. But if you are
the dutiful sort who listens to this kind of podcast,
my guess is that you have a strong tendency to
make dew. That old garden hose is perfectly fine. You
can use the free pen they gave you at the orthodontist.

(02:13):
There is nothing wrong with making dew. In many cases,
it is a virtuous choice easier on the earth. But
if something needs to be a work horse in your life,
then consider that better tools can make tasks feel far
more enjoyable. Cleaning becomes a more satisfying experience with good

(02:38):
brushes and products that smell lovely. You might take more
thorough notes and refer to them more frequently. If you
use a good pen and notebook. It is easier to
cook if scrubbing the pan afterwards isn't a total pain.

(03:00):
So take an audit of your day and of your
week and see what tools you use frequently. For many people,
that's a basic kitchen knife, a pan, maybe scissors, dishbrushes,
maybe something like a dog leash, lunch box materials, if
you pack. Maybe it's something like a laptop for your

(03:24):
side hustle or photo editing software. Maybe it's a spatula, washcloths, towels,
or maybe it's your washing machine and dryer. I know
those get a hefty workout in my house. If you've
got a dog who sheds a lot and you feel
like you spend your life vacuuming, you want a vacuum

(03:46):
that sucks everything up and is a joy to hold.
If something subpar is a common cause of annoyance and
you are thinking of replacing it, read views from other
users so you can find what really works. I've had
quite good luck with products recommended by Wirecutter, so that

(04:10):
is one place to check out. There are discussion threads
on Reddit on just about anything, but in any case,
things we use repeatedly need to be up to the job.
The world is a big place. People are creative, so
often there are better products. As one example, when I

(04:35):
sing with my choir, I use a black choir folder
that has an extra chord on the bottom so it
stays open at the exact right angle. That is a
major improvement over me having to hold the folder open
at the exact right angle, and given that I spend

(04:55):
hours each week holding that folder open at choir practice,
that is actually a big deal. Better tools make tasks
more enjoyable, and the more time is spent enjoying things
rather than resenting them, the better off will all be.

(05:19):
In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and
here's to making the most of our time. Thanks for
listening to Before Breakfast. If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback,

(05:40):
you can reach me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com.
Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts
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