diff --git a/helper.jl b/helper.jl
index 9342cf4..019871f 100644
--- a/helper.jl
+++ b/helper.jl
@@ -13,3 +13,6 @@ better_sum(arr::Array{ComplexF64}) = better_sum(real.(arr)) + 1im * better_sum(i
 
 "The triangle inequality for angular momenta"
 triangle_ineq(l1, l2, L) = abs(l1 - l2) ≤ L && L ≤ (l1 + l2)
+
+"Nearest value in a list to a given reference point"
+nearest(list::Array, ref) = list[argmin(norm.(list .- ref))]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/p_space_test.ipynb b/p_space_test.ipynb
index fa5f269..84ce8c7 100644
--- a/p_space_test.ipynb
+++ b/p_space_test.ipynb
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
     "using Plots\n",
+    "include(\"helper.jl\")\n",
     "include(\"p_space.jl\")"
    ]
   },
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@
     "evals = eigen(H).values\n",
     "\n",
     "E_target = 0.258 - 0.164im\n",
-    "E = evals[argmin(norm.(evals .- E_target))]\n",
+    "E = nearest(evals, E_target)\n",
     "\n",
     "print(\"E = $E\")\n",
     "scatter(real.(evals), imag.(evals), xlim = (0,1))"
diff --git a/simple_berggren.ipynb b/simple_berggren.ipynb
index cb2053f..cf5bbe8 100644
--- a/simple_berggren.ipynb
+++ b/simple_berggren.ipynb
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
     "using Plots\n",
+    "include(\"helper.jl\")\n",
     "include(\"p_space.jl\")"
    ]
   },
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@
     "\n",
     "evals = basis_eig.values\n",
     "E_target = 0.7\n",
-    "E = evals[argmin(norm.(evals .- E_target))]\n",
+    "E = include(\"helper.jl\")\n",
     "\n",
     "print(\"E = $E\")\n",
     "scatter(real.(evals), imag.(evals), xlim = (0,2))"