100 ways to slightly improve your life without really trying (Part 2: 80-61)
It’s the second part of our week-long feature today, as we make a County fan clean his computer, a Barnet fan read her book on the tube, and a bloke in Northern Ireland learn the names of some trees
Tuesday 23 January 2024
NEXT HOME GAME: Harrogate – Saturday 3 February, 3pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Doncaster – Saturday 27 January, 3pm
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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and anyone else joining us today, a very warm welcome to IMPROVEMENT WEEK on The Scarf My Father Wore!
On New Year’s Day 2022, The Guardian published the following article: 100 ways to slightly improve your life without really trying.
I care about all of my readers and subscribers, so having stumbled across the article recently, I thought I’d share it with you, to see if I can help improve your life in a small way. But the feature by The Guardian simply listed the 100 recommendations. There was no meat on the bones. How do we even know those 100 things will make any improvement to your life whatsoever?
There was only one thing for it. I’ve analysed the list myself, and with the kind help of fellow County fans, other football supporters, and writers, bloggers and podcasters from across the country, we’ve collectively produced the definitive guide to (slightly) improving your life this year, without really trying. If you try any of these suggestions yourself, please let me know how you get on!
Today’s edition is sponsored by Colourtone. As always, a big thank you to Paul.
Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.
Total distance so far: 46.68 miles
Total steps so far: 83,302
Total raised so far: £1,037
Total completed streets so far: 24 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)
Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.
Des Junior
80: Instead of buying new shoes, get old ones resoled and buy new laces
Kelvin Briggs, Stockport County fan
My late father (and purchaser of my first County scarf) could have written a book on this subject. After a fine education at Stockport Grammar School he became a rubber and plastics technologist.
An early job was with Phillips Stick-a-Soles, a firm founded by Walter J Phillips in 1903 with a factory on Dantzic Street / Bromley Street in Manchester. The company was particularly successful in making a military set of rubber soles used in the trenches during World War One.
In the mid 1950s there were about 40,000 shoe repairers in the UK. Cobblers! I remember my dad at home repairing leather soled shoes with the Stick-a-Sole, some thick glue and a sharp knife to trim to a neat finish. Today, it’s a trip to Timpson to get your soles and heels replaced.
A new set of laces always looks smart, and regular shoe polishing is a must to get that glossy military shine! As a kid I remember hammering new studs into heavy football boots and smearing them with Dubbin.
I wonder how many pairs of boots (or should we call them shoes) a County player now gets through in a season.
Rating: 6/10.
79: Mute or leave a WhatsApp group chat
Nigel Summers, chairman of the Brighton & Hove Albion Supporters’ Club
Whenever someone leaves a WhatsApp group without explanation, those remaining always wonder what they may have said to upset them and worry about why they have flounced off.
A mate of mine set up a WhatsApp group with all the people who were coming to his birthday golf day. I didn't know any of them. After the successful day and post-round drinks all went their separate ways.
In collusion with my mate, a couple of days later, I posted one word – "bollocks" – and promptly left the group. My mate said it was hilarious in the chat as everyone wondered who it was that left and what had upset them so much.
Rating: 6/10.
78: Thank a teacher who changed your life
Roman Beresford, Stockport County fan
I had a teacher who taught me English in high school. The year it was time to pick my GCSEs she transferred to teaching media. I liked film and had a good relationship with this teacher, causing me to pick the subject. She taught with such knowledge and passion for somebody who had not been teaching the subject long and it was contagious. I ended up getting the highest grade in the subject.
I then went on to study it in college, eventually working in television and film. When I landed the role the first thing I did was send her an email detailing how her passion for the subject had lead to this opportunity which I was incredibly grateful for. Although what she gave me was unquantifiable, I tried my best to reciprocate the favour by organising a school trip for her students to the studio I work in.
Rating: 6/10.
77: Always have dessert
Kelvin Briggs, Stockport County fan
A definite yes for this one, but it does come with a health warning – practice moderation! Dessert tends to be a Christmas treat in our house these days. Perhaps a shared plate of something light if we eat out.
Heart bypass surgery and healthy eating advice from a cardiologist has seen a decline in the apple pie, rhubarb crumble and Cornish ice cream intake. I do miss them, but still enjoy the odd cheat.
There was a time when these sweet delights would be followed by cheese and biscuits. A strong cheddar, a Red Leicester, a runny Brie, Irish Cashel blue and Durrus were popular with crackers, sometimes Ryvita crispbread. All now mostly banned from the fridge that’s closely monitored by the missus!
As a child we regularly feasted on Sunday dessert treats with tinned mixed fruit salad covered with a clawing emulsion of Nestle’s Carnation evaporated milk. Homemade rice pudding with a spoon of strawberry jam, lemon meringue pie and jam roly-poly all graced the family dining table. No waste, no fussy eaters.
The graduation to eating out in the 70s and 80s saw us consume huge quantities of sticky toffee pudding, tiramisu, Black Forest gateau and Bakewell tarts. Ice cream and sorbets always a welcome but guilty pleasure.
The only time I never fancy a dessert is after a curry. That could be a quantity issue with my poor portion control skills.
It’s hard these days to resist a homemade vanilla or coffee panna cotta. Try the Nigella Lawson recipes from her Nigellissima book. Some real treats in there.
When County achieve promotion to League One we need an official dessert to celebrate!
Rating: 6/10.
76: Feeling sluggish at work? Try the Pomodoro Technique: 25 minutes on, five-minute break, and repeat
Hannah Brown, Stockport County fan and co-host of The Lower League Look
This is one I’ve done for years, on and off. The first time had a delayed start because I had to buy an actual timer (the Pomodoro Technique is named after those kitsch tomato kitchen timers). I’ve since discovered a Chrome plug-in that works on your desktop.
The general idea is that you work / do something for 25 minutes and then have a five-minute break. Repeat 3-4 times and then have a longer 15-30 minute break. Breaking time into smaller sections helps hold your attention and gives you some accountability. I’d also recommend putting your phone on ‘do not disturb’ and removing smart watches. It really does work but I have to be in the right frame of mind for it, and remember about it when I’m struggling to concentrate.
Other things that work for me include the Spotify ADHD hyperfixation playlist which is great for concentration, or going for a micro walk outside and then sitting back down.
Rating: 6/10 (although 8/10 when I remember to do it). Points lost for it being not fancy enough a solution. I like gadgets and gimmicks and it’s just a bit too sensible.
75: Listen to the albums you loved as a teenager
James Stambach, Stockport County fan and the best left-back that’s ever lived (his words)
Not quite albums, but on each flight I take to Dubai, I listen to the UK No 1s from 1993 - 2002. Reliving old memories through songs and trying not to get caught singing “MMMBop” at the top of my lungs whilst on an aircraft!
Rating: 6/10. It’s not a key part of making life better, but it's fun!
74: Send a voice note instead of a text; they sound like personal mini podcasts
Declan Carey, Manchester Evening News journalist
Sending voice notes are much more personal than texts, but a phone call is even better. I regularly call my friends to arrange meet-ups or just talk about life events. At first they thought I was calling because I was in trouble or needed help, but now they’re used to it and (I think!) prefer it to texting. So do pick up the phone from time to time to speak to a friend or family member, it’s a much more personal way to communicate.
Rating: 7/10. Well worth doing.
73: Learn the names of 10 trees
Conor Kenny, editor of Portadown fanzine Better Red Than Dead
I was set the challenge of learning the names of 10 trees. I assumed this would be a fairly easy task as most folk could name a fair number of trees off the top of their head. I decided to put my unoccupied brain into good use over the Christmas and New Year period by trying to learn 10 different types of trees from the local Forest Park. This proved a much more appealing assignment, given that myself and the dog have taken the beaten tracks and trails.
Rating: For me, the challenge has been a 6/10 improvement on the mental health and an 8/10 on the physical health, so let’s say 7/10 overall. (The dog scored the task a full 10/10 but hasn't remembered a single name of a tree – despite numerous opportunities.)
72: Keep a bird feeder by a window, ideally the kitchen. It’ll pass the time when you’re washing up
Mark Wagster, Stockport County fan
I purchased a bird feeder and placed it on the shed at the bottom of the garden. (I don’t live in a mansion so the garden isn’t that long!) It’s still easy to see and it’s strangely transfixing. I’ve ended up not just watching when doing limited washing up (as I’ve got a dishwasher), but I get my morning brew, move a chair to the back door and sit there trying to identify the birds that come to get the seeds. When weather permits I sit outside and listen to them as well. It’s very calming and a great start to the day or whenever I need to clear my head.
Rating: 7/10.
71: Every so often, search your email for the word “unsubscribe” and then use it on as many as you can
Will Tomlinson, a reporter on football in Nottinghamshire through his WT Analysis account on Twitter
Recently I've been spending time on hold on the phone (which happens a lot in my day job) to do something useful to pass the time: reducing the clutter in my personal inbox.
I'm like many of us; I don't read what I'm signing up for and I end up being inundated with emails until the end of time from companies and websites I don't even remember interacting with.
In the past couple of weeks I've unsubscribed from over 30 different mailing lists. It's made a noticeable difference to the size of my inbox, and therefore has made it much easier to search for important emails on my phone app which is very temperamental at the best of times!
If you’re too impatient when signing up to new websites, I’d recommend spending a few minutes every now and then just trying to clear your inbox. It definitely saves time in the long run and has made my life just that little bit easier when looking for important information.
Rating: I’d give it a solid 7/10.
70: Handwash that thing you’ve never cleaned
Will Howells, Stockport County fan
On Saturday afternoon, with County’s game at Meadow Lane called off, I finally did the thing I have really been putting off for a while. I opened up my PC and cleaned all the dust filters.
First of all, if you've never done this, do it. Second of all, do it when the weather is good. There are few things worse than dealing with clogs of dust in an enclosed environment and risking breathing it all in. Cleaning these filters outside in temperatures around 0º might just be worse.
As I write this, I am very cold, but at least my PC is shiny and clean, inside and out. I recommend it.
Rating: 7/10.
69: Take out your headphones when walking – listen to the world
Dave Philbin, Stockport County fan
A few weeks ago if I was walking anywhere on my own, I'd have my headphones in listening to the latest podcast or some music. Now on the odd office day, I'll remain headphone-less for the walk and on the train and it really is quite something. You are alone with your own thoughts and can really plan out/reflect on the day and I think I will continue it. The best part is listening to the corporate shite being spoken on someone's phone at 7.30 in the morning. Why can't they just wait till they get to work before talking about their ideas? On that point, watch Bob Mortimer's "Train Guy" – it’s excellent!
Rating: 7/10. Not sure if wearing headphones or not could be an amazing transformation, but I certainly prefer it.
68: Staying over at a friend’s place? Strip the bed in the morning
Kelvin Briggs, Stockport County fan
We used to make an annual pilgrimage to the Cheltenham Festival. We stayed with friends close to the racecourse in their fabulous old house. Some years we stayed a week. It was a fine house party with great food and fine wines.
In the early years we just made the bed in the mornings and the sheets lasted the week. Lady of the house checked in with us to check all was well. No problems. Then one year a dodgy on-course sandwich had a catastrophic outcome, with the dreaded norovirus causing severe diarrhoea. I had to take myself off to bed early evening whilst other house guests had a wonderful warming stew and the Barolo wine flowed.
The Guinness medicine sadly did not cure my ills. A couple of episodes occurred and I had to fess up the sheets were a mess. I stripped the bed and tried to hide the more colourful bits. Thankfully our host remade the bed and medical supplies were found to keep me ‘safe’.
The moral of the tale is to leave the food and simply drink more Guinness on day one, and keep yourself topped up early evening with Italian red wine. It’s good for you.
Rating: 7/10.
67: Ignore the algorithm – listen to music outside your usual taste
Colin Jeffery, owner of Iceni Magazine
Growing up in Hackney, my neighbours definitely influenced my taste in music and old skool garage has always been my favourite. Nowadays, Spotify often chooses tracks for me and sometimes, it surprises me what comes on and what I actually enjoy. I’ve discovered some great new artists this way.
Rating: 7/10.
66: Keep your keys in the same place
Jo Isherwood, editor of lifestyle and family blog Cup of Toast
As a busy family of five we are often found rushing around when the time comes to leave the house, especially in the mornings as we set off for school and work. One thing that helps us to stay on track is keeping our keys in the same place. We’ve all got into a great habit of putting them where they belong when we get home, so that when we rush out we don’t have to think about it. Even our teenage son has adopted this part of our household routine! It certainly saves a bit of stress. Now, if we could just figure out a similar system for clean PE socks we’d be flying out each morning…
Rating: Hmm, I would say 7/10. It definitely eases stress, especially when we're in a rush, but I imagine other small tweaks to life may have a bigger impact.
65: If you have to attend an event you don’t want to, have an exit strategy (can we recommend a French exit, where you slip out unseen)
Jonny King, editor of Wycombe fanzine The Wanderer
My job often means I have to go to things I don’t want to go to. I’m sure that’s the case for lots of people and I don’t want to make out like I’m the only one who has this problem. Soldiers have to go to war zones, teachers have to go to parents’ evenings, and people who work in Milton Keynes have to go to Milton Keynes, so I suppose I shouldn’t complain about having to attend the odd seminar or training day. For the most part, I can just about get through them simply by accepting that I’m stuck there no matter what, and then switching my brain off and going to my cerebral happy place for an hour or two. (I actually do this very easily and effectively, and not always when it’s appropriate. My wife is certain I have ADD.)
The bigger problem is when I have to attend things that I’m under no obligation to stay at for any particular length of time – work social events, for example. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy going for a beer or two with my colleagues and in most cases enjoy their company, but I’m slightly older than the vast majority of my workmates and have different wants these days. I have a home to go to, and a wife to spend time with. The younger crowd have no such concerns (apart from one couple who are very open about leaving early so that their golden retriever can be “put to bed” – which I am fully on board with) and so I often find myself having to awkwardly depart leaving drinks and Christmas parties whilst they are still in the fullest of swings, because I’m tired and I promised my wife I would be home by 11.
I’ve always felt it rather rude to leave without saying goodbye, and so duly observe standard departing decencies. This isn’t a problem in a small group, usually a blanket farewell will suffice, but it gets more complicated when there are more of you, especially if you’re not all in the same place. Even worse, you have to remember that the others are not on the same strict schedule as you and will happily keep you talking long after you’ve made it blindingly obvious that you wish to leave.
I remember one incident last December, when a colleague watched me say goodbye to everyone and put on my coat, but then cornered me by the bar and spoke to me at great length about his exploits on Duolingo. Every time he came up for air, I tried to terminate the interaction, but he was relentless. I wouldn’t have minded so much if it had been an interesting conversation, but it was so boring I thought I was going to have an aneurysm. As he prattled on about Italian prepositions, I felt tears prick my eyes. I’m a 38-year-old man and I was about to have a meltdown in a Wetherspoons because I was apparently incapable of yelling “THAT’S ENOUGH SHAUN FOR FUCK’S SAKE!” at a dear friend.
I had heard the term “French exit” before, but had never been sure what it meant. I get a bit nervous around expressions based on nationalities, in case they’re mildly xenophobic like “Dutch courage”, and learning that an alternative name for a “French exit” is an “Irish goodbye” did little to boost my confidence. Apparently, a “French exit” simply means to leave a place without saying goodbye to anyone. I’m not sure if that’s particularly stereotypical of the French. I’ve only ever known one French person and to be honest, he was always pretty showy when it came to taking his leave, although technically he was French Basque, so he may have deliberately been doing it differently to demonstrate his cultural independence.
I remembered that I had performed a French exit many years ago, when I got bored on a night out and decided to quietly take myself off home, to avoid being peer pressured into going into a Walkabout. I thought little of it at the time, but the next morning was informed that my mates had subsequently spent the best part of an hour frantically searching for me, convinced that I had been carried off by organ traffickers. Perhaps a French exit only works if you first build a reputation for doing them, or if your friends don’t care about you.
I decided to not let that one bad experience cloud my judgement, and earlier this month, I successfully carried out a French exit, slipping out quietly from some after-work drinks. No one seemed to mind and no one came looking for me to make sure I wasn’t having my kidneys harvested by Albanian gangsters. Best of all, it meant I was able to leave promptly and when I wanted, without being held up by anyone eager to tell me all about their Wordle streak, their political opinions, or worse, their kids.
I think I’ll do this more often in future. There will be occasions where a French exit would be inappropriate (like finishing a job interview, or visiting a dying relative in hospital) and I will happily continue to perform a full “cheerio then” ritual for these. But for less formal settings, I think I will now adopt the policy of quickly and quietly slipping away.
What the hell, I might even do it at the end of this arti…
Rating: 7/10.
64: Always book an extra day off after a holiday
Isaac Stronge, freelance football writer
I’ve always done this, especially if it’s a holiday abroad. The mood’s already low when you’ve had a great holiday and it’s come to an end. There’s nothing worse than being sat in an airport thinking about working tomorrow, and praying to avoid a big delay that would mess up your sleeping schedule. I always need that extra day to recover, and it never hurts being able to take the mick out of your mate who forgot to book it off. ALWAYS book the extra day!
Rating: 7/10. It doesn’t make a huge improvement to your life but it definitely makes a difference those couple of times a year!
63: Consider going down to four days a week. It’s likely a disproportionate amount of your fifth day’s work is taxed anyway, so you’ll lose way less than a fifth of your take-home pay
Oli, co-host of Sheff United Way
Lots of companies around the world have started to trial four day weeks and you know what they’ve found? That a four day week works well for both parties. The trials have been a resounding success on virtually every dimension.
With this research in mind I recently took the plunge. I got a new role which offered the opportunity to change from five days down to four and I decided to gamble. And honestly? It’s fantastic. Instead of Saturdays and weekends quickly flying by in a flash of housework and chores I now have a day to breathe. To sleep in a little; to play on my PlayStation. For some people it will be a day free of childcare while the kids are at school. It’s a day for you to relax.
Making the decision is hard, and not everyone can afford the financial hit (although it’s much less than you expect), but even considering condensed hours and working slightly longer from Monday to Thursday to make up the gap, it’ll be worth it in the long run.
Rating: 7/10.
62: Don’t look at your phone at dinner
Des Junior, The Scarf My Father Wore editor
Check your phone now to see how much screen time you have each day. I guarantee you’ll be shocked.
This one’s tricky, because there’s always a temptation to check your messages or emails or social media. But it does you the world of good having a proper break from your phone. I’ve started to do this while I’m having dinner, but there’s also other parts of my day where I make sure my phone’s away – reading a book, exercising etc. Everyone should do it.
Rating: 7/10.
61: Keep a book in your bag to avoid the temptation to doomscroll
Carla Devine, a northerner living in London who follows Barnet and Newcastle United
Amongst all the feelings I had when starting a new job at the end of 2023, I have to say that one of the most notable positives for me was the excitement of being able to read more given I now had to commute each day.
I’ve always enjoyed reading but when searching for jobs, I found the book I had started was collecting dust, as I lacked motivation or any thought to pick it up throughout the day at home. However, with my new job confirmed, the prospect of more reading made the dread of early mornings a lot more manageable.
Without sounding self-righteous, I am one of those people who notice everyone picking up their mobile when the tube goes above ground. However, by the time the train has pulled into the first overground station on my route, I will admit, I often have my own phone out too.
What’s worse, like many others I assume, I’m not catching up on the most important news of the day from across the world. Nor am I even replying to messages from friends that I’ve been putting off for days for no good reason at all. What I’m doing is giving my thumb a workout that it definitely doesn’t need as I scroll through the pages of Twitter, Instagram, even Facebook. I would like to put on record that I am fiercely against the scrolling of TikTok or anything that plays sound on public transport – I’m not a monster!
But I am absolutely guilty of the action commonly referred to as “doomscrolling” and let’s be honest, it rarely lifts anyone’s mood. I find myself getting off the train at the other end thinking how idiotic people can be whilst also wondering if that couple from high school are still together after seeing a deep quote on an Instagram story – things that I can confirm are an absolute waste of time thinking about.
Therefore, as I started my new job, I was determined to put this optimistic excitement to use and pick up the dusty book to read on my commute. In total I have about an hour on the tube every day and tracking my progress on my Goodreads app, I have noticed just how many pages I can get through.
Having now been in the job for a few weeks, I am happy to be the bearer of good news and confirm that reading a book instead of your phone is a great little way to slightly improve your life.
For transparency, that dusty book I picked up wasn’t my favourite read, which may be one of the reasons I hadn’t picked it up for a while. But saying that, it was still better than anything I would’ve read on my phone and now that I've finished it, I’m looking forward to choosing which book to read next out of the collection that I received for Christmas.
If we’re honest, we’re probably all guilty of spending too much time scrolling through social media and reading gloomy news. Reading a book on the tube doesn’t stop you doing that. But, just for an hour a day, it does lift your eyes from the screen and allows you to fuel your hobbies and interests by reading about things you are interested in. As a result of this, your mind continues to expand, even after a long day at work, as it’s pushed by genuine thought and interest. Pick up your book and give it a go.
Part 3, counting down from 60 to 41, will be on The Scarf My Father Wore tomorrow. Click on the subscribe button and you’ll receive it for free in your inbox.
Give your car a lick of paint
Granted, Stockport used to be a little rough around the edges. But the town’s getting a good old lick of paint these days, with fancy new offices, apartments, bars and restaurants springing up. You can’t be driving up and down the A6 in a tatty car with chipped paintwork, so give your car a nice lick of paint too. Colourtone is your go-to company for that. They’ve been servicing the automotive and industrial markets in Cheshire and Greater Manchester for decades, and carry an extensive range of car paint and industrial paints.
Visit colourtone.com for further details.
Photo of the day
Wilmslow Road, Alderley Edge
One of our paid subscribers, Kelvin Briggs, is part of a litter picking group in Alderley Edge. He was at Stotty’s place yesterday morning!
Today in SK
🎬 Cinema
Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. One Life (12A) at 6pm, followed by Priscilla (15) at 8.15pm. Click here for tickets.
🍺 Food and drink
Whether you like it hot or cold, head down to Coffee Block (SK1) to get your matcha fix. 8am - 5.30pm.
The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have a great range of offers throughout the week, including £4.50 for drinks off the Doubles Bar, a comprehensive range of shots for £2, and 3 for £6 on Jägerbombs.
Ignore the “beer police” and support your local pub in January. If you’re in Stockport today, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a pint or two.
Lite bite meal deal at The Friary (SK3). Cod or haddock, served with chips, and a side of peas, curry or gravy. Plus tea or coffee. £9.95. Open till 7.30pm.
🎱 Free pool
The George & Dragon (SK7). 6pm - 9pm.
The Scarf My Father Wore works closely with venues on a daily basis to bring you the most comprehensive guide to all of the best offers and events taking place across the whole SK region. Click on the links below for full details of everything taking place in your area over the next few weeks.
SK1 / SK2 / SK3 / SK4 / SK5 / SK6 / SK7 / SK8 / SK9 / SK10 / SK11 / SK12 / SK13 / SK14 / SK15 / SK16 / SK17 / SK22 / SK23
Random County fan of the day #23 – Luke McNally!
One final thing before you go… if you’re looking to learn to drive in January, or lose a few pounds after Christmas, or even get some work done at home, please contact our fantastic advertisers!
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⚖️ Weight Loss: Slimming World Reddish & Bredbury with Shlean
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