WEBVTT - Second Cup: Better tools make tasks more fun

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning.

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<v Speaker 1>This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's

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<v Speaker 1>tip is that better tools make tasks more fun. If

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<v Speaker 1>there is a task you do frequently, consider upgrading your tools.

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<v Speaker 1>In cases where it makes sense, the whole experience just

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<v Speaker 1>might become more pleasant. I really like notebooks, especially ones

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<v Speaker 1>where the lines are small, the cover is pretty, and

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<v Speaker 1>the paper has some tooth to it. I take a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of notes on things, and make a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>lists and come up with various ideas. And while it

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<v Speaker 1>seems silly, I am marginally more likely to jot things

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<v Speaker 1>down if my paper is nice. So when I can,

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<v Speaker 1>I try to use nice notebooks and pens and just

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<v Speaker 1>consider it money well spent. Similarly, since I work from home,

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<v Speaker 1>I wind up cooking myself breakfast and lunch basically every day.

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<v Speaker 1>It is nice to be able to have a hot meal,

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<v Speaker 1>and I have used various pans over the years, but

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<v Speaker 1>I finally bought a well reviewed one that wasn't so expensive,

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<v Speaker 1>but cooks evenly and rents his clean with little fuss.

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<v Speaker 1>That makes cooking my eggs every morning feel a little

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<v Speaker 1>bit more like a treat. We all have tasks we

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<v Speaker 1>do over and over again. Now, no doubt some folks

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<v Speaker 1>already splurge on the best of everything, or already know

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<v Speaker 1>what the best of everything is. But if you are

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<v Speaker 1>the dutiful sort who listens to this kind of podcast,

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<v Speaker 1>my guess is that you have a strong tendency to

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<v Speaker 1>make dew. That old garden hose is perfectly fine. You

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<v Speaker 1>can use the free pen they gave you at the orthodontist.

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<v Speaker 1>There is nothing wrong with making dew. In many cases,

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<v Speaker 1>it is a virtuous choice easier on the earth. But

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<v Speaker 1>if something needs to be a work horse in your life,

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<v Speaker 1>then consider that better tools can make tasks feel far

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<v Speaker 1>more enjoyable. Cleaning becomes a more satisfying experience with good

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<v Speaker 1>brushes and products that smell lovely. You might take more

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<v Speaker 1>thorough notes and refer to them more frequently. If you

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<v Speaker 1>use a good pen and notebook. It is easier to

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<v Speaker 1>cook if scrubbing the pan afterwards isn't a total pain.

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<v Speaker 1>So take an audit of your day and of your

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<v Speaker 1>week and see what tools you use frequently. For many people,

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<v Speaker 1>that's a basic kitchen knife, a pan, maybe scissors, dishbrushes,

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<v Speaker 1>maybe something like a dog leash, lunch box materials, if

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<v Speaker 1>you pack. Maybe it's something like a laptop for your

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<v Speaker 1>side hustle or photo editing software. Maybe it's a spatula, washcloths, towels,

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<v Speaker 1>or maybe it's your washing machine and dryer. I know

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<v Speaker 1>those get a hefty workout in my house. If you've

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<v Speaker 1>got a dog who sheds a lot and you feel

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<v Speaker 1>like you spend your life vacuuming, you want a vacuum

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<v Speaker 1>that sucks everything up and is a joy to hold.

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<v Speaker 1>If something subpar is a common cause of annoyance and

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<v Speaker 1>you are thinking of replacing it, read views from other

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<v Speaker 1>users so you can find what really works. I've had

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<v Speaker 1>quite good luck with products recommended by Wirecutter, so that

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<v Speaker 1>is one place to check out. There are discussion threads

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<v Speaker 1>on Reddit on just about anything, but in any case,

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<v Speaker 1>things we use repeatedly need to be up to the job.

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<v Speaker 1>The world is a big place. People are creative, so

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<v Speaker 1>often there are better products. As one example, when I

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<v Speaker 1>sing with my choir, I use a black choir folder

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<v Speaker 1>that has an extra chord on the bottom so it

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<v Speaker 1>stays open at the exact right angle. That is a

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<v Speaker 1>major improvement over me having to hold the folder open

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<v Speaker 1>at the exact right angle, and given that I spend

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<v Speaker 1>hours each week holding that folder open at choir practice,

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<v Speaker 1>that is actually a big deal. Better tools make tasks

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<v Speaker 1>more enjoyable, and the more time is spent enjoying things

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<v Speaker 1>rather than resenting them, the better off will all be.

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<v Speaker 1>In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and

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<v Speaker 1>here's to making the most of our time. Thanks for

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<v Speaker 1>listening to Before Breakfast. If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback,

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<v Speaker 1>you can reach me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com.

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<v Speaker 1>Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts

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<v Speaker 1>from iHeartMedia, please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or

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<v Speaker 1>wherever you listen to your favorite sh Yes