The Best Small Fixes That Improved My Life in 2020

Blankets, silk pillowcases, and a little wicker basket really can make things better

As the year draws to a close, I am looking back on what 2020 has wrought. For me, it was a year of adjustments (new job, leaving journalism full time, new apartment, etc.), which included trying to find ways to self-soothe during a global crisis. I bought a bunch of stuff that made me happy because that’s evidently what you do when you have a small amount of disposable income for the first time in your life. I donated to my local mutual aid organizations, and and I made a bunch of pretty small changes and purchases that improved my life significantly. Here’s a few words on that latter category so that perhaps you too can make a few small changes to improve your life:

A silk pillowcase

If you’re getting any number of hours of sleep a night, you’re spending a not-insignificant amount of time pressing your face and hair against a pillow. Nothing against cotton or flannel, or my beloved linen-hemp blend sheets, but my silk pillowcases are cooling, help cut down on frizz when I toss and turn all night, and just feel incredibly fancy. There’s some people who claim there are skincare benefits to sleeping on a silk pillowcase, but I don’t know about that, I mostly just think it feels nice, and you deserve something that feels nice. I think I got mine on Amazon (I know! I’m sorry!) but Brooklinen has some good ones too.

A little wicker basket

A little wicker basket can be useful for many reasons. but one thing I have been using MY little wicker basket for is to empty out all the crap I carry from purse to purse—so it’s always in one spot and not like, strewn about the bottom lining of six different canvas tote bags in my closet.

Not my wicker basket, judging from the ax inside it. Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

A bedside pill organizer

This thing cost like $4 at CVS and I keep it next to my bed in my nightstand so I can take my medicine while lying in bed. I understand this does in fact sound like a laziness life hack but it also helps me remember to take my medicine regularly every day.

The Trello app