I was enjoying lunch with my colleague Andrea last week when I stopped her mid-sentence: “That. Is. Genius!” I exclaimed. Andrea looked confused. I pointed to her chopsticks, which were neatly perched on a miniature stand so they wouldn’t touch the table before or during our meal.

I made her show me the magic technique: Andrea had taken the little paper wrapper chopsticks come in, deftly folded it over once and then again, and had an instant place to prop her utensils. I snapped a picture, and wished I hadn’t crumpled up my wrapper already. But from here on out, my chopsticks are getting their own little spot—it’s fun to make and extra-sanitary!