Make It Last
All good stuff must come to an end? Not if we have a say. Here's how to preserve 32 of your favorite things, with mummy-like results
By Bill Stump
In my fathers' day, stuff lasted forever. Back then, men had one job, one wife, one house—and the Yankees never lost.
Today, nothing lasts. We have to change jobs (and cities) to get ahead. Our buddies trade in wives like three-year-old sedans. And though the Yankees are still winning, they're talking about moving—to Jersey, God help them.
What we all need are a few things to count on. But if you want to make something last, you've got to act now. Fortunately, we're with you on this. We talked to dozens of experts and found the simplest ways to prolong the life of nearly everything you have. Not just practical possessions, like your gas grill, but irreplaceable items too, like your lungs, andyour surging libido. Here are the best ways to get the most out of...
A WATCH BATTERY
Pull out the setting knob on your watch when you're not wearing it for a few days. This will disengage the battery, easily tripling its life span.
A WALLET
Nearly all the abuse your wallet takes comes from serving as a one-sided seat cushion. Keep yours in your briefcase or an inside breast pocket of a jacket and you can double its life, especially if you wear jeans every day. Denim is to leather as rocks are to scissors.
YOUR COLOGNE
If you want it to last past lunch, do more than slap it on your mug. Apply it on your chest, forearms, and neck, too. (You can put it on your slacks and shirt, but test it first on a small patch of material to make sure it doesn't stain.) One other thing: Moisturize. Dry skin does a poor job of retaining fragrances.
MUSCLE
Men naturally lose muscle as they age. But, surprisingly, the key to hanging on to what you have is doing less, not more. Taking adequate time for recovery is more important as you reach 40 and beyond, experts say. Instead of taking one day off between gym sessions, you may need two. That will help your muscles repair themselves and stay strong. Too much work and you'll just continue to tear down muscle fibers.
A PAINT JOB
Use a primer coat. Your paint will go on easier, and it will be less likely to fade and chip, says Bill Sullivan, a professional painter in Alexandria, Virginia. Another pro tip: Ask the paint store to tint your primer the same shade you intend to use for the paint. That way you can see how "seafoam green" looks in the dining room without committing to using that color and spending future mealtimes fighting nausea.
SEX
If you tend to shoot first and ask questions later—like "Why does this always happen to me?" Jon L. Pryor, MD, director of the center for men's health and infertility at the University of Minnesota, has one answer. A recent study showed that 73 percent of men who suffered from premature ejaculation either were cured or improved after taking 20 milligrams of Prozac a day for a week and 40 mg thereafter. Ask your doctor about it.
YOUR TREADMILL
Buy a new pair of running shoes and use them exclusively for your treadmill workouts, says Adam Bean, former managing editor of Runner's World magazine. Having a dedicated indoor pair will keep you from tracking dirt and grime onto the belt, which then takes it right into the engine.
YOUR TEETH
Your best ally in making your teeth last may be your tongue. Of all people, an Englishman is developing a toothbrush that attaches to the tip of the tongue by suction. It allows the user to get into hard-to-reach spaces that a brush can't. Good idea; your countrymen need you.
» Guy Wisdom archive
Men's Health Philippines - October 2005 Issue
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YOUR HAIR
From rap groups to aging businessmen, more guys are dyeing and highlighting their hair. But this can lead to a shiny bald head, says Zoe Draelos, MD, a dermatologist at the Wake Forest University school of medicine in the US.
The key to dyeing your hair safely? "Stay away from products that lighten more than three shades." This weakens hair shafts. Most important, never dye and perm your hair on the same day, and always leave at least 10 days between these procedures, Dr. Draelos says.
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