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.