Welcome to Easier Resolutions Week! (Why is it starting on a Wednesday? Because one of my easier resolutions was to “not be so hard on myself about schedules.”)
So what are Easier Resolutions? Instead of intimidating New Year’s Resolutions like working out every day or making home cooked recipes full of veggies for every meal—Easier Resolutions celebrate the fact that you tried and maybe aimed a little too high…but that doesn’t mean you have to give up! You can still do good, even great things for yourself, just with less effort.
To kick things off, we’re going super easy. Take a look at your Apple Watch and iPhone. Most likely you got cases and bands for them right away when you purchased them and haven’t done much with them since. Wouldn’t it be fun to change it up a bit?
(Bonus, these could make good Valentine’s Day gifts for the tech-obsessed person in your life.)
Get that Glow!
For the Apple Watch Ultra, my friends at Nomad have done it again, this time with an Icy Blue Glow Sport Band. Less fussy than the Rocky Point Band that I covered previously, the Sport Band has a simple, pin-and-tuck closure that’s easy to adjust one-handed. The raised channels on the back of the strap keep moisture from getting trapped against your skin. And it’s waterproof, so you can do just about anything you need to do, rinse it off, and you’re ready to go again. But of course the big attraction here is the intense blue glow. Similar to their green Glow 2.0 line, the Icy Blue Glow band has striking blue photoluminescent properties at night and is a pale blue during the day. It’s one band that you’ll want to keep on for just about everything. It’s sold out on the Nomad site but can still be found at third-party resellers.
Support Your Fandom!
I’m a fan of the Netflix series Arcane (that it was cancelled after just two seasons is a crime) so when Casetify came out with a new line of designs just for the show, I was thrilled. You’ve got pretty standard “character” designs but I’m partial to the graffiti cases that look like something Jinx would’ve sprayed on your phone. But it doesn’t have to stop with your phone! There are Wanted poster earbud cases and power banks. There are wireless chargers sporting a whole host of Arcane-specific designs. MagSafe wallets, laptop sleeves…generally, whatever you want to adorn with the multicolored cacophony that’s so central to Arcane, it’s all available for you.
Keep Better Notes!
This one is something that I’ve been trying to do more of—actually writing things down so that I don’t forget them. Digital notes are immediately forgotten as soon as I type them in. Paper notes are harder to ignore. But it’s annoying having to carry a notebook or pad with me all the time. That’s why the Moft Snap Flow caught my eye. It’s an entire note taking solution that attaches magnetically to the back of your phone. And if was just a notepad, that might not have kept my attention but there’s actually a fold-flat pen that comes with the set that fits right into the spine of the notepad. It’s brilliant! There are several options to choose from—you can have either a standard notepad or one that flips open. You can even get one with a built-in stand. Notepad refills come in standard, sticky note, dot grid, and to-do options. There’s even room for a card or two. Especially if you have trouble remembering or focusing, this is a brilliant tool to add to your kit.
Upgrade Your Wallet!
Chances are your slim MagSafe Wallet has seen better days (you got it, what, 3-4 years ago?). It’s time to put it out to pasture and replace it with a colorful, durable wallet from Peak Design. Their Slim Wallet in Sun caught my eye not only because it’s voluminous (and closes securely over up to 7 cards) but because the recycled nylon canvas is something that I rarely see in material design. When it comes to wallets, everything is leather (or a leather substitute) or metal. Premium textiles aren’t often used successfully in mobile gear design and I’m thrilled to see Peak Design embrace the aesthetic. The wallet looks good without being gaudy and will last way longer than just about anything else in your accessories drawer. It’s MagSafe compatible but also works with the company’s proprietary magnetic locking tech for an even stronger connection. It also has a clever lifting mechanism so that you can easily access your cards without having to try and push them out via a tiny cutout on the front. If you’re looking for a better solution for a slim mobile wallet to attach to your phone, this is it.
Get a Wallpaper That Makes You Smile!
Or how about you don’t buy anything at all? The easiest thing to do is to long-press on your iPhone screen right now, swipe right and press the + button. Then scroll down to the Photo Shuffle section and select a stack that makes you happy—be it a loved one, nature photos, or pets. That’s it! You can dive in and pick specific pictures if you’d like but I find that iOS does a fine job of picking good pictures automatically. Then just confirm your selections and you’re done. Now whenever you pick up your phone, you’ll get a little serotonin boost…and that’s really what today’s all about anyway. Enjoy!
