I’ve always been someone who finds a lot of comfort in the little things. I’m a creature of habit and love rituals and routines and finding little ways to upgrade the everyday. (I even have an ongoing series called The Little Things List I send quarterly to those on my newsletter list that features small things bringing me joy!)
I’m a big believer in finding ways to level up every day routines and make them better, more productive or more enjoyable. So today I am sharing a list of things I employ in my own daily life to make things feel a bit upgraded. I hope it inspires you to do the same in your daily routines!
Every Day Upgrades
Audiobooks
If you’re like me you love using books to transport you. This summer I’ve been turning to my Audible Membership to get more into summer reading. I’ve been listening to audiobooks on walks around the neighborhood, at the beach, on the subway and on airplanes and am loving the selection that Audible offers. From new releases and bestsellers to loads of originals and even podcasts, Audible has so much to offer.
Right now, in celebration of the upcoming Prime Day, Audible is offering a free trial of their Premium Plus membership to Prime Members in the US. That means you can try out three months free of Audible Premium Plus at no charge, and I’ve teamed up with Audible to curate some of my favorite Paris-inspired Audiobooks and London-inspired Audiobooks so that you, too can transport yourself to two of my favorite cities this summer.
Each of these titles I’ve read and enjoyed and am so happy to be able to have them curated in handy lists for you guys! They are stories that take place across France and the UK and are wonderful titles to enjoy via Audible. An Audible Premium Plus membership gets you credit(s) good for any titles in their premium selection (1 credit = 1 title.)
I, personally, am currently transporting myself to Paris via Ruth Reichl’s The Paris Novel since I am unable to travel to Paris this summer due to the Olympics!
Something I love about Audible in particular is it allows me to be reading while also doing other things. I pop in my AirPods and I’ll fold laundry or tackle cleaning my home all while making progress in a book without ever having to turn a page.
I also love browsing Audible for the top audiobooks people have enjoyed and I’m a huge fan of a celebrity memoir on audiobook. I’ve honestly been loving Audible so much, I am considering re-visiting some of my favorite summer reads I read on my Kindle or in print as audiobooks.
If you have any audiobooks you’ve loved in the past, I’d love if you dropped them into the Comments below so I can use some of my upcoming Audible credits to check them out.
Have you tried Audible? If you’ve been curious, their Prime Day promotion that’s on NOW is the perfect time to get try it as your trial will give you three free months!
The Perfect No Makeup Makeup
I’m a broken record about this stuff by now, but the smallest amount of Erborian BB Creme goes a long way to making me feel more put together. It instantly evens out my skin tone and makes me glowy in a I-look-like-I-got-8-hours-of-sleep kinda way. It’s been a bestseller for so long with you guys for good reason.
The One Minute Rule
I’ve been living by this rule this year that I initially shared in my 2024 INs and OUTs list. The one minute rule essentially says that if you think of something to do and you can do it in less than one minute, do it. Think putting away your shoes by the door. Putting back something you used, etc. etc. It has improved my mental health a lot around my home and I think has in fact helped me be more productive.
Excellent Sheets
I’m a big believer in making your bed something you absolutely love crawling into. My favorite Brooklinen Sheets stay cool to the touch yet soft and cozy and I literally love getting under them every night. I’ve been singing their praises for ten years. (I also own and love their duvet).
Pajamas You Love
I have a drawer full of good pjs but the latest pair I love is this affordable pair from Amazon. Super soft and cozy. I have the size M.
Slip Silk Scrunchis
I used to always tie my hair back with a traditional hair elastic but given I so often pull my hair back, I’ve been opting for using one of these silk scrunchis instead. They are more gentle on hair and can help prevent damage when your hair is being held back.
An Eye Mask
Quality sleep is so important to me and the only way I can really get deep sleep these days is to use an eye mask. This one in particular is great for blocking out light and it’s so lightweight I barely notice I am wearing it.
A Good Robe
As silly as it may sound, every time I put this robe on I am grateful for it. I searched for what felt like years to find a good robe that would go almost to the floor, be crazy soft, not too hot or bulky and be easy to throw on and wear around the house. This fits the bill perfectly. I have the size M.
Probiotics
My life 100% changed for the better when I started taking probiotics. The Seed Probiotics are all I’ve taken for the last five years and I can’t recommend them enough.
Five Minute Journal
Using my Five Minute Journal was the best habit I got into five years ago. The act of writing down what I’d like to accomplish in a day to feel good, acknowledging the good things that happen in the day and identifying the things I’m grateful for, makes me feel much more at peace each day and is a little ritual I can’t recommend enough.
Boomerang for Gmail
If you’re like me, you find it hard to turn off at the end of the day. I remain obsessive about checking new emails till pretty much I go to bed at night. But for my work email inboxes, four years ago I installed the Boomerang plugin and started pausing them at the end of the day. It was one of the best things to happen to me to lower my anxiety.
It also ensures I’m not getting stressed or distracted by work on the weekends in particular. If someone needs me urgently, they know how to reach me and it won’t be by my inbox anyhow.
Related: My Best Work Habits
A Great Smelling Home
I have leveled up the way my home smells this year and set it on auto-pilot by installing Pura Smart Diffusers in my home. I have the scents on schedules so no matter the day, I have a scent that matches my mood and makes my home smell amazing.
Curated Lighting
Can I just say how much better it is when your lighting in your home is curated? I’m someone that’s very sensitive to light and therefore having all the lightbulbs in my home set to colors and temperatures that I personally selected to set the right scene has been amazing. Not to mention they are all controlled by voice prompts! I never spend any time going around turning on and off lamps. It’s brilliant.
. . .
Do you have any little life upgrades you’d recommend to others? I’d love to hear them.
You May Also Like:
- How to Pack Makeup for Travel.
- My Favorite and Most Worn Shoes + How I Take Care of Them.
- How To Clean Out Your Closet.
This post is in partnership with Audible. Thank you so much for supporting the brands I love and am lucky to work with!
This post contains affiliate links. Should you purchase something from an affiliate link, I may earn commission, at no cost to you. Thank you for your support of my work!
I gotta say…when I first saw you recommend Brooklinen a couple of years ago, I thought you were crazy to be paying that much for towels and linens. And somehow, I now have Brooklinen sheets on my bed and the super plush towels in my bathroom and there’s no way i’m going back. There’s such a tangible difference between my target/macys sheets and these, even right out of the dryer. And the towels just feel like the coziest hug. These will last for years and years of constant use. Thank you for the excellent recommendation!
Monica I love this comment!! Thank you for trusting my recommendations and taking time to come here and tell me you’re happy with the purchases! Totally hear you on the investment but really do think they are worth it! So glad you’ve joined me as a Brooklinen fan!