Everyday Hacks FYI
Taming Technology by
Anne Lape
A recent residential move found me face-to-face with the technology in my life and it wasn’t pretty. Staring at a pile of remotes, chargers, a couple of long-unused flip phones and a snake pit of cords that I had no idea which device they belonged to or if they even worked anymore, I was overcome with a need to reduce my technology clutter — fast. First, the good news: you can recycle most of that old stuff. A quick online search will give you the names of local retailers and recyclers who will take old electronics off your hands. Now, how to tame the technology that remains?
Curtailing cords Cords and chargers are the bane of my existence; I think I buy a new one every week because one is broken, lost or an extra is needed for work, school or travel. The challenge is to keep these cords with the devices they belong to and in good working order. That’s how 1-inch binder clips become miracle organizers: • Loop the cord several times around the three middle fingers of your hand. Pinch the loops together in the middle and attach the clip over the cords. Label the clip with the name of the device the cord belongs to. • The same binder clip can hold the charging cord in place while you charge your device. Thread the end of the cord that plugs into the device through the handles of the clip. Attach the clip to the edge of a desk or counter.
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10 • April/May 2016
Hanging charging station Taming my teen’s technology was the next hurdle. A small plastic basket we hung on the wall with adhesive wall hooks near his bed became a charging station. An extension cord runs from a nearby outlet into the basket, allowing my son to charge his phone plus store his earbuds (so I don’t wash them for 20th time), eyeglasses and other necessities.