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Need something cold fast? Put it in the freezer for a short bit. Pro tip: Don't forget about it :p
Learn how to say "no" to people. Especially on the job, but this can also apply to the people you love as well.
Learn to recognize little things in daily life that make you happy, that you're grateful for. Doing this regularly 'rewires' your brain, making it easier to recognize and focus on positive thoughts. It's in the little things; seeing a rare bird, an unexpected talk with the persoon waiting in line behind you, relaxing on the couch with your pet in your lap, etc.
That's called reframing, and it's an actual psychological therapy technique.
My daughter said she had the best day on Saturday because she found a wild garter snake, saw big bull cows, goats and made goodies with her nana. She's at a point in her life everything is stressful, trying to get affairs and plans in order. The only thing that it takes to put a smile on her face and being with people who love her and having these simple moments.
Self care is not selfish, it's a necessity. Besides doing your best to eat right, get enough sleep, drink enough water, etc. it's also about having boundaries and learning to say 'no' to things or people that are not good for you.
Always buy your shoes in the afternoon after your feet have expanded
Wedge a pool noodle between your washer and dryer to prevent things from getting lost and never seen again.
IF you don't know what you're doing, get help first. This goes for everything from DIY to cleaning, buying houses or cars, pretty much everything. Before jumping in, research, research, research. Don't take everything you read on the internet as golden either. Ask around, read articles, talk to friends. It is easy to do a lot of harm very quickly if you don't know what you're doing.
Have an emergency fund.
if you get a monetary gift/bonus, spend half, save half.
Listen to your gut - alway, always, always. Your gut is frequently smarter than your brain.
1) When chopping onions, put a teaspoon in your mouth.
2) Pound a banana into a paste: best hair conditioner ever.
3) Drink 4 drops of peppermint oil in a good sip of water against irritable bowel.
4) Lavender oil is reported to relax and ease insomnia.
5) If nauseous, sleep on your left side. Apparently, this relaxes the internal organs while sleeping on your right puts all your weight on them.
And finally:
1) If allergic to peanuts: do not eat peanuts.
2) If you have an unwanted erection, just wait 40 years.
If you value your job, stay off twitter.
Not really hacks, but:
Do not buy plastics for essential home items--aim for more durable items that don't require frequent replacement. For instance, as plastic measuring cups and drinking cups, etc. have worn out over the years, I've replaced them with stainless steel, usually from a second-hand store. I didn't realize how much I spent on replacing basic things until I bought more durable items that never need replaced.
I also avoid disposable mop heads, cleaning wipes, etc. They're expensive and I always run out at the worst time. Instead I use cleaning rags and a washable mop head.
To peel a banana, snap its stub (not the tip), and just rip the skin away. That way, you won't need to use your nails. I learned this a few years ago and never went back. Mostly because I chew my nails away, so I always struggled to peel a banana.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
That's how monkeys eat them. Then you can hold the "stalk" like a handle, too! Taught to Hoomans by the Masters
Drink lots of water, always follow your gut and do what makes you happy
Set up a savings account and set your debit account up to automatically deposit an amount on your savings account the day you get your income.
If your cat pukes on the carpet, it will be so much easier to clean up if you let it dry first.
Saving money on food:
1. Learn how to use what nature gives you (collect nuts, learn some edible plants...)
2. Join foodsharing
3. Plan your meals ahead with what you still have at home
4. Freeze, dry, conserve, ferment leftovers
5. Use space to grow kitchen herbs
6. Use apps like "Too good to go".
7. Shop as late as you can, usually the prices will be reduced for fresh fruits and vegetables short before they close.
I also keep the biggest ziploc bag I could find in the very front of my freezer. Any package that is opened but not finished goes in the bag, along with food that is approaching expiration. Whenever I open the freezer, I look in the bag first. I don't *have* to use what's in there, but I at least think about it. Maybe I can add the half bag of corn to the soup, or use the aging green beans in place of the asparagus I just bought? I've saved a lot of money and food just by keeping track of what I have.
Learn to sew by hand, with a needle and thread. Practice by replacing buttons, fixing holes in your socks and pockets, hemming pants. Once you get into the habit of repairing your clothes, you will spend much less money on your wardrobe. Also there are many items you can make for yourself. The easiest things to make by hand are pillowcases, curtains, totes and placemats.
Learning how to sew on a button or fix a split seam will save you a lot in replacements or getting repairs done at the drycleaner. Making things from scratch will usually not save you money, due to the cost of materials, and the amount of time it will take - do it only because you love it. Instead, try looking at second-hand shops.
Two main ones. 1) Take care of your finances and 2) remember some people out there are complete f uckwits; they walk amongst us.
Text an X. No I don't mean text your toxic ex, don't do that. What I mean is go talk with a parent (guardian, close friend, relative, etc.) and set up a cop out system. If you are ever in a situation where you are uncomfortable or would like to leave, you text an X (or any other letter or symbol, preferably something easy to remember) to that person and they can call you with a reason why you need to come home right away. This has got me out of some places I didn't want to be and I'm much more comfortable going out with a back up plan.
To cure hiccups: Fill a glass with water. Bend at the waist and put the "opposite" side of the glass up to your mouth. (your chin will be over the water, your nose over the edge) Bend as far as you can and, bending over, take 3 goodly sips. Stand back up. Hiccups gone.
Credit is like seat belts. It can save your life, but you don't want to use it. If you do, pay it off as your main priority. Paying interest is like walking uphill all the time.
Put anything that needs to be ironed in the dryer with a wet washcloth for 10-15 minutes.
use a scythe to mow your lawn. no gasoline, extremelly few maintenance, have you doing exercise, no sound, respect the insects (and hedgehogs), low carbon fabrication, less space required for storage. You can mow your lawn literally any size. I recommend putting the prize and buying a good scythe like austrian stuff. costs a bit more but will last 150 years, and pure delight. Oh, and last thing you don't need to be Marvellous Marvin to use this, at all
also on another level. buying a big freezer (like 200L) can help you save money (sales), and time (you buy more at every trip)
and one last for the road. loving your job is fundamental. if you don't like your job, as yourself what do i love. and focus onto it
If you're looking for something between a gas mower and a scythe, try a "reel mower" - those are the push mowers many of us visualize being used in the 50s. I just switched to one this year, 2021, and have used it all season so far and LOVE IT. It's a whole different experience mowing with a reel mower; I can stop and weed as I go (don't have to restart the mower after letting go of the handle), listen to music, not subject my ears to harsh mower volume, get a little bit of exercise... I can't see myself going back.
Be yourself! Don't upset your time and schedule being a people pleaser. It's okay to say no. Live in the moment and enjoy life and what it has to offer. Never give up on your dreams. Remember, its only a failure when you stop trying.
I've since switched to dish soap in bar form (no plastic waste) but when I used liquid dish soap, instead of squeezing soap on the sponge or into a bowl of water, I'd hold the nozzle of the soap bottle in the stream of running water and gently squeeze so the soap gets instantly mixed into the water. Also kept the nozzle from getting gunked up.
I wish Dawn would make a bar soap. I would use that instead to save on plastic.
learn how to shop like a peasant and cook for a king.
Contradiction. How many kings or even royalty have you dined with? Fois gras, grouse, beluga and Dom P. isn't often found in the "reduced" section of Aldi. Smug and out of touch.
If an unpleasant memory bugs you, and something triggers it, such as a word or image, come up with a pleasant memory. Whenever the unpleasant memory comes up, jump to the pleasant one. This takes a while, but eventually the pleasant memory will overwrite the bad one.
I do that too... override my negative thought with a positive one, takes awhile but eventually it gets normal!
You know that bar of Toblerone you like so much? Instead of snapping a piece off, try pushing 2 mounted pieces towards eachother with thumb and indexfinger. Works like a charm.
Can't open a jar of jam (or whatever)? Try holding it upside down and tap the lid sideways onto a hard surface like the rim of the kitchen counter. A couple of times and on 2 or 3 opposite points along the rim with medium force. Turn right side up and should open much easier now.
Works each time.
Want to buy a pair of regular jeans or chinos but you can't try them on. Put the waistband around your neck like a measuring tape when still buttoned up. Can you make the side meet up? You've got the right size.
Instead of cracking the glass or your granite counter tops, try hitting the lid of the jar with a steak or butter knife handle to get a jar to open.
Not really a hack but definitely an overlooked area. If you need to adjust the temperature setting of your oven and you have an older stove with the twist caps, take off the cap of the oven and turn it over. The settings are on the other side of the oven setting cap. You just need an oven thermometer and a screwdriver to loosen the screw that's holding the 2 pieces together on the cap.
The plastic, removable cap on a blender lid is a measuring cup for alcoholic drinks.
Wrap your hair in a soft, cotton t-shirt after you wash your hair, instead of a heavy, bulky, rough towel. Your neck and tendrils will thank you.
Using a very small amount of laundry detergent, with about 1/2 cup of Borax, 1/2 cup of baking soda and vinegar added to the bleach compartment (so the clothes can get a thorough, clean rinse). It's cheaper and cleaner, jand you're helping your washer stay cleaner and odor-free. Including apartment, shared machines.
If you don't have a rubber phone cover and you need your cellphone to stay in one place, flip over your mouse pad and lay your phone on it.
If your an oil painter, that built up paint you get in the bottom of your paint thinner pot can be saved and used as a paint.
One can also use a balloon as a phone cover. Simply blow it up to 25%, hold it closed with 2 fingers, press your phone in it, and slowly release the balloon. Instant phone cover
FFS, why do life hack threads always bring out the weirdos? The vast majority of people posting their “hacks” are the reason everything comes with so many disclaimers now
Keep a rotary phone around, they still operate in power outages.
All corded phones that don't get plugged into an outlet work typically, not just rotary. I believe it's because the minimal power used in the phone line is not on the same power main, and is backed up by phone providers generators.
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Refuse delivery of panic attacks. Instead of getting scared, get mad and say f**k no, no!
Use paper towels drizzled with olive oil to easily light charcoal without lighter fluid.
Keep a rotary phone around, they still operate in power outages.
All corded phones that don't get plugged into an outlet work typically, not just rotary. I believe it's because the minimal power used in the phone line is not on the same power main, and is backed up by phone providers generators.
Load More Replies... Refuse delivery of panic attacks. Instead of getting scared, get mad and say f**k no, no!
Use paper towels drizzled with olive oil to easily light charcoal without lighter fluid.
