The Ultimate Utilitarian Gift List: Systems and Habits Gear for Better Living

But today is Black Friday. I was going to skip sending the newsletter this week but decided to play along. So here's what happened:

I started making videos about habits and systems. I shoot a lot in my house, and I was getting a bunch of DMs asking, "What's that?" or "Where did you get that?" And the questions were well warranted because anyone that knows me, knows I hate buying crap. So if I have it, I probably love it.

In fact, any kind of shopping is my least favorite thing in the world. So when I feel like I need something to help me create a better system or habit to stay healthy and productive - well, I agonize over it. I'll often buy several of the same items and test them exhaustively.

Here is a list of some of the things I use every single day. It's very utilitarian, so don't expect any fluff. And if you happen to have anyone as weird and OCD as me on your holiday gift list, this may help.

Sleep Gear

Sleep is the most underrated wonderdrug for longevity and cognitive and physical performance. We've been doing it as long as we've been on the planet, so why do I need all this crap? Because times have changed. Not only have our circadian rhythms been trashed by artificial lights and screens, but our poor little brains are taking in 10,000 of the info they were just a century ago (a blip on the evolutionary scale). I'll deploy every little trick under the sun to level the playing field. Here are some that have helped me.

MZOO Sleep Eye Mask

Unless you unplug every little thing in your bedroom with an LED, disconnect the fire alarms, and seal all the windows, the light will find you. This is especially true when traveling. I have tried seven eye masks, and this is my favorite. There is always a tradeoff between coverage and heat; the more they wrap your head, the hotter they get at night, making it feel like you are wearing a beanie over your face. These are also a great price because anything you wear every night for 7+ hours is going to get gross and fall apart. No matter how well it is made.

HEAROS Xtreme Foam Earplugs (33dB NRR Ear Plugs, 100 Pairs)

Some people can sleep through a construction project. Not me. In fact, every little bump in the night jars me awake. After testing six different types of earplugs, I landed on them for comfort and noise-blocking. I never sleep without these.

Horus X Blue Light Blocking Glasses

In a perfect world, I would live by candlelight every night at sundown and never look at a screen after 5 pm. But the world isn't perfect, and I don't think my family can withstand another 21 days of candlelight. After work, I throw these on and go about my business. They block the blue lights found in full spectrum indoor lighting, as well as phones and computers. A protein named melanopsin, particularly sensitive to blue light, is now believed to be responsible for carrying the signals to the brain’s master clock, signaling that the sun is up and it's go-time.

Mouth Tape (yes, you read that correctly)

Mouth tape might sound strange at first, but it’s a simple tool with powerful benefits for better sleep. By keeping your mouth closed, it encourages nasal breathing, which helps improve oxygen intake, reduce snoring, and even support deeper rest. Plus, it can prevent that dreaded dry mouth feeling when you wake up. It took me a while to get used to, but I can't sleep without it now. But here's the trick: there is a bevy of mouth tapes out there, and some are obscenely expensive. I tested eight of them and stumbled up on this 3M Micropore. It is by far the best of any other that I tried. The dispenser is a must, but once you have that, you can order the rolls in bulk for fractions of a penny per use.

Luminette 3 Light Therapy Glasses

These are the exact opposite of the blue light-blocking glasses. This Star Trek prop floods your eyes with 1,500 lux (equivalent to a 10,000 lux light therapy lamp). So what does that have to do with sleep? Your circadian clock begins its magic at dawn. Great sleep begins with getting sunlight in your eyes first thing in the morning. But for us (very) early risers or others living in areas with cold and dark winters, that might not be an option. I throw these on first thing in the morning while making my coffee, brushing my teeth, and feeding the cat. My future 9pm self is always thankful.

Serene Evolution White Noise Machine

I recently read a report of data collected by WHOOP users that revealed that their deep sleep was negatively impacted by using white noise machines. But I also think it depends on what you are used to, and I've lived in so many noisy places that this has become a staple. I've gone through quite a few of these and like this the best for sound quality, a remote, and no app required. My go-to is heavy rain.

ChiliPad (temperature control for your mattress)

Most people get the best restorative sleep when in a cooler environment. But sometimes, that's tough to achieve and can change throughout the night. This device pumps water through a mattress cover to keep your bed at a consistent temperature or various ranges that you specify with the companion app. Their competitor, EightSleep, spends much more on marketing and has many more bells and whistles - which come with a higher price tag AND a subscription cost ($17-$25/month) to make it all work. ChiliPad is the OG, has fair pricing, and no subscription for all the features. Their customer service has also been great. Use this link for 20% off.

Graywind Motorized Shades (100% Blackout)

Light pollution is no joke. Unless you are out in the country or on some remote mountain top (lucky!), all sorts of light will likely seep into your bedroom. I used to resort to tin foil to permanently black out my bedroom in my old crappy city apartment. So why motorized? Because it's just super cool to say "Alexa, goodnight" and have all the shades in your house go down. Same with the good morning command. I started with one room and was hooked. It makes me feel like I'm living in the future.

Avocado Mattress (Certified Non-Toxic Mattress)

Exposure to VOCs and off-gassing is something I've been paying a lot more attention to. Especially if I spend a third of my life with my face on it, these are made out of the finest natural materials, including GOLS-certified organic latex, GOTS-certified organic wool and cotton, and up to 1,379 individually wrapped support coils arranged in 7 ergonomic zones. Tl;dr - it's the most comfortable mattress I've had and isn't made out of a pile of chemicals. We started with one, and now have them in every bedroom.

Govee Smart Lights

One of my little daily pleasures is how all my lights turn to fire tones at dusk. To do this (many years ago), I bought a bunch of insanely expensive Phillips Hue bulbs and their pain-in-the-a$$ hub that needs to plug into your router. From what I can tell, these do just about everything the Hue bulbs do, including voice control and sans hub - for a fraction of the price.

EDC

I'm a little obsessed with people's everyday carry. But not in the traditional sense of pocket knives or flashlights. However, if it's something that gets near everyday use, I want to know what people pick, why they love it, and how long it lasts. Here are a few of my favorites.

M-Clip Stainless Money Clip

I've had this for 4 years, and it's as good as it was on day one. Its patented sliding lever mechanism ensures a tight grip, making it reliable and easy to use while maintaining a minimalist aesthetic. I carry my cash, cards, and ID in it whenever I fear that tap-to-pay won't be an option.

IRON °FLASK Hydration

There are a million insulated steel water bottles out there, and this is another. I've had it for five years. I have the 40 oz spout version because those straws get gross. If you're still drinking out of plastic, stop.

Water Bottle Phone Holder (Compatible with MagSafe)

I don't really like toting around a gym bag while on the gym floor. However, I do want my phone to stream music and take the occasional note when inspiration strikes (as it often does when lifting heavy things while caffeinated). I also don't want my phone smashed into my thigh with a barbell, so it often ends up on the floor beside my water bottle. Not anymore. This little guy straps to my water bottle and holds the phone via the MagSafe case. Best ten bucks spent.

PHILIPS Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100

Many years ago, before the Philips acquisition, I worked on the robotics application for the mechanical assembly of these products for Sonicare. The engineers explained how the patented 1,033 Hz vibrations of this brush were matched to the fimbriae of plaque so that the brush would strip it right off your teeth. True? I don't know, but it was a helluva convincing conversation, and I've been a loyal customer ever since. I like this beefier model with more oomph for home and I have this slimmer model for travel.

AUVON Metal Weekly Pill Organizer

For slightly less money, I had plastic flip-top pill organizers. It was fine, but if I threw it in a suitcase, at least one of the tops would pop open, and it was then a scavenger hunt to find all my supplements. I dig the way this locks and slides open. It reminds me of Neo's Nokia phone in the original Matrix. Yes, the inside is plastic, but so is the container my vitamins came in 😿 There is an all-metal version by Ikigai for $100. Since I have four, that's a hard pass (I load up two weeks at a time to batch the process - one for the morning (pink) and one for the night (black). If you forget to take supplements or medication like I always did, these are a gamechanger.

Natural Biodegradable Floss Picks

Do you floss? Six times a day, right? Floss picks make this unpleasant ritual much easier. But shoving plastic against my teeth before leaving it to spend the rest of eternity in a landfill is also undesirable. These bamboo picks are plastic-free and biodegradable.

WHOOP (fitness and sleep tracker)

I've been a WHOOP customer on and off for about seven years. Why on and off? Because I wanted to love the Apple Watch or Garmin Forerunner more. But I don't. The WHOOP is the only device you can charge while wearing with its piggyback battery, and you can just beat the hell out of it. Hit it with kettlebells? Sure. In the sauna? No problem. Cold plunge? All good. There's something about a device that is focused on a single metric: your recovery score. But shouldn't I know when I need to rest? Yeah, I should. But I don't. Use my link for a free month.

Cotopaxi Vaya 18L Backpack - CADA Dia 18L

This social and environmentally responsible Utah company makes some great stuff. This backpack is a perfect carryon for my 15" MacBook, water bottle, and snacks.

iSpring Alkaline 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System

Whether you live in the city or out in the country, a water filtration system is one of the best things you can do for your health. Filters remove contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals (e.g., lead, mercury), and bacteria that can affect water taste, smell, and safety. I had this model for ten years, and bought another when I moved five years ago. It's solid and well-priced.

LUXE Bidet NEO 120

If you've never used a bidet, maybe you should never start. Because once you do, you'll never feel clean again if you don't use one. I've tried many brands, and this one had the cleanest install (no seat gap) of them all. It is super simple to install and has lasted many years without any issues.

You can find this list as a live document here where I'll make updates and add office stuff and other random things I fall in love with.

I love a good recommendation. In fact, I love them so much, I designed an app that's all about giving and getting them. I put just about everything in there. Restaurants in all sorts of cities, movies, books, recipes - you name it. If you want to check it out, you can download it for free. Follow me @elijah and send me something you Vouch for.

Some of the links on these resources are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase, I might earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). It’s like buying me a coffee to help fuel my content-creation passion, so thank you!