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I love little simple life hacks and am constantly seeking out and inventing new ones. Here are three that you can do in the next ten minutes. None of them are going to save your life, but each one will improve your daily experience for the rest of your life.

Tighten up your Keychain

A couple months ago I was at the cafe in The Standard, my old stomping ground in LA. The waitress had a retractable keycard holder, something I’d been thinking of buying for the past few weeks, but hadn’t remembered to actually purchase.

“Weird question– where did you get that retractable thing? I’ve really wanted one for a couple weeks.”

“Oh, they give them to us at work,” she paused, “you can have mine. I’ll just say I lost it.”

I tipped her more than the thing could possible cost, and have been living in keychain bliss ever since. Put away your #1 Mom keychain and get yourself one of these sick puppies. Attach it to your waistband, and always have easy access to your keys. When you’re done unlocking the door, just let go and the key goes back into place. While you’re at it, throw one of these tiny little flashlights on there, too. I use mine all the time.

Actually, while we’re optimizing your hip, get one of these as well. It’s a tiny awesome pen that you can attach to your belt loop or even to your retractable thing if you don’t have many keys. I use mine just about every day.

Learn to Tie Your Shoes like Ian

IanKnot1B

I used to tie my shoes like a peasant, and then I stumbled on this site, which is completely dedicated to tying shoes. Only on the internet. Five years later, I’ve never looked back. I can tie my shoes in just a second or two, and it’s so satisfying that it makes me smile pretty much every time I do it.

Banish stupid newsletters

subscri

How annoying is it when you rent a car and then for the rest of eternity, or at least until you hit the unsubscribe button, you get a weekly newsletter on the best rental rates in Kentucky? Very annoying.

Here’s a trick I came up with: add a filter in your email which searches the body for the text “subscribed”, “unsubscribe”, and “subscription”. That will match pretty much every annoying newsletter. I have mine moved to a folder called “bulk”, which I check once every few days. Since it’s wholly immoral to use my own trick against me, put “tynan” in the “doesn’t have” box if you use gmail.


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There are 18 Comments.

Feb 5th, 2010 @ 10:51 am

Love the email filter trick!

Feb 5th, 2010 @ 10:57 am

I’m not one for jangling keys like a cat bell from my belt – but Ian’s knot FTW! Although I currently wear my trainers like slip-ons by not threading the laces all the way to the top and keeping the knot tied.


Roelof
Feb 5th, 2010 @ 11:41 am

At last, a post.

Loved it.

Especially the knot.


Vincent
Feb 5th, 2010 @ 12:46 pm

Then, of course, you could just wear Vibram Fivefingers like you already do and never think about tying shoes ever again.


A Nonymous
Feb 5th, 2010 @ 1:03 pm

I knew about Ian’s Shoelace.
Which configuration do you use?


Tynan
Feb 5th, 2010 @ 2:49 pm

@AJ Mine are all plastic topped, so they don’t really jangle.

@Roelof I know… took forever on this one. It’s because I’m working on something super awesome….

@Vincent Yeah, I barely ever wear shoes with laces, but when I do I love doing the Ian knot.

@Anonymous I just do the basic one. Do you recommend another?

Tynan


VS
Feb 5th, 2010 @ 4:54 pm

How about eliminating stupid “janitor keys” altogether by getting rid of keychain crap like mini flashlights, unhooking keys you use once every 6 months, using the smallest loop you need and putting your keys in your pants’ key pocket?


anonymous
Feb 5th, 2010 @ 6:29 pm

funny a month ago i decided to remove myself from all email lists… and i’m still unsubscribing as they come in. couldn’t believe how many i was getting (over a hundred). 5 year account and i’ve voluntarily signed up for less than 10 lists. this will make things easier

ian knot isn’t any faster for me really, but cool nevertheless.

a recent lifehack i love is carrying flashcards with me to learn foreign words during dead time (standing in line, riding the bus, even waiting for someone to answer after i dial their #). i never leave home without flashcards, wallet, phone and keys. learn enough vocab to be fluent in a language every year (grammar etc not included..)

Feb 5th, 2010 @ 11:30 pm

My mom has one of those keychains. Not very “hip” ;). The Ian tie looks awesome, though I stopped tying my shoes years ago. Now I got them preset at the tightness I like and simply keep them tied and use them like slip ons.

Ever though of getting one of those keys that have a flashlight built right in? You can minimize your need for an extra flashlight by turning your main key into one.


Kevin C
Feb 6th, 2010 @ 12:46 am

A pretty weak post, all love though man :_!

The Keychain thing? Meh, I just got a carabiner.

http://www.promotionalkeychains.biz/mini-carabiner-keychains.html

My brother had suggested it and I’ve never looked back, I think the bad looks bad ass anyway :).

My phone old phone, the boulder from verizon wireless, used to have a little LED light on it, it was the best thing in the world :D!

The knot thing? Meh, I don’t do the wrong one, but don’t mind spending the extra 5 seconds tying my shoes :P. Lame post! There are always good ones, so I am happy to hear there is a super secret cool thing coming :)!

Email thing though…. That’s actually a pretty good idea, although I’d never read that bulk folder.

Feb 6th, 2010 @ 1:00 am

I never even knew there was a website dedicated to tying shoes, but its pretty cool.

Feb 6th, 2010 @ 5:21 am

@VS I hear you man!
Minimize that sh*t.

I love shoes with Velcro, if only they made it more silent.

Feb 6th, 2010 @ 6:39 am

Nothing like a good ol’ de-cluttering to simplify life. Feels great too. Another quick tip related to your keychain: get rid of any you don’t use everyday. I use to have like 10 keys on mine, now I’m down to 3. Nice post man.


Phil
Feb 6th, 2010 @ 11:38 am

I think you can also snag those retractable keychains at a hardware store.

I haven’t tied a shoe in months. Been wearing VFF. And tonight I went out in slippers haha.

I haven’t touched a key in months either. I don’t really lock doors.

The single pen I own sits in my laptop bag, and I think the only time I use it is for filling out arrival/departure cards when going through customs.

Good idea with the email filter. I’m adding that one now!

Feb 6th, 2010 @ 5:26 pm

I use one of those police keychain holders for your belt – they are great, your keys don’t juggle or take up room in your pocket

~James G

Feb 7th, 2010 @ 7:20 am

all these are solid, I’d add the micro whistle… combined with LED it’s crucial for hailing cabs after the club omgwtflol

Feb 17th, 2010 @ 12:36 pm

The keychain goes perfectly with your cellphone belt clip holster.


Private Kwoka
Apr 12th, 2010 @ 5:16 pm

wow, I had used that same site years ago and retie all my civilian shoes in some of the fancy designs they have

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