Simple Living

October 2024 Everyday Carry (EDC) I've successfully streamlined my Everyday Carry (EDC) setup, fitting all my items into my front pockets by reducing weight. I opted for the 1-ounce lighter iPhone 16 (compared to my previous 7-ounce iPhone 14 Pro) and a slim Coach wallet , making it more comfortable to carry daily. I enjoy swapping between my various Victorinox models, with the Huntsman being a favorite for its utility. I also rotate between my Casio G-Shock 5600 and A168 watches, depending on my mood and the occasion. Current EDC Items Apple iPhone 16 Casio G-Shock 5600 Victorinox Manager (not pictured, on my car key ring) Victorinox Huntsman Coach Leather Card Wallet This combination offers a balance of functionality and style, ensuring I’m well-equipped for everyday tasks. First Aid For convenience, I also carry 2 band-aids and a wet wipe inside one of the card pockets of my wallet.  

Planning for 2025: Building a Thoughtful Wardrobe and Budget As 2024 comes to a close, I’m reflecting on my year and planning for what’s next. Each year, I set strategic goals that help increase my productivity in acquisitions and prevent impulsive spending. This structured approach keeps my wardrobe refined and tailored to my actual needs, with an emphasis on quality and thoughtful purchases. Affordable Learning One valuable lesson I’ve embraced is the importance of testing with affordable options before committing to high-ticket items. Lower-priced alternatives allow me to experiment, understand my preferences, and determine what’s truly worth investing in. This approach reduces waste and helps me make smarter, more intentional purchases. Investing When Ready Once I identify essentials, everything else becomes incremental. This method frees up my budget to focus on high-quality items that add significant value. For 2025, I’ve allocated my budget as follows: 2025 Budget Plan Shoes : $...

Adjusting to the iPhone 16: Essential Settings You Need to Know Switching from the iPhone 14 Pro to the iPhone 16 has brought some challenges, particularly when it comes to enabling certain features. Here’s a breakdown of the key adjustments you’ll want to make for a smoother experience, especially around vibrate mode and photo quality. Vibrate on Silent Shut off Live Photo Improve Photo Quality 1. Vibrate on Silent To enable vibrate mode when your ringer is set to silent, follow these steps: Go to : Settings Select : Sounds & Haptics Under Haptics , toggle Play in Silent Mode to ON. It’s a bit convoluted, and you might expect "Always Play" to mean the same thing, but it doesn’t. 2. Disable Live Photo While Live Photo is a fun feature, it can consume excessive storage. To turn it off, do the following: Go to : Settings Select : Camera Choose : Preserve Settings Toggle Live Photo to ON. This ensures that Live Photo remains disabled when you turn it off in Camera mode, de...

Reevaluating My Relationship with Alcohol While my overall alcohol consumption was low, having a drink almost daily began to take a toll on my body. I noticed that alcohol no longer provided the same satisfaction it once did. Even if it was just one beer or a glass of wine each day, it started to feel like a habit rather than a choice made for enjoyment. Taking a Break: Three Weeks of Abstinence To address this, I decided to abstain from alcohol for three weeks. Initially, I committed to just one week, but I quickly realized that I wanted to see how it felt over a longer period. So far, I’ve noticed a significant change—I no longer feel the same need for alcohol. The first day was definitely the toughest; I craved a beer. However, by the third day, that desire subsided, and after a full week, I found that I no longer had any urge to drink. While looking at an alcoholic beverage can still spark a bit of desire, it doesn’t carry the same weight as it did on that first day of abstaining. ...