Initial life improvements - What are your sugestions?

So, just got to wondering. What do we do to start with? The website is still being worked on, and we're all providing input and ideas. But not all of us know Drupal or know what to do now we're here and don't feel able to contribute to the structure of the site itself.

Where do we begin? We don't have official guides up yet, not all of us have effective management of their time, and a lot of cludge in our lives. What do we do first to start improving our lives? Because we need to do that before we can help improve other peoples too.

I don't want to get into specifics, like "kife A is better than knife B", but just get folks opinions on what are good life improvement things.

My own:

Get yourself a USB pen-drive.

Keep your essential backup docs on it, and load it up with (at least) a copy of FireFox Portable (from: http://portableapps.com/ ), installed with your bookmarks. I actually have 5x1Gb USB keys, each installed with a different selection of software.

Get your net access streamlined.

Software:

Firefox is good for this, as you can install a selection of ad-ons to help you. The most usefull ones I use are the Brief RSS reader, which is very simple and smooth, and Update Scanner, which watches non-feed enabled websites for changes.

While I use a seperate FTP program, I've also got the FireFTP plugin as it makes accessing FTP sites online a lot easier. I also use Resurrect Pages, which is awesome for finding the cached pages when origionals are down. And Mr Uptime will let you know when the origional page is back up.

SpiderZilla allows downloading of whole websites/remote directories. Advanced Dork allows right-click access to some of Googles more advanced search features. Both excellent for research, especially if information is liable to be removed later. TableTools allows sorting of table information in web-pages, which again is useful for making sense of raw data.

NoScript, FlashBlock and Adblock are almost essentials now just for navigating with security and without distraction.

PDF Download and Link Alert are both usefull features, to prevent your browser jamming up while plugins load. Download Statusbar and FoxyTunes allow control of your downloads and music without changing windows.

Download managers are getting less usefull as access to high bandwidth increases. I however use Free Download Manager for the few times I still have to download massive single files directly (such as from archive.org's public domain video section). I'm sure there are better solutions for this one however. This is one of the stop-gap solutions that has remained in place, and I would like to source a more embedded system. I will be trying DownThemAll! shortly to see if it fares better.

Installing the dictionary file for your language is very helpfull for keeping your spelling in check, and Usage Counter for keeping your uptime in check. I also use the Skype Extension (which links any phone numbers found directly to Skype), which makes calling people faster and cheaper.

Proceedure:

If you collect vast backlogs of saved links, use a piece of link-varification software to hunt out dead links in your bookmarks. I've found AM-DeadLink works well, though be sure to double-check the links before deleting them. Temporarily unavailable can show up as a dead link, for example. Every couple of months is usually ample between sweeps.

More imediatly, the Sean Kennedy method of creating a "Daily Checks" folder is of great help. I place mine on my bookmarks toolbar for instant access. Weekly checks also seem like a good idea, but tend to fall out of use quickly. Add those to your update watcher instead. Items that only need to be checked on certain days (such as webcomics, if you read them) can be dedicated into other sequence folders such as the Mon-Wed-Fri folder.

FireFox's "open all in tabs" function is very usefull here. Keep all single pages you check daily in one folder. Sites that require more than one tab each should be opened one by one as they require more concentration (such as forums).

Entering into communications terratory, the website 43 Folders has a great amount of information on the concept of "Inbox Zero". Brutal email management so that you never end up with a piled up inbox again, and keep on top of your correspondance. There's also a video on the subject.

Make an ablutions kit

This simple thing is one of the most usefull things I've done. An ablutions kit is a fancy name for a wash-bag.

Many camping stores stock these in the form of fabric rolls with pockets and a hook. The idea being it is stored rolled up, then unrolled and hung wherever for use. They often have a mirror sewn in.

A minimal washbag should include a toothbrush and a washcloth. Then toothpaste and soap.

The purpose is to stay clean and tidy, and having this pre-packed and seperate from your domestic wash gear is important. It's ready to go. You pick up the one wash bag and you're entirely sorted for personal hygene. It could easily be included as part of an AWOL bag setup, but mostly this makes traveling for any reason at all just that bit more stress-free.

Mine contains:

• Small toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Flannel/washcloth
• Small bar of soap (inside small tupperware, to prevent wet soap contaminating other items)
• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Foot powder in origional container
• Shaving soap
• Shaving brush
• Razor with spare blades
• Comb
• Folding clothes brush
• Shampoo decanted into small handcream bottle

It's worth noting that I specify that the foot powder is in it's origional container. While taking a smaller amount in a different container would take up less space, carrying white powder in small containers hidden in luggage is something of a travel no-no these days. Wether you have foot problems or not, foot powder stops moisture and fungal buildup. It means shoes and socks will last longer, and your feet won't stink.

Use of shaving soap and brush is preferable as canned shaving foam may not respond well to the changes in air-pressure associated with air travel. It also lasts longer, and is less prone to puncture.

Use the same razor you do at home, but if one runs out of blades, buy more. Do not tap into the new blades for the other one. This is setting yourself up to find yourself without when you need it.

Some people will probably sugest getting a travel towel as well, but I've found you can do well with just a flannel. A large towel will require a large drying time. I find wringing out the flannel and wiping down with it first removes almost all the moisture. This means either a towel or second unused flannel can be used to get rid of remaining surface moisture if need be.

Get yourself some hardy clothes

Wether you think you'll be using these all the time or not, there's allways something rough needs doing in life. For camping or scavenging, you know you'll use it. But even as a businessman you'll be glad of a set of combats or solid jeans when you have to go rummaging in your attic or doing the garden.

Make backups

If you haven't already, and on the same vein as the USB keys, make sure your essential data is backed up.

Get shoes

For exercise, day to day, and for show.

Learn triage

Similar to Inbox Zero, bite the bullet and be realistic. What of all those things weighing you down with "one day I'll get around to it" are you actually going to do? What things won't you miss? What belongings can you convert into more universal resources (EG: money, favours)? Spring-clean your life.

Clean your living area

You'll feel better for it.

---

What else might people suggest as good things to start building ourselves upward? To get us set up on the proverbial starting blocks?