Curious Sheep Recommends

Sometimes in life we figure things out and strike gold. It would be a shame not to share it with the world. My hope is that at least one other person can find something here to improve their life or add some joy to it.

Having a simple notebook and pen around at all times, and using them

Use it to write down things you want to remeber or look up later, to get thoughts out of your head and in front of you, make a to-do lists, draw, brainstorm, design things you want to make, make a plan, plan your week/day/quarter/year, journal, find out more about yourself, or start a fire. It is a tool that can truly help you improve your life.

Making time to read something every day

A book, an article, an internet page, what ever floats your boat. It doesn't matter for how long, just read something every day. I would highly recommend using an e-reader, however screens or good old paper and ink work too.

Here are some of my favourite books:

Fiction

  • Hyperion Cantos (Novel Series) by Dan Simmons
  • Culture Series (Novel Series) by Iain M. Banks
  • The Expanse (Novel Series) by James S. A. Corey
  • Sherlock Holmes (Novels and Short Stories) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  • The Complete Short Stories of H.G. Wells

Non-Fiction

  • Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
  • Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn
  • The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Exercising every day

You don't have to lift weights for an hour every day. Take any amount of time (however short it may be) that you may have available during the day and do something with it. Lift weights, go for a run, stretch, go to somekind of fitness class, do yoga, shoot some hoops, go for a walk, go for a bike ride, or run around with your kids. Find some way to do some form of exercise every day that you enjoy. Start out slow, go at your own pace, and make it a routine. Consistency is the name of the game, not perfection. Both your body and mind will thank and reward you.

Don't know where to start? Check out some of these resources:

Playing a board game instead of watching TV

It's a great way to spend quality time with family and friends. Talk to eachother, strategize, and enjoy eachother's company, while also using your brain and having fun. Many newer games even have a solo mode.

These are some of my current favourites:

  • Wingspan by Elizabeth Hargrave
  • Everdell by James A. Wilson
  • The White Castle by Isra C. and Shei S.
  • Dune: Imperium by Paul Dennen
  • Parks by Henry Audubon
  • Scythe by Jamey Stegmaier
  • Paleo by Peter Rustemeyer
  • Cascadia by Randy Flynn
  • Catan by Klaus Teuber
  • Carcassonne by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede
  • Wizard by Ken Fisher

To find more board games, check out BoardGameGeek and Before You Play.

Cooking your own meals

It is not as hard or as time consuming as you may think, to cook great food. Plus, you will have full control of exactly what is going into your food, and therefore your body. It's very rewarding.

Check these out:

Using an RSS Feed to make your own news feed

Take control of your news feed and make your own, full of only the things that you care about. With an RSS feed (like Feedly or Inoreader), you can get updates from all of your favourite blogs, websites, YouTube channels, podcasts, news sources, newsletters, twitter feeds, subreddits, and industry publications. Set one up!

These products

Below are a list of products I personally own and am very happy with. Right now they won't be in any particular order. Also, I currently have no affiliations with any products or companies.

Targus laptop cooling pad MODEL:AWE55GL
It is not the most portable, but for at home use it has been great. It does the job, has never had an issue, and is pretty quiet. I'm sure Targus now has some other newer good options.

Lodge cast iron skillets
Everyone should have one. They cook over anything, are basically indestructible, and are easy to maintain.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
I love reading on my e-reader. It is super portable, the battery lasts a really long time, and buying new books can be done almost instantly. It has not given me any issue in the 7 years that I have owned it, and it has a lot of life left in it.

Philips multigroom series 7000
About 2-3 times per week, for 6 years, I have used this to cut my hair and trimm my beard. It works great and is still going strong.

8BitDo N30 Pro bluetooth controller
I carry this around with me and use it when playing games on my phone, usually in combination with a portable phone stand. The controller is very portable, comfortable, and has been great.

Light My Fire titanium spork
This thing has been great to take on picnics, hikes, to the beach, wherever I have needed to eat on an adventure. I have learned that it will scratch glass though.

Vaude bike gaiter short & Löffler bike overpants GTX active
Both habe been a vital part of my biking rain gear. For 3 years, I have worn them through rain of all kinds, and they have kept me, my shoes, and my pants bone dry.

Logitech K380 bluetooth keyboard
It is very portable and I love that you can use it with 3 different devices at the same time.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones
Solid headphones.

Casio GW-M5610-1 digital watch
This has been a great daily driver of a watch for me. It tells me the time, has an alarm, a timer, and a stopwatch. As a bonus, I have never had to charge it or change a battery on it, thanks to its solar charging ability. It is also pretty robust, so I can be relatively careless with it.

Leatherman multi-tool
Having a multi-tool with me has payed off several times since I have had it. I would highly recommend always having one around, and Leatherman makes great ones.

1Zpresso JX-PRO S manuel coffee grinder
Definietly grind your coffee just before you brew it. If you would like a manuel coffee grinder, 1Zpresso makes great ones.