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Life becomes more complicated to navigate as we grow older. When “adulting” obligations come into play, we tend to overlook the simplest yet most sensible practices that ultimately become greatly valuable in certain situations.
A Reddit thread from a few months ago discussed these “cheat codes” for a more fulfilling existence. Answers ranged from simple tasks, such as wearing sunscreen, to more complex actions like being intentional with everything you do.
Most of these are common-sense concepts, but sometimes, we could all use a reminder.
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#1
I really do have food at home. It's better quality and cheaper than the fast food place I'm driving past.
Riley Quinn 4 months ago
There is nothing wrong with a junk food meal every now and again. Problem is the number of people who eat processed/ultra-processed foods on the daily. And eating this cr@p at home doesn't make it healthy.
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#2
No. It's a complete sentence. It's the perfect answer to a yes or no question. Just...no.
Wild Cream 4 months ago (edited)
On the other hand, remind people to accept “no” as a full answer :) I see so much encouraging of saying no and setting boundaries, but very little informing people that when someone says no, you need to respect their boundary even if you don’t like their answer.
#3
Wear sunscreen, live below your means, save and invest, exercise, eat unprocessed food(try to), don’t take everything so seriously. Be kind to people, everyone is struggling with something.
#4
You don’t need a lot of friends to be happy.
#5
Don't argue with idiots.
Tim Gearing 4 months ago
Ask this “how can I convince you” if the answer is “You can’t”. Walk away
#7
Stay hydrated and get good sleep.
WindySwede 4 months ago (edited)
The Swedish "Lagom"! Not to much, not to little, just right. To much is not good either! Edit: was mostly thinking about water 👍
#8
Find something to compliment people on the first time you see them during the day, it changes the atmosphere.
Michael Largey 4 months ago
When reviewing a disastrous test with a student, I always first complemented them on the concepts they got right. Then we'd build a bridge from those concepts to the ones they got wrong.
#9
Invest in a good pillow and mattress. Good sleep is more valuable than people realize.
#10
Tell yourself it's a privilege to have dishes to wash and clothes to clean. Tell yourself you love to clean.
#12
You can tell how a person talks about you when your not around by listening to them talk about others when they are not around.
Hug your grandma like you know this will be the last time you can. Some day you will be right.
Saltypepper 4 months ago
That's what I always say, if they talk about others they almost always talk about you
#13
Just work smarter not harder…but work hard to find ways to work smarter. Basically if I think there might be a better/quicker way of doing something, I’ll spend the time to figure it out so future me isn’t wasting as much time. I do this a lot for work.
#15
Create an account and add the thing you want to your cart then wait. You’ll likely get some kind of coupon as an incentive to buy.
#16
See your life as a story that you wanna tell.
Imagine you're reading a book or a movie about yourself, see yourself as the lead character, and then act in a way that both
* aligns with the characters path and values
* makes for an interesting story
The sooner you learn this, the better your lens on life becomes.
#17
I do whatever is the hardest chore for the day first. Once that’s out of the way… it’s usually auto pilot cruise mode. If it’s reversed and procrastinated on the whole day has gone to c**p! And the worst is at the end!
#18
If you find a toilet in your dream, don’t use it.
Little Bit 4 months ago
Good advice. I had the toilet dream a couple of nights ago. As usual I woke up with a nano second to spare to get to the bathroom.
#19
Be nice to people who serve you in shops, cafes, bars and restaurants especially your regular places.
#20
Gratitude. Seriously. It sounds so f*****g lame but the reality is, when you start counting your blessings you lose track of your problems.
It doesn’t make things that suck go away but when your mentality is being thankful for another day, or how nice the birds sound this morning, or looking at your whacky family and remembering how life was without them and how good it is now…
Yeah it doesn’t take long for you to stop giving yourself an ulcer for nothing when you think this way.
#21
Being genuinely kind to customer service workers. You’d be shocked how many “rules” suddenly bend or how much smoother things go when you treat people like actual humans.
#22
Only wear a bra when you absolutely need to, and only for your own comfort (mental or physical).
I'm now far more comfortable every day, and my confidence levels have soared!
#23
Read a lot and always be nice to your significant other.
Edit: I’m not sure this classified as a “cheat code”, but being well-read makes you smarter and more interesting to talk to- leading to more opportunities to make quality friends and/or spouses. Being always kind to that spouse- that usually makes for a happy long/lasting relationship…..as long as they’re the type of person that is also intelligent and thoughtful enough to realize how much your kindness means.
Smeghead Tribble Down Under 4 months ago
Doesn't work. I /devour/ books, especially non-fiction, and have always been stupid kind to people ever since I was very young. Has never gotten me anywhere except walked all over and bullied, with no friends.
#25
It’s non of my business what other people think about me…. &
Will this matter a year from now?
#26
You do not have to respond to every stimulus, correct every misunderstanding, right every wrong, win every argument, etc. Let things slide, silently.
With my wife we joke about this being the first two rules:
1. Calm the f**k down.
2. Shut the f**k up.
So often, conflict and chaos come from breaking the first two rules.
#27
Tubal ligation and Sunscreen.
Tim Gearing 4 months ago
Definitely sunscreen. I’m going under the knife next week to get a BCC removed from my face.
#28
Never trust a fart.
Rachel Pelz 4 months ago
But trust that it is a common experience...like, you're not the only person who mistook the outcome.
#29
For those with anxiety, very few things are as big a deal as you think.
Riley Quinn 4 months ago
I have PTSD/Anxiety, which means an unexpected sound, a smell, a glimpse of something moving towards me, and numerous other external stimuli can set me off. If I'm lucky it'll be an anxiety attack; if I'm not lucky, it's full-bore panic.
#30
There’s nothing wrong with getting to the airport three hours before your flight leaves.
cecilia kilian 4 months ago
If you are travelling internationally you need to do this. Once you are through security checks, you can enjoy coffee or a meal, browse the shops, and snag a good seat at your departure gate. Of course some smaller airports are not even open 3 hours before morning flights.
#31
I called AAA when I was extremely drunk at the bar ...said my truck wouldn't start ....they towed my truck home and gave me a ride.
#32
Therapy.
Everyone could use it. Even if you’re not mentally ill. Having someone to talk out your stressors with is incredibly important.
#33
Drink more water.
That’s it. It’s such a simple thing but staying properly hydrated makes SUCH a difference in your daily life.
Pagan squirrel 4 months ago
Hard If you work in an environment where you cannot always use a toilet. For example Amazon delivery driver, gardener
#34
Walking a fair amount is a super easy and cheap way of benefiting your health in many, many ways. No memberships or subscriptions, extremely low injury risk. It helps fight against the hunched-up position people with sedentary lifestyles often get, and for most of us, works as gentle cardio, enhancing fat metabolism, burning some fat, increasing the amount of capillaries in the working muscles, as well as enhancing muscle endurance, plus lowering resting heart rate and blood pressure.
CatholicByChoice 4 months ago
Even Tho I Have A Cane Now I'm Still Out At Least Once A Day. Sometimes More
#35
Keep your cool. A bad temper can literally ruin your life.
Michael Largey 4 months ago
Learn to be and appear ultra-calm when you're angry. It will scare the s**t out of people.
#36
The first six months of parenthood, if there are two parents, have one stay up all day, and the other all night.
I was lucky enough to be able to do this with both my kids, and it was incredible.
#37
The time it takes to brew a pot of coffee at home is less time than it takes to slow your vehicle down, turn into the drive through, order, pay and get back up to speed.
It's also a fraction of the cost to make it at home, and over time you can tweak the amount of grounds until you get it just the way you like it!
#38
Don’t drink alcohol.
#39
When trying to get information out of someone and they provide a very brief answer, remain silent. They will say more to fill the void.
#40
The more emotional you get in a situation, the more emotional they get. Calm and steady sets the pace.
Michael Largey 4 months ago
Beware of people who seem emotional but are just goading you into losing your cool.
#41
Instead of going out to a romantic dinner & spending hundreds of dollars. Stay in and cook a romantic dinner, it’ll probably taste better & its more intimate.
Becky Samuel 4 months ago
Having a personal chef come in and cook in your own kitchen is cheaper than you might think, and you can have the menu planned exactly as you like it.
#42
Be consistently consistent.
Michael Largey 4 months ago
"Do I contradict myself? / Very well then I contradict myself, / (I am large, I contain multitudes.)" - Walt whitman
#43
B- work out the door is better than A+ work no one ever sees. .
#44
Gratitude.
#45
Write your rant but delete the comment.
Emilu 4 months ago
Oh yeah. A former colleague got iced out of his job (he resigned, wasn’t fired, but keeping his job was hardly tenable when he’d pissed off his direct manager, their manager and the CEO of the organisation) for writing a rant about them and sending it. I have a few drafts in my emails about my direct manager, but thankfully that sent button has never been pressed (and only I can access my email, also 😆).
#46
First and foremost: Marry the right person.
Second: be a two paycheck household with one paycheck expenses. Have a kid? Go down to one paycheck. One job starts to suck? Quit and take a chance on a higher risk/reward gig.
#47
Accept ownership and responsibility for all of your results in life. Don't look to blame others or society when things don't go your way. Always look inward and know that your decisions drive your outcomes. It is freeing and by far the healthiest way to live.
Luke Branwen 4 months ago
Nah, capitalism is the source of ~70% of our problems. Identify those, and then self-reflect on the remaining 30%
#48
Start saving for retirement as early as possible, consider that money off limits no matter what, and increase your savings rate slightly every time you get a raise.
In the U.S., a second one is to get a job with lifetime Healthcare after x years of employment as early as possible and stick with it until that benefit kicks in. Healthcare ain't cheap in America.
Social Security is truly a safety net and not meant to be your only source of income even if it is for many Americans, and in many cases that means people work until they die.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 4 months ago
What employers offer lifetime healthcare after X years of employment? I never heard of this.
#50
To do lists. If you aren’t organizing your life around lists, you should start.
#52
Try to do a little bit each day. If the mountain of dishes is overwhelming wash five of them. If the mountain of laundry is overwhelming, wash 10 things. Keep going like that until the dishes are conquered or the laundry is conquered. And then once it’s conquered, keep it up and then add one more thing to your list such as taking out the trash or whatever. And then continue, with just three or four daily tasks.
#53
The rules really are just arbitrary. For instance, what you want to eat doesn’t have to make sense, if you want to eat a sandwich made entirely of olives, hell, go for it. But yeah, stay hydrated.
#54
The power of silence. People will talk themselves right out of things if you just leave some silence hang in the airs. They can’t handle it.
Becky Samuel 4 months ago
Don't underestimate this one. Once you learn how to do it, you unlock so much.
#55
Do it right the first time even if it takes a little longer.
Becky Samuel 4 months ago
This can make everything overwhelming and lead to nothing getting done. It's better to do a few minutes of a job than do nothing at all. A kitchen with a small clean area to use for food prep is better than one that is uniformly filthy. A clean toilet but a dirty basin is better than a dirty toilet. Opened mail in an unsorted pile is better than unopened and unread mail.
#56
Like is so much easier when you can admit you're wrong and move on. You can waste your life arguing, making excuses or just being stubborn.
#57
Exercising first thing in the morning sets the tone for the day and ensures a great night of sleep.
#58
Nike has a 2 year warranty on their shoes.
#59
Patience...I can't even say how many perceived problems worked themselves out simply by waiting just a little bit longer.
Michael Largey 4 months ago
"90% of the problems I see driving down the road headed towards me drive themselves into a ditch before they arrive." - Calvin Coolidge
#60
Always ask how your colleagues are doing before jumping into work. Actual human interest goes a long way towards making work bearable and building teams.
#61
Always pay yourself first.
Becky Samuel 4 months ago
And not just financially. Your own health, time, and pleasure are just as valuable as anyone else's. There's no point complaining that people take advantage of you if you're constantly giving stuff away for free.
#62
Proper preparation prevents p**s poor performance. Also, 95% of success is showing up (ON TIME).
Bi.Felicia 4 months ago
I don't just show up on time, I'm almost always early. So shouldn't I have reached success by now?
#64
Good manners don’t cost nothin.
#65
Don't compare yourself to others because the grass is always greener. I became infinitely happier when I stopped comparing my life to others.
Michael Largey 4 months ago
I know that the grass is greener on the other side because I'm not over there f*****g things up.
#66
I’ve permanently unlocked my IDGAF mode and I suggest that everyone else should do the same. 😎
- Pay no mind to what other people think of the things you enjoy.
- Pay no mind to Internet trolls. Downvote, block, whatever. Move on. You have better things to do. They don’t. 🤭🤡.
#68
Not every workplace email deserves or requires a response.
#69
Help someone because you want to and expect nothing in return
If you expect something in return, you WILL get disappointed.
Earonn - 4 months ago
Oh, and here was me thinking that we should help others without expecting a reward because helping in itself is a rewarding experience, and because we shouldn't turn all Human interactions into transactions. But no, apparently we shouldn't do it because the reward will never be big enough. *eyeroll*
#71
Making my bed in the morning.
#72
- Having only one child feels like a cheat code.
- having as small a home as you can will pay of in many ways, not just financially. For example, I spend very little time and effort cleaning my home.
- being polite will get you much farther than not.
- good work/life balance is more valuable than a high salary, especially if you’re raising kids.
#73
Helping people understand that "accountability " does not mean owning up to a mistake when something goes wrong.
It is about commitment to a specified outcome and can only be achieved when;
- Clear expectations are set.
- Everyone understands their capability.
- Having clear performance / task measurement.
- Regular honest reciprocal feedback.
- Having clear consequences (repeat, reward, replace).
#74
Leveraging technology for innate skills I don't naturally possess ie. task management on my calendar so I get a "ding" when something is due and reminders on submissions.
#77
Stop arguing with people if they disagree or if they say something wrong. I started letting people believe whatever they wanted instead of correcting people all the time.
Earonn - 4 months ago
...which led to racists and sexists thinking they can do what they want because nobody disagreed with them. Silence is complicity. Choose your battles. It might not matter if someone thinks that band A is better than band B, but it makes a difference when it comes to harmful views. Don't use "let people believe what they want" as a cover for cowardice.
#78
If you pretend to be confident and know what you are doing, a surprising number of people believe you.
#79
Before speaking, ask 3 questions. Does it need to be said? Does it need to be said now? Does it need to be said by me? Unless the answer to all 3 is yes, don’t say it.
#80
If you eat vegan, you lower your risk of heart disease and cancer by over 90%. (See documentary Food Inc & Cowspiracy (Netflix) for the proof).
BUT there is no rule that says you have to do it perfectly. So, wanting a few more decades, or to have a longer retirement? Hoping to offset some prior bad habits?
Do it half of the time. Replace just some of your meals with plant meat or lentils. Hell, just mix in with real meat. Do the same with your dairy milk and plant milk. You have now given yourself more years, with little effort. And likely will save the money you would have spent on healthcare bills for far better uses. Eat the same meals, enjoy your favorites, with a few tweaks.
Yeah, people may mock you a little. But you’ll be visiting them in the hospital much sooner than others will for you, or you’ll be missing their early funeral bc you’re traveling, since that hard-earned money stays yours, rather than sitting in a health insurance CEO’s account. Spread the word to those who seem smart enough to be open to new ideas. They deserve a better, longer life with their loved ones, too. More travel, retiring, hobbies, time with family.
Try it for a week. And remember - you don’t do anything in life 100%. So why should switching out some food items be the exception? You deserve to live your best life, in exactly the way you choose.
#81
Take ownership of all things related to you. From the biggest to the smallest items, own it! Once you start, other people can’t disappoint you. Then you become very deliberate with your actions and words. ✌🏾👍🏾🙏🏾.
#82
Pizza. Always put some paper over it to suck up that excess grease. It won't change the taste and your heart will thank you!
#83
If you have a choice to make. Whether it's a tough one or not, and you can't make up your mind. Do what I do. Simply flip a coin. The coin is never wrong, and if it ends up being a terrible result. The blame falls squarely on the coin.
#85
Learn to be self-reflective. So you learn to “act” rather than “reacting” to your life. If some keeps bothering you, STOP and ASK yourself, “Why”? If you find yourself always angry or getting into bad relationships, ask yourself: “why?” Your life will be much more calmer and happier.
#87
Manage your time. Beat the crowds. Eat lunch at 11. No big box stores on weekends. Get to the game early. Take the first flight of the day. Xmas shop year round. There are so many more.....but you get the idea. Don't spend time waiting....
Michael Largey 4 months ago (edited)
Always schedule time for you. It will make the time you spend on other things so productive.
#88
Do the hard things you really don’t want to do, but know success is behind. Separate your feelings from the task.
Don’t want to work out? Cool. F*****g do it anyway.
Hate that task at work? Cool. Volunteer for that s**t anyway.
Don’t want to save your money because party? Cool. Skip that s**t and invest your f*****g money.
All the success you dream about is behind that pile of s**t you really don’t want to do.
Becky Samuel 4 months ago
Drain every morsel of joy out of your life on the slim possibility that you won't just get lumbered with another pile of shít. No thanks.
#89
Nutrition and health are paramount. Methylated folate is an absolute game changer for me. I also discovered lions mane and reishi mushrooms and iodine supplements help a lot with my cognitive ability.
I suffered a back injury 25 years ago while snowboarding. I've never had the money to get it checked out, and by now, I figured it was pretty much permanent. I found a chiropractor that practices Applied Kinesiology (A.K.), and Advanced Muscle Integration Technique (AMIT).
He has absolutely changed my life for the better. I can't explain how it works. It's a little strange, but I can tell you it's not imaginary. It is completely real.
I lived with pain and limited mobility for 25 years, and after 4 treatment sessions, I've been cured. I don't need to keep going back. I have zero pain, and complete mobility and functionality.
#92
Smile.
cecilia kilian 4 months ago
Do not ever tell a person to smile, unless you are taking a photo.
#93
A simple one is just making your bed in the morning, you start with a quick win, then just chain them. Brush your teeth, exercise, stretch, meditate, write tasks, etc.
Another one that's simple is, pick up something that doesn't belong where it is. Are you socks in the living room put them in your pocket and put them in the laundry bin. Did you leave a cup on the coffee table, take it to th kitchen and put it in the dishwasher or rinse it. Simple things like that keep it from getting to be massive mess that gives you the "anxiety" of having to tackle a bigger task that you keep putting off.
Food wise, drink more water till you fill your belly and don't feel hungry. Also, eat slower so that you feel satiated quicker rather than gorging quickly and feeling bloated and like s**t.
#94
Most elevators will skip past all floors if you hold down the close doors button while choosing which floor to go to. It's meant for emergencies but any (selfish) person can use it.
Michael Largey 4 months ago
On many elevators, the Close Door button is not connected to anything.
What do you think ?
Little Bit 4 months ago
If someone buys you a gift, thank them. If I can't say thank you in person I always send a thank you card or message when someone buys me a gift. It only takes a few minutes and it's basic courtesy. Last Christmas I bought my niece a gift. It's July and she still hasn't said thank you. It seems I'm not even worthy of a text message. Next Christmas she'll be getting nothing from me.
Emilu 4 months ago
This is so true. Someone may not remember that you did say thank you, but they will definitely remember if you didn’t. My mum still gets annoyed every so often about my cousin and his wife not thanking us for their wedding present, and I think that was pre-covid.
Load More Replies...
Panda McPandaface 4 months ago (edited)
So many perfect people giving advice! I'm amazed there are any problems in the wrld at all. All this can be summed up by 'don't be a dikk'.
Little Bit 4 months ago
If someone buys you a gift, thank them. If I can't say thank you in person I always send a thank you card or message when someone buys me a gift. It only takes a few minutes and it's basic courtesy. Last Christmas I bought my niece a gift. It's July and she still hasn't said thank you. It seems I'm not even worthy of a text message. Next Christmas she'll be getting nothing from me.
Emilu 4 months ago
This is so true. Someone may not remember that you did say thank you, but they will definitely remember if you didn’t. My mum still gets annoyed every so often about my cousin and his wife not thanking us for their wedding present, and I think that was pre-covid.
Load More Replies... Panda McPandaface 4 months ago (edited)
So many perfect people giving advice! I'm amazed there are any problems in the wrld at all. All this can be summed up by 'don't be a dikk'.
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