Random Thoughts

I was just on Reddit looking through some links when I came across TNW’s post about a “‘frighteningly ambitious’ way to improve email”.

Save for the dramatic headline, you see posts about improving email management all the time. Indeed, the writer was inspired by Paul Graham’s list of startup ideas, so attempting to change email is certainly not new. But why do we keep seeing these posts go up? Is there still no solution to an overflowing inbox?

In my opinion, there already is. It’s not ideal, and I believe there eventually needs to be a replacement to email with ambitions the size of ill-fated Google Wave. But let me return to the TNW article first.

Inbox Pro

TNW’s proposed solution is not ideal, in my opinion. You can read the description in the article, but in short “Inbox Pro” (the name of the suggested solution) seeks to “bring structure to email” by sending out more email. Whenever an email is received by person A from person B, Inbox Pro sends person B an email back asking them to categorize what kind of email it is – does it require a long or short response? The email also includes stats on how quickly person A usually responds to emails of different types. After a certain date, another email is sent if person A still hasn’t responded to you, rubbing in the fact that you’re not going to get a response and your email isn’t important enough. That person can then choose more options on how to bug person A, again by replying to the email.

To me, this causes more problems than it fixes. If you are the only person using this system, it’s great: you’re essentially getting other people to organize your email for you. That sounds like a sweet deal, but how many people will actually respond to these ques? If I got such an email from somebody right after I sent it to them, I would be very unlikely to respond. It’s not my job to organize your email because you don’t want to.

Additionally, this system doesn’t actually solve the key problem of too much email, it only shifts the burden from the recipient to the sender. To me, that doesn’t really seem like a fix. True, people who send the most email will now be penalized, but the total amount of work spend on email hasn’t decreased.

Inbox Zero

In my opinion, the best current alternative – Inbox Zero – works just fine if implemented correctly. The majority of those who have tried inbox zero and decided it does not work seem to describe it as a to-do list more than as an inbox management system. Indeed, the Inbox Pro site describes it as “[spending] the evening answering mail to finally reach Inbox Zero”; a high-profile article in the New Yorker specifically says it “treats my inbox like a to-do list”. I think that this approach is misguided, however. The original inbox zero methodology wasn’t to treat it as a to-do list, but rather to choose from one of five actions: delete, delegate, respond, defer, or do. Notice, do is last in that list.[1]

There are 4 other actions before ‘doing’, three of which handle the email so that you don’t have to deal with it again. Why don’t people utilize them more often before jumping to the last one? It’s much easier to archive/delete an email than trying to respond to it, so you’d think people would use it the most. Not so, apparently.

The Real Problem

I believe that the real problem in email isn’t that we can’t get control of it, but rather that we are unwilling to make quick decisions based on it. There’s nothing inherently ominous about email. What scares us is the amount of time and effort making a decision on each email requires. When we let our inbox overflow, we’re really just procrastinating (which never helps). Eventually, we’re going to have to handle important issues raised through email.

The counter-argument to this is that not all email is urgent/important and much of it doesn’t warrant a response.[2] This is absolutely true, but pose yourself this question: how long does that decision take to make? In other words, how quickly can you ascertain if a specific email in your inbox merits a response or not? For me, it is usually 1-2 seconds. Remember, I’m no talking about actually responding or doing anything at this point; I’m simply categorizing email as important vs. unimportant. In fact, many of us are already utilizing this: Google’s Priority Inbox and Apple’s VIP Mailbox both try to make this decision for you algorithmically.

But does categorizing email really take an “entire evening”? It shouldn’t, unless you’re getting thousands of emails per day (if so, unsubscribe from those newsletters; it rarely takes more than 10 seconds). E-mails that require action are eventually going to take your attention away anyway, because someone will either call you about the issue or contact you in other ways. E-mail that isn’t important can be taken care of in literally seconds, and it will never bother you again.

E-mail is unique from other avenues of contact in the sense that the recipient gets to decide on when the reply – a call or in-person meeting doesn’t afford this kind of flexibility because the sender is deciding when they interrupt your work. Why would you let someone interrupt you and take away at least half an hour from your usable time when they are giving you the opportunity to respond to them at your convenience?

 

• [1] In fact, Merlin Mann specifically tells you not to treat your inbox as a to-do list in the original video.
• [2] With email filters and a bit of effort, you can reduce the number of these that actually reach you by a substantial amount before even processing anything.

Quick Summary: You should brush your teeth twice and floss once every day. Search for ADA Seal of Acceptance on dental care products. Mouth wash does not replace brushing and daily usage is not recommended.

Yesterday, as I was brushing my teeth and aimlessly morning-dreaming about the day that lay ahead of me, I realized that I knew shockingly little about dental hygiene. Of course, I was instructed like most others to brush my teeth in the morning and evening by my parents, and told that flossing was probably good too, but I realized that my knowledge was more empirical than scientific.  This needed changing, so let’s get right into it.

1. Brushing your Teeth

You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, according to most experts. As with most health concerns, you’re better off asking your personal dentist if you’d benefit from more frequent brushing. Toothbrushes and toothpaste has become commonplace these days, but with such selection in both areas, how can you pick?

Toothbrush Selection

When selecting your toothbrush, there are surprisingly quite a few specifics you must consider.

Bristle Softness: Almost every article I read emphasized the importance of buying a soft-bristled brush, since it is most effective at removing plaque and debris from your teeth. [1,2,3] Additionally, hard bristles can result in gum bleeding [1] and are generally worse at cleaning your mouth than their soft-bristled cousins.

Head Size: Another point of concern is the size of the head of the toothbrush, the part of the brush that is doing the actual cleaning. The main issue here is to match the size of the brush to the size of your mouth; if you have a smaller mouth, you probably shouldn’t go for a larger head size. [1,3] In fact, ImmediaDent even encourages purchasing children’s brushes for abnormally small mouths.

Handle Designs: Although not crucial specifically to your teeth, a bad handle can really ruin your technique. Try selecting a handle that just feels right in your hand; this is more of a personal choice than a definite science. [1,2]

ADA-recommended: Even though most toothbrushes today have the ADA Seal of Acceptance, it’s still a good idea to check and make sure that your selection has it as well. The American Dental Association has definite guidelines before they slap their seal on a toothbrush, requiring manufacturers to use safe components for use in the mouth and maintain quality standards for bristles. [4]

Electric Brushes: Recently to enter the field are powered toothbrushes that take much of the manual work out of tooth brushing. Both manual and powered toothbrushes are capable of cleaning your teeth well. Electric brushes are recommended for people struggling with their manual toothbrush or that have physical ailments that prevent them from using a traditional toothbrush effectively. Again, this selection is based more on personal preference. [3,4]

Replacement: Most of us are aware of the 3-month suggested lifetime for a toothbrush [2], but I’ve never been too successful at keeping to that schedule. Basically, if you notice bristles that are not as rigid or straight as they used to be, it’s a good idea to change the toothbrush out. [3] Colgate also recommends changing after recovering from a cold, since “bristles can collect germs that can lead to reinfection.”

Technique: The way you brush your teeth is more important than what toothpaste or toothbrush you’re using. This is an often-overlooked area that I myself learned the most about, since most of the other suggestions are largely common sense. About.com has an excellent slideshow on technique with images, summarized below: (The ADA has a similar recommendation in this pdf)

1. Start in the back, moving clockwise in a circular pattern with the brush at 45 degrees.
2. Roll the brush away from the gumline on the outside and inside, ending on the opposite side that you started on. Repeat on your lower molars.
3. Flick your toothbrush from the inside front teeth out, both on the upper and lower molars.
4. Brush the biting surface of your teeth, starting with your upper molars. Use a circular motion.
5. Brush your tongue and inside if your cheeks.

What surprised me was the optional flicking of the toothbrush on your front teeth as well as the suggested length of brushing your tongue and cheeks: 30 seconds. I almost never brush my tongue and I don’t think I’ve ever even tried to brush my cheeks.

You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and evening after meals. [4]

Toothpaste selection

The answer to the selection of toothpaste is actually fairly simple. With the variation in price and manufacturer claims, you’d think that there are wide differences between the effectiveness of individual toothpaste options. But the fact is that most toothpastes perform the same, regardless of what is on the package. [5]

General Suggestions: In general, as long as your toothpaste contains fluorine, you should be fine. The ADA seal is a good sign as well, since the ADA has guidelines on safety and effectiveness for toothpastes (as it does with toothbrushes). [6] If you want to whiten your teeth while you brush them, look for carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide.

Check the Further Reading section if you have special needs concerns about sensitive teeth, tartar control, abrasiveness, or dentures.

2. Flossing

Flossing and brushing your teeth go hand-in-hand. It makes no difference if you brush first or floss first, as long as you remove the plaque everything is A-ok. The ADA suggests that flossing before may make it easier for fluorine to reach the area between your teeth. [9] Anyway, much as with toothpaste, your specific brand/type of dental floss doesn’t really matter.  In fact, “results from a recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology showed that there was no difference in the plaque-removing ability of four different types of flossing products.” [7]

General Suggesions: Here, your choice will depend upon personal preference. As with other dental hygienics, you should look for the ADA seal of approval to ensure safety and effectiveness whichever type of dental floss you select. There are a few different types of flosses:

1. Electric Floss - This selection makes the most sense for people who have difficulty with traditional flossing techniques, such as older adults.
2. Conventional Dental Floss - This is the most common flossing type, where you purchase a string wound up in a small box. “If you decide to use regular dental floss, tear off a piece at least 18 inches long and wind it around your two index fingers. Hold the floss tightly between your index fingers and thumbs and guide the floss softly in between your teeth.” [10]
3. Dental Flosser - This is basically like a toothbrush with a string instead of bristles. Same effectiveness as conventional dental floss, but may be easier to use for some people.

Although flossing technique is does not need as much explanation as brushing, it’s still crucially important you get it right. See a detailed description with images at About.com.

You should floss at least once a day. Usually, people floss before going to sleep. [9]

3. Mouth Wash

From what I’ve read about mouth washes, there’s not really a consensus about when you should use mouth wash or if it should be a part of your dental hygiene at all. Although mouth wash does not pose health risks [11], its effectiveness is questionable. Strictly speaking about its ability to increase your dental health, mouth wash is nowhere near as good as flossing or brushing. [13] You should speak with your individual dental care provider if you could benefit from using mouthwash daily. [14]

Unlike with flossing or brushing, the ADA does not recommend a specific number of times per day that you should use a mouth wash. [13]

Further Reading

ADA Resources: The American Dental Association’s website is very clear and well-designed for all dental hygiene concerns: Toothbrushes, Toothpastes, Floss, and Mouthwash.

About.com Dental Product Selection has many suggestions and facts about choosing all kinds of things dental-related.

Toothpaste Selection: if you have special needs, an article over at Delta Dental describes considerations you should take when selecting toothpaste.

References

[1] 1-800 Dentist: How to Pick a Toothbrush

[2] Colgate: Choosing the Right Toothbrush

[3] ImmediaDent: How to Pick a Toothbrush

[4] ADA: Toothbrushes

[5] Straight Dope: What’s the best toothpaste?

[6] Better Homes & Gardens: Choosing a Toothpaste

[7] About.com: How to Brush Your Teeth- Step By Step Instructions

[8] Oral-B: Choosing the best dental floss for you

[9] ADA: Floss & Other Interdental Cleaners

[10] About.com: Tips for Choosing the right Dental Products

[11] Wikipedia: Health Risks of Mouthwash

[12] Know Your Teeth: What are Mouth Rinses?

[13] ADA: Mouthrinses

[14] MSN: Open Wide: Your Oral Hygiene

Quick Summary: As long as your urine is colorless or a very light yellow, you’re probably drinking enough water.

I’ve wondered many times how much water I should be drinking, especially because I’ve heard many people say that drinking more is healthy. I’ve also heard about water intoxication, although that always seemed a little exaggerated to me. What’s the real story behind water, and how much should you be drinking on a daily basis? The real answer is not what I expected at all.

Average Daily Water Intake

We’ve all heard the classic “eight 8-ounce glasses every day” suggestion, but the simple truth is that this isn’t true. Every persons’ water intake is different and 64 ounces is below the Institute of Medicine’s estimates even for pre-teens, let alone adults. There isn’t a single number that can take into account all of the variables for each person; there are many factors that make your daily consumption different from your co-worker’s.

When I was trying research all of these factors, I was imagining writing an article describing each one, figuring out how it would contribute to everyone’s personal intake. However, I feel like trying to track all of these different variables every day and adjusting your drinking habits accordingly would take too much time and would ultimately end up in a failed attempt at drinking the right amount. About.com has a calculator that is supposed to take into account many of these variables, but as I was going through the questionnaire myself, I saw multiple factors in the prediction that could change every month or even every week. Certainly, I’m not going to be re-doing the quiz that frequently just to find out how much I need to drink.

So I set out to find a factor that could simplify the process. That factor exists, and it’s your urine color. [1,2,3,4] MayoClinic sums up the whole topic in one sentence:

Generally if you drink enough fluid so that you rarely feel thirsty and produce 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) or more of colorless or light yellow urine a day, your fluid intake is probably adequate.

The main problem is that this form of water regulation is more reactive than it is proactive: if you find out that your urine is not the right color, you know you should drink more water, but it’s already too late for that period of time. Overall, you should monitor the color each time you visit the restroom and adjust accordingly. With time, you’ll be able to know how much fluid you need to drink based on your efforts.

It’s important to at least mention that some factors, such as heavy exercise and pregnancy, will alter your intake where you might want to drink more or at different times than you normally would. The Further Reading section has some websites that contain suggestions. And about that water intoxication – all of the articles that I read made it clear that this isn’t much of a possibility unless you’re in a water drinking contest. Your body is able to process plenty of water without a hitch.

Further Reading

Factors that influence water needs: MayoClinic | health24

References

[1] MayoClinic: “Water: How much should you drink every day?”

[2] “How Much Water Should I Drink?”

[3] ScienceDaily: How Much Water Should You Drink? It Depends

[4] WebMD: Drinking Enough Water