u/OriginalNerrya

Experiment Log: PC Memos vs Physical Notebook (3 Weeks)

Objective:

Test whether writing notes in a physical notebook improves memory/recall compared to keeping everything in PC memos

Context:

I’ve used PC memos for years because they’re convenient, searchable, and always open somewhere on my desktop. Problem is: I also completely forget they exist once minimized

Decided to test switching important notes/tasks to a physical notebook to see if I’d actually remember things better

Protocol:

- Week 1: PC memos only (baseline)

- Week 2: physical notebook only

- Week 3: mixed usage

- Tracked: forgotten tasks, note recall, frequency of checking notes, general mental organization

Results:

Week 1 (PC memos):

Fast and convenient. Easy to dump thoughts instantly

Main issue remains unchanged: “out of sight, out of existence.” Would write something down, minimize it, and mentally erase it from reality

Also accumulated a disturbing amount of tiny unfinished reminder windows

Week 2 (physical notebook):

Slower, but noticeably more intentional

Remembered things better simply because writing them by hand forced me to process them for an extra second

Unexpected downside: notebook created a false sense of organization. Writing something down felt productive even if I never acted on it

Also spent an unreasonable amount of time trying to make the notebook look neat

Week 3 (mixed):

Best results overall

PC memos better for fast temporary information

Notebook better for things I genuinely need to remember or prioritize

Physical presence of the notebook helped a lot. Harder to ignore an object sitting on the desk compared to a minimized window hiding behind 14 tabs

Conclusion:

Notebook improved recall more than expected, mostly because it forced more active engagement with the information

PC memos are better for speed

Notebook is better for memory

Neither system prevents me from writing down tasks and then emotionally avoiding them

Notes:

- n=1

- Recall measured informally

- Personal habits heavily influence outcome

Unexpected side effect:

Became weirdly attached to crossing things out physically. Tiny dopamine reward system activated

Next:

Possibly testing a hybrid system long-term instead of trying to force one method for everything

If anyone else switched from digital notes to physical notebooks (or the opposite), curious which one actually stuck long-term for you

Experiment Log: Replacing Tap Water with Filtered Water (1 Year)

Objective:

See whether switching from regular tap water to filtered water makes any noticeable difference long-term

Context:

About a year ago I switched almost completely from tap water to filtered water. Not because of a dramatic health scare or anything, I just kept hearing people talk about taste differences, skin improvements, “cleaner” water, etc. Eventually curiosity won

Protocol:

- Main drinking source switched from tap to filtered water

- No intentional increase in total water intake

- Same general diet/lifestyle during the year

- Duration: ~12 months

- Tracked casually over time: taste preference, water intake, skin, digestion, overall quality-of-life differences

Results:

Month 1:

Immediate difference in taste. Tap water suddenly tasted much harsher once I got used to filtered water

Also noticed I was naturally drinking more water because it tasted better. Not dramatically more, just less resistance to drinking it

Month 2–3:

Started preferring filtered water to the point where tap water felt “wrong.” Hard to describe scientifically, but noticeable

No major physical changes at this stage. Skin, energy, digestion all mostly the same

Month 4–6:

Water intake consistently higher than before without actively trying

One unexpected side effect: became annoyingly sensitive to different water sources. Could suddenly tell when water tasted metallic, chlorinated, or “flat”

Month 7–9:

At this point filtered water became baseline. Any non-filtered water immediately noticeable

Still no dramatic life-changing health effects. No magical glow-up. Mostly quality-of-life differences rather than physical transformation

Month 10–12:

Biggest lasting change is behavioral. I drink water more consistently because I actually enjoy it now

Also realized a lot of the “benefits” probably came from increased hydration itself rather than the filter specifically

Conclusion:

Switching to filtered water did not turn me into a new person, but it noticeably improved how much I enjoy drinking water, which indirectly improved hydration habits overall

Main measurable outcome wasn’t health, it was compliance. I simply drink more water now because it tastes better

Notes:

- n=1

- Long-term observational experiment, not tightly controlled

- Possible placebo effect

- Regional tap water quality likely matters a lot

Unexpected side effect:

I became one of those people who can identify “bad water” immediately, which is both annoying and embarrassing

Next:

Possibly test mineral water vs filtered water or different filter systems long-term

If anyone else switched long-term, curious whether you noticed actual physical differences or mostly taste/hydration habit changes like I did

This one’s a bit more casual, but I switched to WASD movement in League.

Experiment Log: WASD vs Point-and-Click (6 Sessions)

Objective:

See if switching to WASD movement actually changes anything or if it’s just a different way to play.

Context:

Most of the games I play use WASD, so it already feels natural to me. Decided to switch in League for consistency across games.

Protocol:

• Sessions 1–3: WASD movement

• Sessions 4–6: continued WASD (no switching back)

• Same role/champions as much as possible

• Tracked: CS, positioning, control, frustration

Results:

Sessions 1–2:

Still rough at the start, but less shocking than expected since WASD already feels familiar.

CS dropped a bit. Positioning inconsistent. Mostly struggling with combining movement and ability usage.

Sessions 3–4:

Adjustment phase. Movement started feeling more intentional.

Less hesitation, fewer random missteps, but still slower than my old playstyle.

Sessions 5–6:

More comfortable overall. Movement felt controlled, especially in tighter situations.

Still not as smooth as point-and-click, but no longer actively fighting the controls.

Conclusion:

WASD makes sense if you already use it in other games. It didn’t instantly improve performance, but it started to feel more natural over time.

Notes:

• n=1

• Prior WASD experience helped with adaptation

• Short test period for a full control switch

Next:

Keep using WASD longer to see if it fully replaces point-and-click efficiency.

If anyone else has made this switch, curious if it eventually becomes equal or better long-term.

Experiment Log: Cheap Gaming Chair vs Normal Office Chair (10 Days)

Objective:

Test whether a cheap gaming chair performs better than a standard office chair or just looks like it should

Context:

Switched from a normal office chair to a budget gaming chair. Same desk, same hours, same suffering

Protocol:

- Days 1–5: cheap gaming chair

- Days 6–10: normal office chair

- Same sitting time (~6–8 hours/day)

- Tracked: comfort, back pain, posture, how often I needed to adjust

Results:

Days 1–2 (gaming chair):

Feels impressive at first. High back, “support,” looks like I should be productive. Slight improvement in posture just from sitting more upright

Days 3–5:

Reality sets in. Cushion feels stiff. Lumbar support is aggressive but not necessarily helpful. Found myself adjusting constantly trying to get comfortable

Days 6–7 (office chair):

Immediate relief. Less structured, but more forgiving. Easier to sit normally without feeling like I’m being positioned

Days 8–10:

Consistent comfort. Not perfect posture, but less pressure points. Overall less awareness of the chair, which feels like a good sign

Conclusion:

Cheap gaming chair = looks supportive but feels rigid and over-engineered

Normal office chair = less dramatic, but more comfortable for long periods

Notes:

- n=1

- Gaming chair was budget tier

- Office chair was basic but not broken

- Aesthetics vs actual comfort clearly different

Next:

Test higher-quality gaming chair vs office chair to see if the result changes

If anyone has invested in an expensive gaming chair, curious if it actually fixes these issues or if it’s the same experience with better branding

Experiment Log: Switching to Zero Coke (~2 Weeks, intermittent)

Objective:

Test whether switching from regular soda to zero version changes anything beyond calories

Context:

I don’t drink soda daily, only when I order food (roughly every 3ish days). Switched to zero version without changing frequency

Protocol:

- Replace all regular soda with zero version

- Same ordering habits (~every 3 days)

- No other diet changes

- Duration: ~2 weeks (multiple exposures)

- Tracked: taste satisfaction, cravings, energy, any noticeable differences

Results:

Trial 1–2:

Immediate awareness that something is different. Not bad, just… off. Slight aftertaste

Also noticeably sweeter than expected, which made me drink it slower and not always finish it

Trial 3–4:

Adjustment phase. Difference less noticeable, but still on the sweeter side. Continued drinking it slower than regular

Trial 5+:

Normalized. Taste accepted, but still feels sweeter than regular. Intake naturally a bit lower because of that

Conclusion:

Switching to zero is mostly a taste adjustment across repeated exposures. Unexpectedly, the extra sweetness made me drink it more slowly and sometimes less overall

Notes:

- n=1

- Intermittent exposure rather than daily use

- Taste perception likely subjective

Next:

Test whether switching back to regular feels different after this

If anyone else only drinks soda occasionally and has tried this, curious if you noticed changes in how much you drink per order

Experiment Log: Scar Tape on Smile Lines (7 Days)

Objective:

Test whether using scar tape on smile lines produces any visible change over a short period

Context:

Saw claims that silicone scar tape can help smooth lines. Decided to test it on smile lines instead of actual scars

Protocol:

- Apply scar tape to smile lines daily (primarily overnight)

- No other changes to skincare routine

- Duration: 7 days

- Tracked: visual change, skin texture, overall difference

Results:

Day 1–2:

Skin looked slightly smoother immediately after removal. Effect faded within a few hours

Day 3–4:

Same pattern. Temporary smoothing, no lasting change

Day 5–6:

Started questioning if I was just rehydrating the area overnight rather than actually changing anything

Day 7:

No noticeable long-term difference compared to baseline

Side effect:

If I slept on them weirdly, the tape would crease and I’d wake up with new temporary lines in completely different places. So effectively trading one set of lines for another

Conclusion:

Scar tape creates a short-term smoothing effect, likely from hydration/occlusion, but no visible lasting change in smile lines over 7 days

Notes:

- n=1

- Short duration

- Application consistency may affect results

Next:

Test longer duration or compare with dedicated skincare products targeting the same area

If anyone has tried this longer-term or has data on silicone tape for non-scar use, curious if results improve or stay temporary

Experiment Log: “Wearing Dr. Martens All Day Without Breaking Them In” (1 trial)

Objective:

Test whether breaking in Dr. Martens is actually necessary or just a myth people exaggerate

Context:

Bought new Dr. Martens. Looked durable. Felt solid. Decided to trust appearance over collective human warnings

Protocol:

- Wear brand new Dr. Martens for a full workday

- No backup shoes

- Normal walking volume (\~8–10k steps)

Results:

First 2 hours: completely fine. Confidence increased. Began questioning why people complain about this

Hour 4: slight discomfort. Ignored

Hour 6: noticeable friction. Still ignored

End of day: consequences fully realized. Blisters formed. Walking became a calculated activity

Removing the shoes felt like escaping a situation

Conclusion:

Breaking in Dr. Martens is not optional. It is a mandatory process that I chose to ignore

Notes:

- n=1

- Overconfidence was a major variable

- No contingency plan

- Warnings from society were accurate

Next:

Gradual wear before committing to full-day use

If anyone else has gone through the Dr. Martens initiation process, please share your experience