Living Well / Free resources

Useful tools & everyday skills

A useful way in

Choose one place to begin.

Free core tools and readable guides for notes, documents, sources, audio, maps, and small practical tasks.

Start with a task rather than a tool collection. A document that opens reliably, a note you can find again, or a clear recording may be all you need. The selections here offer free core functions or free instructions, with installation, optional services, and practical limits identified.

Start with: LibreOffice. Read the system requirements and try a non-sensitive document from an official download.

6 selections

Resources with a clear purpose.

Documents and spreadsheets · Free core app

LibreOffice

The Document Foundation

A full document toolkit for readers who need ordinary office tasks without a recurring software subscription.

Begin here: Read the system requirements and try a non-sensitive document from an official download.

Access: Free, open-source desktop office suite. Installation is required; optional support services are separate.

Perspective: Official open-source software

Explore LibreOffice

Context & source

File compatibility can vary. Keep an original copy when trying another application.

Related reading on Living Well

Source information reviewed 2026-10-09. Provider details.

Public provider description and source information reviewed. Registration, app installation, media playback, and completion were not tested.

Notes and organization · Free core app

Joplin

Joplin project

A possible home for notes that need to remain understandable and portable, without building a complicated personal dashboard.

Begin here: Read the app and synchronization options, then try one small notebook.

Access: The note-taking apps are free and open source. Joplin Cloud and some services are paid options.

Perspective: Official software documentation

Explore Joplin

Context & source

Sync, backup, and encryption choices need deliberate setup; free software is not a blanket privacy guarantee.

Related reading on Living Well

Source information reviewed 2026-10-09. Provider details.

Public provider description and source information reviewed. Registration, app installation, media playback, and completion were not tested.

Sources and reading · Free core app

Zotero

Corporation for Digital Scholarship

A practical way to keep the source behind an interesting idea so it can be found and checked again.

Begin here: Save one public article and inspect its title, author, and link for accuracy.

Access: The core research application is free. Additional hosted file storage is an optional paid service.

Perspective: Official research software

Explore Zotero

Context & source

Automatically captured metadata needs checking; the tool does not establish that a source is reliable.

Related reading on Living Well

Source information reviewed 2026-10-09. Provider details.

Public provider description and source information reviewed. Registration, app installation, media playback, and completion were not tested.

Audio recording and editing · Free core app

Audacity

Audacity project

A useful option for making a clear recording or editing an agreed conversation without building a full production setup.

Begin here: Use the official download and manual, then test a short recording of your own voice.

Access: The core audio editor is free and open source. Installation is required; additional services have separate terms.

Perspective: Official audio software

Explore Audacity

Context & source

Permission to record and permission to publish remain separate. Keep an unedited original.

Related reading on Living Well

Source information reviewed 2026-10-09. Provider details.

Public provider description and source information reviewed. Registration, app installation, media playback, and completion were not tested.

Maps and local knowledge · Free to browse

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap contributors and Foundation

An example of shared knowledge made useful through technology, with ordinary places and paths as a starting point.

Begin here: Explore a familiar area and compare the map with information you can independently verify.

Access: The map is free to browse. An account is needed to contribute edits; other map services set their own terms.

Perspective: Community-maintained map data

Explore OpenStreetMap

Context & source

Community data can be incomplete or outdated. A map is not proof of access rights, safe conditions, or opening times.

Related reading on Living Well

Source information reviewed 2026-10-09. Provider details.

Public provider description and source information reviewed. Registration, app installation, media playback, and completion were not tested.

Practical instructions · Free to browse

iFixit repair guides

iFixit and its contributors

A reminder that a useful technology decision can involve understanding and maintaining something rather than replacing it.

Begin here: Browse a low-risk clothing or household guide and read every step before deciding whether to attempt it.

Access: The step-by-step guides are free to read. Tools, parts, and optional services are not necessarily free.

Perspective: Repair education from a commercial provider

Explore iFixit repair guides

Context & source

Match the exact item and your skills. Hazardous, electrical, battery, medical, or other safety-critical work can require qualified help.

Related reading on Living Well

Source information reviewed 2026-10-09. Provider details.

Public provider description and source information reviewed. Registration, app installation, media playback, and completion were not tested.

Keep the context

Take what is useful, thoughtfully.

Choose official download routes and review the current requirements before installing anything. Keep backups when changing a working process, and test a non-sensitive example first. A free application can offer paid storage or services; a free repair guide does not make equipment free or a hazardous repair safe to attempt.

Selections are based on public source review, not a claim that Nolan uses every resource or belongs to the organizations listed.

Selection principles and review limits

Connect the resource to an idea.

On Living WellMake one recurring household problem less annoying

On Living WellA useful tool can make itself less necessary

All 12 resource collections · Explore the related subject