This was, of course, a very worthwhile use of my time

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I wanted to get out to walk the dog early Friday morning because I had an important 11 am meeting — not a video meeting. Real life. So I got up early enough and shaved. I put in a new blade and noticed how much nicer it was. I go months between changing razor blades, and by the end of that time, it’s like dragging a broken beer bottle across my face.

I thought to myself that I need to change the blade more often. So, after I let the dog in from the backyard to the kitchen, I got out my phone, leaned against the kitchen counter, and I checked on ChatGPT to see how often I should change a Gillette Mach 3 blade, which is the brand I use. ChatGPT said every 5 to 10 shaves. So I set a reminder in Omnifocus, which is the reminders app that I use, to change the blade in two weeks, based on my shaving every other day, which is what I do.

I wanted to set a notification for that reminder because I usually don’t check OmniFocus until midmorning, and a notification would pop up on my phone screen first thing in the morning. That’s how I remind myself of things I need to do first thing in the morning — I set notifications to pop up on my phone home screen, because, like many people, I check my phone as soon as I get up. This may be a bad habit, but I’m not going to worry about that now.

I did not want to set a due date for the OmniFocus task, because you should only set a due date on tasks where there is a real penalty for failure to complete them. I learned that from the GTD productivity system.

I could not figure out how to set a notification for a task in Omnifocus without first setting the due date, and after much tapping around on the Omnifocus iPhone interface, I asked ChatGPT. ChatGPT give me a bullshit answer so I searched the web and that didn’t work so I hunted around on the Omnifocus website for the Omnifocus manual. I was not able to find a way to do what I wanted to do, so I just gave up and used the Due app to set the reminder.

Then I decided to double-check whether ChatGPT had misled me on the number of shaves recommended between blade changes, and sure enough, the Gillette website said that I should change every 15 shaves. It also said that there is a colored strip on that blade itself that fades when it is time to change the blade. I have been using Gillette Mach 3’s for 30+ years and was completely unaware of that. So I stood up from where I was leaning on the kitchen counter tapping my phone, and I went into the bathroom and fished the used razor blade out of the trash, and compared it to the new blade, and confirmed that there was a colored strip on the new blade and that was not present on the old blade. So it turned out I did not need to set a reminder at all.

Then I went out and walked the dog, which is what I had initially set out to do.

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Maybe grow a beard and skip the whole razor thing?

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Like you I tend to shave every other day when I am in a regular cycle. However, there are sporadic times during the year where I don’t shave for a week or two (usually during vacations or summer). I never thought of using an OmniFocus reminder as you did. I just switch the blade out when it starts to feel rough. Sometimes I feel this is the best approach. I don’t need an OF reminder to take the trash out, I just do it when I see its full.

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Sometimes you can overthink things. I don’t let electronics anywhere near simple life tasks like this.

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This is a very good tour of the inside of a rabbit hole.

Katie

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What a fun journey! I cringed a bit at the “every few months” blade change, but I also use a DE razor so I change mine about weekly.

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That strip is pretty accurate too! :slight_smile: Recently switched from Mach3 to Fusion (5) after close to 20 years outside a few months of trying Harry’s, and it seem better?

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+1

But I find myself replacing blades more often as I get older. I suspect a man’s beard gets tougher when his head doesn’t have to grow hair on top.

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I usually use Due for “life tasks” like this. Easy to snooze and does not clutter my task manager.

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I eliminated this problem long ago. I use an electric razor. Only needs charged once a week and I only need to purchase a new shaving head once every few years. I have a relatively light beard.

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You forgot to mention that your dog was very frustrated and probably talked to you a lot while you did your research.

At least that happens for me every now and then, when “I just want to check some things out, I’ll be ready in a minute” before taking him for a well deserved pee and poo pause. :joy::see_no_evil:

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This is the way.

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My beard looks terrible. Uneven, patchy, doesn’t cover my chin.

I always feel like I can get one more shave out of a dull blade before I change it out. And then I scrape up my face.

I use Due (rather than OmniFocus) for all kinds of routine reminders. Change the dog’s water and police the yard daily. Take the trash to the curb Tuesday evenings. And so on.

My beard is both light and tough. Worst of both worlds!

The dog and I have been together 12 years. She knows I am easily distracted. She just sighs (“oh no not this again”) and curls up on the daybed until I’m ready to go (“FINALLY!”).

@FTLFTR You prefer the Fusion (5) to the Mach3?

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There needs to be a “Hall of Fame“ for the best Mac Power Users forum articles.

This thread definitely ranks among one of the top funniest threads I’ve ever read here.

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I have a pretty sweet beard. Just wanted to throw that out there.

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It seems a little better, but might be me convincing myself of that? I needed a new handle so went with it.

I see some mentioned electric, I have tried quite a few over the years and I never feel like it gets close enough. I have very light growth but also hate any facial hair and after a shave it never felt right.

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I went to a safety razor about 5 years ago because I couldn’t get over the prices of the blades. I went with a Merkur for I don’t know - $30 and I buy packs of 100 blades for like $14 CAD.

I also switched to a brush and actual soaps and creams instead of the economy spray foam insulation from Gillette. Been very happy.

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I find it interesting that ChatGPT recommended more frequent replacement than the company that makes money selling you the blades.

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ChatGPT probably ran a quick market analysis, realised the potential, bought Gillette stocks and then made it’s recommendation :slightly_smiling_face:

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Thanks you guys! I’m an old lady and they say laughing a lot is good for you, but sometimes it’s hard to find something to laugh about!
:joy:

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