I Have The Clapper

I own The Clapper. Yes, that device they sell on TV with the catchy song. I finally received it for Christmas this year after asking for it nearly every single day for the past 10 years.  I wanted The Clapper because I don't like turning out the lights until I'm perfectly in bed.  Silly, idiosyncratic, ridiculous - yes, yes, and yes.  And though I have a nice bedside lamp, I really like the lamp that is across the room as well.  It gives off such a warm glow.  With The Clapper, I can turn off the lamp from the other side of the room.

This small, silly, relatively inexpensive device has already brought me tremendous levels of happiness and has helped me with two of my habits.  First, I'm trying to turn the lights out by 10pm.  Clapping my hands to turn off the lights amuses me; it still hasn't gotten old.  And so at 10pm I put down my book (or laptop - but I really try to not let my laptop or other electronics go into our bedroom) and I clap my hands, laugh to myself, and go to bed.  Second, I've been waking up at 6am in the mornings to go to bootcamp.  I'm a bit grouchy when my alarm goes off and I always consider skipping class (prepaying has definitely provided some motivation).  The second I hear my alarm, I clap my hands and the lamp across the room goes on.  While I still linger in bed for a few more moments, it is easier to get out of bed when the lights are already on.

I realize that The Clapper is not a necessity, which is probably why I always asked for it as a gift and never purchased it myself.  And I most likely would succeed in my habits without this made-for-TV gem.  But The Clapper amuses me and makes chores (like getting out of bed at 6am) a bit easier. 

Do you have something ridiculous or silly that helps you?