Five products that changed my life forever
Do you know that feeling you didn’t know you were missing something until you tried it? That’s what happened when I got my hands on these seemingly simple products, but they changed my life forever, and now I can’t live without them. Let’s dive right into it and allow me to explain why you need these things in your life ASAP.
Noise-canceling headphones
When you’ve lived on your own for several years and then move back into with your parents, the words “challenge” and “compromise” take on a whole new meaning. But even when I lived on my own, I realized that I’m just extremely sensitive to noise. I can get unreasonably upset by chatty neighbors, people talking on the phone in public, or just normal traffic noise outside.
I cannot believe it took me almost 30 years to discover the magic of noise-canceling headphones. Not only for myself but also for other people. You see, I’m a huge heavy metal fan, and when you blast that kind of music on full volume through normal headphones or earbuds, everyone close to you gets to enjoy the show.
In the world of noise-canceling headphones or earbuds, you can find something in every price range and any kind of quality. This is the first ever noise-canceling headphone that I’ve tried, and I love it. It blocks out pretty much everything, except sometimes loud wind noises when you’re outside, but that doesn’t happen much for me. There is some bleed-through with other people hearing your music, especially if you’re listening to heavy metal, but still way better compared to normal headphones or earbuds. They’re super soft and comfortable to wear, and easy to pack up and toss into your backpack for when you’re on the move.
If you’re sensitive to noise and get annoyed by other people easily, I absolutely 746253% recommend you get these, and your life will improve exponentially. Well worth the investment.
SFP day cream
Have you seen my complexion? Red hair, pale, and thousands of freckles. It should come as no surprise that my skin takes on only two colors: milky white or hot red. Yes, I am one of those people who can get sunburned from sitting in the shade. Be grateful you don’t know how much it hurts to burn the back of your knees. (Spoiler alert: it’s pure agony.)
Protecting yourself from sunburn is more than just avoiding pain, though. Sunburn is harmful to your skin and one of the leading causes of skin cancer. Staying out of the sun during the hottest moments and wearing protective clothing are good ways to protect yourself, but sometimes you want or need to be out and about in the sun, and that’s where the sunscreen comes in. I’m a firm believer in the magic of sunscreen, but there is that one annoying issue: why does sunscreen have to be so sticky?
Because of my complexion, I must use SFP50 or sunblock, and those sunscreens are greasy and sticky. Not fun. So yes, sometimes I avoid using sunscreen “because I’m only going to be outside for 10 minutes”. Another spoiler alert: 10 minutes is more than enough for my face to turn as red as a ripe, juicy tomato. Other times, the weather is just much better than expected and before you know it, your face starts to feel hot, and you know you messed up.
Time to introduce the MVP of skincare: SFP day cream for everyday use. No more excuses, no more “forgetting” to put on sunscreen. This day cream has saved me time and time again. I don’t mind putting it on because it feels just like any other day cream. Instead of being greasy and shiny like regular sunscreen, this day cream has a light texture, immediately absorbs into the skin, and best of all, it’s not greasy. Ever since I started using this, I haven’t gotten a sunburn on my face once.
Prescription sunglasses
I’ve been wearing glasses ever since I was 10 years old. At first, only to read what my teachers were writing on the class board, but soon after, for just about anything. I can still remember the first time I put on my shiny, new glasses and looked at the trees. I could see each and every individual leaf. Now, I can’t imagine a life without glasses.
Yet, it took me another 10 years to consider prescription sunglasses. I only use sunglasses a few times a year, so why bother? Because once you have prescription sunglasses, you use them for everything. Driving is an obvious one, but I’m also a huge Book Nerd, and I love reading outside. The combination of glaring sunlight and white pages don’t go so well to the naked eye, but that’s not a problem anymore, thanks to my prescription glasses. If you’re wondering if you should make the investment, then this is your sign to RUN TO YOUR NEAREST EYEWEAR STORE AND GO GET THEM.
A lightweight laptop stand
When you spend over eight hours per day behind a laptop, you’re going to wreck your back. Backache isn’t sexy. I’m not twenty anymore, which means I have to actually take care of my body now if I don’t want to lie crippled on the floor.
I’m very lucky that I don’t experience much lower back pain (yet), but my neck and shoulders will tense up when I’m not sitting correctly. Meaning: rest your arms on the table and lower your shoulders while you stare straight ahead. Except, most laptops aren’t that big, and your screen will most likely be too low for you to stare straight ahead.
Enter the laptop stand. There are a million and one different laptop stands, but I needed one that was compact and lightweight so I could take it with me on my travels. This one here cost me only €30,- and is absolutely perfect. It’s lightweight, but strong enough to hold my 1,9 kg laptop. No plastic for me, thank you very much. This beauty is made from stainless steel, and I’m determined to never ever buy another one. It has 6 different settings, depending on how tall you are and/or the height of the desk and it folds down to the size of a very flat, small water bottle. Go get it and your neck and shoulders will be eternally grateful.
KOBO Libra e-reader
Okay, I write this with a heavy hard. I’m a giant Book Nerd, but taking my 2000+ book collection on the road isn’t practical. I read an average of two books per week, sometimes more if I’m really into a series. Do you know how much added weight that is on a 3-month trip? I’d need an extra suitcase just for my books.
Nothing will ever come close to that blissful feeling of holding a physical book in your hands and smelling the pages, but my KOBO Libra e-reader changed my life in terms of travel and keeping my reading addiction well-fed. It gives me the luxury of having all my books with me all the time, and I don’t have to wait for deliveries anymore. And like any Book Nerd will tell you, if you come across a book you absolutely love, you will buy the paperback, hardback, and any special edition you can find, and they’ll be waiting patiently for you to return home.