5 Tech Resolutions to Tackle in 2021

Welcome to Product Support, a column devoted to helping you get the most out of the gadgets and software you already use.

A new year is a great time to start doing some things you know, deep down, that you should already be doing. Best of luck on attempts to run everyday or do 1,o00 pullups, but if you need a rest there are some very important cyber-resolutions you can — and should — do from the comfort of your couch.

Back up all your files

Gear Patrol

Are you backing up your important files. Your entire phone? Your entire computer? You should be. Devices get lost, drives fail. Everything that’s important to you should exist in two different places, minimum. Even the photos and files that feel so safe up in the cloud are in danger of being lost forever if you somehow lose access to your account. Set some time aside this year to take an index of your important files and double or triple them. Here’s where to start

LEARN MORE

Start using a password manager

LastPass

You’re going to have to have about 2,239,403,048 passwords and they should all be unique and strong. There’s no two ways about it. That’s where password managers come in, collecting all your passwords into one protected database, automatically filling them in when you’re logging into applications, and helping you make sure each is strong and unique. Make no mistake: getting started with a password manager is a Project that will require a lot of manual labor from you in terms of logging and changing your passwords. But the trouble it will save you down the line is so so so so so worth it.

LEARN MORE

Spend less time on your phone

digital hygiene apps gear patrol lead full

Google

If you’re spending a lot of time at home, it can prove more challenging than you’d expect to avoid sinking into your phone for hours at a time. The trick is to take some small but concerted measures to make the easy easy slide just a little more difficult. Here’s where you can start.

LEARN MORE

Get your email under control

Gmail

Inbox zero might be an unrealistic goal, but odds are you could be reigning in your inbox a little better than you currently are. A few little tricks like using filter settings and pre-written responses can go a long way to helping you reclaim a little of the time you normally spend in your inbox

LEARN MORE

Make your old laptop feel like new again

Chandler Bondurant

Every laptop eventually gets a little too geriatric to keep up with modern day tasks, but long before that happens it will probably get so packed with cybercruft that you’ll think that day has come years early than it already has. Take some time this year to do a deep clean: defragment the hard drive, remove the apps you’re not using anymore, maybe even reinstall the whole operating system. Yes, it takes a little cyber-elbow grease but there’s no time like the present.

LEARN MORE

Editor’s Picks: Best Deals Today

Herman Miller Sayl Chair

Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set

$21 OFF (15%)

These cotton percale sheets boast a 270 thread count and always stay cool — perfect for hot sleepers. Brooklinen is one of our go-to’s for linens, especially at 15 percent off.

READ ABOUT THE BEST SHEETS OF 2021

Wolf Roadster Watch Winder

$546 OFF (58%)

An elegant addition to your office, lounge, or bedroom, this watch winder keeps your automatic watches powered with up to 1,200 turns per day and three different rotational directions.

READ ABOUT HOW TO BE A WATCH GUY

Our Place Always Pan

$29 OFF W/ CODE BYE2020 (20%)

The internet’s favorite pan features a modular design that includes a detachable wooden spatula, domed lid and a nesting steamer tray. This thing can cook anything you want, from sauces to omelets.

READ OUR REVIEW OF THE ALWAYS PAN

Steelcase Gesture Chair

$138 OFF (14%)

This chair changed the game when it comes to doing office furniture right, marking a shift from stuffy, stiff pieces to comfortable furniture a human would actually want to use.

Levi’s Type III Sherpa Trucker Jacket

stagprovisions.com

$28 OFF (22%)

Levi’s Premium line takes some of the brand’s most classic silhouettes and re-ups them with some of the best materials and updated fits. We love this dark take on the type III sherpa.

READ ABOUT THE BEST STYLE DROPS OF 2020

Ray-Ban 51mm Hexagonal Flat Lens Sunglasses

Burrow Arch Nomad Leather King Sectional

$300 OFF W/ CODE RENEW3 (9%)

Top-grain leather and three seats plus a chaise lounge make this couch very hard to get up from. In a time where leaving your house is rare, a Burrow couch will make spending time at home that much better.

READ MORE ABOUT THE BURROW SALE

Yeti Rambler 14 oz Mug with Standard Lid

$6 OFF (24%)

Yeti mugs are some of our favorites and any time one goes on sale, we jump on it because they usually end up selling out fast. This mug might be perfect.

READ ABOUT THE BEST TRAVEL MUGS

Adidas Stan Smith Vegan

AeroGarden Harvest

$50 OFF W/ CODE FRESH20 (33%)

Whether you want to move some of your most frequently used herbs indoors or don’t have space outside for a garden, the AeroGarden Harvest is a perfect solution, with clearance for up to a foot of growth and room for 6 plants that grow five times faster than soil.

READ ABOUT THE BEST HOME PRODUCTS OF 2020

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable with Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge

$45 OFF W/ CODE CLEARANCE (10%)

This turntable hones in on enhanced basics rather than expensive features, making a product that is simple and effective, allowing you to get the most out of your modern and vinyl records.

READ ABOUT THE BEST VINYL SETUPS

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Bialetti Moka Express Espresso Maker

$10 OFF (29%)

The standard when it comes to stovetop espresso makers, the Bialetti Moka pot has been a staple in Italian cafes and bars for decades. If you want the strength and concentration of espresso but don’t want an expensive machine, this is what you need.

READ ABOUT THE BEST COFFEE GRINDERS OF 2021

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Seiko 5 Automatic Watch

Seiko amazon.com

$109 OFF (31%)

Automatic movement, day/date, protected crown, and a nearly indestructible case? This watch ticks all the boxes. It even has a see-through case back to see the movement at work.

READ ABOUT THE BEST WATCHES UNDER $5,000

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Asics Runners Mask

$12 OFF (30%)

Finding a good mask to run in can be difficult — gaiters can fall down and most masks are too warm once you get going. Asics has solved the problem, making a mask with excellent ventilation and straps while still protecting you and others from respiratory droplets.

READ ABOUT THE BEST MASKS FOR RUNNING

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Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Compact Vest

gearpatrol.me

$20 OFF (40%)

Uniqlo always brings the hits and this vest is no exception. Made with ultra-light down, it is the perfect layering piece from fall through spring.

READ ABOUT THE BEST DOWN JACKETS OF 2021

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GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight S1000

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Q Timex Reissue Falcon Eye 38mm

$30 OFF (16%)

With a 38mm-wide steel case, two-tone look, and a vibrantly blue striated dial, this is retro at it’s best. A domed acrylic crystal adds to its retro feel, and the ’70s-style bracelet gives it that extra touch of character.

READ MORE ABOUT THE Q TIMEX MODELS

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Herman Miller Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair

$89 OFF (15%)

Fit for any room in the house, this durable version of the classic Eames Shell Chair adds class and modern styling to any living space.

READ MORE ABOUT THE EAMES MOLDED CHAIR

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Vega Sport Premium Protein Powder, Vanilla

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Lodge Pre-Seasoned 10.25-inch Cast Iron Skillet

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Branch Ergonomic Chair

$60 OFF (17%)

Since many of us are going to be spending our days away from the comfortable chairs and desks of our office, it may be time to invest in a nice chair for the home office.

READ ABOUT THE BEST OFFICE CHAIRS OF 2021

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TriggerPoint GRID 13″ Foam Roller

$9 OFF (26%)

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READ ABOUT THE BEST FITNESS PRODUCTS OF 2020

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Casio G-Shock Quartz Watch

$46 OFF (33%)

A classic digital watch that’ll probably outlast you, and beloved darling of watch nerds of all types.

READ MORE ABOUT G-SHOCK

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Back up all your files

Start using a password manager

Spend less time on your phone

Get your email under control

Make your old laptop feel like new again

Editor’s Picks: Best Deals Today

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