I’m old enough now that I’ve decided to put my foot down on a few things, even if I’m “supposed” to otherwise enjoy them. Some of these I don’t recommend putting one’s foot down on though, given they may break and/or cause personal injuries.

In no specific order:

Instant coffee. I always think it’ll be a quick shortcut when I’m in a hurry, and that the smell is oddly nostalgic. But then I drink it, and my tastebuds send signals to my brain that I’ve made poor decisions in my life.

Electron “software”. I’m lucky that the specific ones I need can also be run in pinned browser tabs, where they belong. Otherwise, I don’t consent to their technical debt sitting there consuming memory on my machines.

Crockery that’s not dishwasher safe. Unless it’s one of the vanishingly rare circumstances where I want to buy a piece of crockery for display (like a reproduction second class plate from the RMS Titanic), it’s getting used. Part of getting used is getting washed. I don’t want to think about what requires manual scrubbing.

Shoelaces. I gave up wearing shoes with them years ago, and haven’t looked back. Slip-ons and formal loafers are so much better! Just make sure you have a shoehorn by the door, as they need to fit tighter.

Red meat. I’m not vegetarian anymore (longwinded health reasons), but I still feel a bit ill after having it. It’s too rich, and the smell is offputting.

Streaming services. They’re a raw deal for the artists who’s work I enjoy listening to, they take away tracks on a whim, they require a subscription to access your playlists, and some of them have even started replacing real artists with slop, because of course they have.

Cars. Safety, the environment, and cost. I get rides and have stuff delivered if I need their services, and put the money towards other things. Trains are so much nicer.

Cheap umbrellas. They always break. Not worth it.

Third-party peripheral cables. I use the cables manufacturers ship with their devices, or replacements from them. This is from years of, shall we say, bothersome experiences. This is especially true in the age of USB-C, where you can’t ascertain their capabilities or supported protocols from looking at them.

Jeans. They’re uncomfortable, especially in humid weather. They also stain fabric upholstery. Chinos are where its at.

Modern(ish) Windows. I still use it at work, but I don’t need anything newer than 2000 at home. FreeBSD, NetBSD, Linux, and macOS (despite Apple’s best efforts) give me all I need, even for the few games I play.

Absolutes. Thinking in inflexible, black and white terms is nearly always a recipe for disaster. Be willing to make exceptions sometimes when circumstances require. Hey, wait a minute.