I read about A Complaint-Free World on another blog.  There is apparently a book, which I don’t have a strong desire to read, as it comes across as having something of a pseudo-spiritual flavor.  But the feature that caught my attention is a brilliantly simple training tool: bracelets.  They have these purple rubber bracelets (in the style of the recently popular LiveStrong bracelets), and the idea is that you put one on one of your wrists.  Each time you complain, you must switch wrists.  The idea, of course, is to break the habit of complaining, and keep the bracelet on the same wrist!

This would definitely work with any bracelet; the special printed purple one really isn’t necessary.  I went ahead and ordered one, though, because it appears to be easy to clean thoroughly.  Since this won’t work very well if I take the bracelet off while I cook, etc., I want something very washable!  When I got mine, way back when, you could order them from the site in packages of five, or request a pair of them for only the cost of shipping (75 cents).  Currently (Sep 2019), one bracelet is $7.95 (shipping included)

I got mine to help with #5 on my 101 in 1001 list: Go a whole day without complaining, on at least 5 different occasions.  (Actually, this goal was set as a “starting point” for kicking the complaining habit.  This “bracelet trick” may even help me do one better!)

Updated Sep. 24, 2019.  Originally published Jan. 17, 2008.