Mostly From The Guardian
1 Learn a magic trick. Did you know that Long Island’s Silly Magician teaches magic? But you can also learn magic from YouTube and there are plenty of books on the subject at the library.
2 Exercise on a Monday night (nothing fun happens on a Monday night).
3 On the fence about a purchase? Wait 72 hours before you buy it.
4 Wear funny socks. Here’s a great place to get some and help people with differing abilities. johnscrazysocks.com
5 Change your voicemail greeting to something fun. Check mine out, 631-576-9098.
6 Everyone has an emotional blind spot when they fight. Work out what yours is, and remember it.
7 Plant spring bulbs, even if they’re just in a pot.
8 Send a voice note instead of a text; they sound like personal mini podcasts.
9 Keep a bird feeder by a window, ideally the kitchen. It’ll pass the time when you’re washing up.
10 Always bring ice to house parties (there’s never enough).
11 Say hello to a stranger on the cue at the supermarket.
12 Sharpen your knives.
13 Feeling sluggish at work? Try the Pomodoro technique: 25 minutes on, five-minute break, and repeat.
14 Buy a cheap blender and use it to finely chop onions (it saves on time and tears).
15 Keep your children’s drawings and paintings. Put the best ones in frames or make them your Facebook cover.
16 Set aside 10 minutes a day to do something you really enjoy – be it reading a book or playing Wordle.
17 Don’t be weird about how to stack the dishwasher.
18 Take a photo of all your meds.
19 Take a photo of the tag you are given when leaving your coat in a cloakroom.
20 Set your bed.
21 Add the milk at least one minute after the tea has brewed.
22 Laugh shamelessly at your own jokes.
23 It might sound obvious, but a pint of water before bed after a big night avoids a clanger of a hanger.
24 Start a Saturday morning with some classical music – it sets the tone for a calm weekend.
25 Look closely.
26 Set time limits for your apps. Just go to the settings on your smartphone and add a limit – for example, if you have an iPhone turn on Screen Time.
27 If possible, take the stairs.
28 Always be willing to miss the next train.
29 Eat meat once a week, max. Ideally less.
30 Be polite to rude strangers – it’s oddly thrilling.
31 Ask questions and listen to the answers.
32 Connect with nature: stand outside barefoot for a few minutes – even when it’s cold.
33 Use your public library – and use it.
34 Go for a walk without your phone.
35 Eat salted butter (life’s too short for unsalted).
36 Stretch in the morning. And maybe in the evening.
37 If you’re going less than a mile, walk or cycle. About half of car journeys are under two miles, yet these create more pollution than longer journeys as the engine isn’t warmed up yet.
38 Sleep with your phone in a different room (and buy an alarm clock).
39 Send postcards from your holidays. Send them even if you’re not on holiday.
40 Instead of buying new shoes, get old ones resoled and buy new laces.
41 Buy a plant. Think you’ll kill it? Buy a fake one.
42 Don’t have Twitter on your phone.
43 If you find an item of clothing you love and are certain you will wear forever, buy three.
44 Try taking a cold shower (30 seconds to two minutes) before your hot one. It’s good for your health – both physical and mental.
45 Text to say thank you.
46 Read a poem every day. Keep a compendium, such as A Poem for Every Day of the Year, by your bed.
47 Take off your headphones when walking – listen to the world.
48 Buy secondhand.
49 Buy in person!
50 Learn how to floss properly.
51 If something in the world is making you angry, write to your senator or congressman, most times, they will read it.
52 Say hello to your neighbors.
53 Learn the basics of repairing your clothes.
54 Always bring something – wine, flowers – to a dinner/birthday party, even if they say not to.
55 Learn the names of 10 trees.
56 Call an old friend out of the blue.
57 Every so often, search your email for the word “unsubscribe” and then use it on as many as you can.
58 Buy a newspaper.
59 Always have dessert.
60 Drop your shoulders.
61 Make something from scratch. Works best if it’s something you’d normally buy.
62 Go to bed earlier – but don’t take your phone with you.
63 Volunteer. Here’s a list of places to volunteer on Long Island. Use Google to find places to volunteer near where you live.
64 Dry your cutlery with a cloth (it keeps it shiny).
65 Instead of buying a morning coffee, set up a daily transfer of $2 from a current into a savings account and forget about it. Use it to treat yourself to something different later.
66 Don’t save things for “best”. Wear them – enjoy them.
67 Sing!
68 Think about your posture: don’t slouch, and don’t cross your legs.
69 Hang your clothes up. Ideally on non-wire hangers (it’s better for them).
70 Skinny-dip with friends.
71 Switch your phone off on holiday (or at least delete your work email app).
72 Always use freshly ground pepper.
73 Thank a teacher who changed your life.
74 Respect your youngers.
75 Keep your keys in the same place.
76 Hire a magician for to entertain at your next party. I know a great one.
77 Rent rather than buy a suit/dress for that forthcoming wedding (even if it’s your own).
78 Always book an extra day off after a holiday.
79 Ignore the algorithm – listen to music outside your usual taste.
80 Mute or leave a WhatsApp group chat.
81 Learn a TikTok dance (but don’t post it on TikTok).
82 Cook something you’ve never attempted before.
83 Join a local litter-picking group.
84 Handwash that thing you’ve never cleaned.
85 Don’t get a pet/do get a pet.
86 Nap.
87 Learn how to breathe deeply: in through the nose, out through the mouth, making the exhale longer than the inhale.
88 Buy a bike and use it. Learn how to fix it, too.
89 Politely decline invitations if you don’t want to go.
90 Say thank you, a lot.
91 If in doubt, add cheese.
92 Don’t look at your phone at dinner.
93 Do that one thing you’ve been putting off.
94 Give compliments widely and freely.
95 Set up an affordable standing order to a charity.
96 Keep a book in your bag to avoid the temptation to doomscroll.
97 Listen to the albums you loved as a teenager.
98 Make a friend from a different generation.
99 Staying over at a friend’s place? Strip the bed in the morning.
100 For instant cheer, wear yellow.