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Life hacks are basically an entire subgenre of online content. The trend has permeated all the social media platforms and gained a somewhat notorious reputation for being either inexplicably absurd (like, chopping onions with a face shield or getting stains out of your shirt with shaving foam) or simply “but why?”-inducing.

But luckily, the internet is one endless black hole (can we all just agree on that description?) and that means there should be some genuinely useful tips to make our lives easier and more efficient floating around. Well, if you are like me, in search of ways to make yourself do stuff by yourself, proving that you’re an independent responsible millennial adult, the chances are, sooner or later, you’d stumble upon the “How To” subreddit.

According to the sub’s description, it’s a place “where you can learn how to do anything and everything yourself! Need advice on how to start a podcast or how to fix your car? It's all here from A-Z!” So if it seems like a promise, a whopping 2.9M followers prove it overdelivers.

Scroll down through the most useful bits of random advice below that may be the solution you were looking for all this time!

#2

Hope This Is A "How-To" Helpful Resource!

Hope This Is A "How-To" Helpful Resource!

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There are infinite tips on making the best out of this one hell of a crazy world out there on the internet. From changing flat tires to finding your lost pet out in the streets, every little situation seems to have a solution. But what if we look at one “how to” that is not about fixing things around us, but rather about making better use of ourselves?Well, becoming a better version of yourself starts from… well, you guessed it–yourself.

#4

Cross-Posting: Guide To Draw Water Droplet

Cross-Posting: Guide To Draw Water Droplet

shasta-mcnugget Report

#5

H Oi W To Help People Learn Effectively With Patience And Compassion

H Oi W To Help People Learn Effectively With Patience And Compassion

Novelista42 Report

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Jess
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All school thought me was how to memorize stg and then forget the next day, retaking the test a couple times would actually help to learn and remember

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#6

How To Not Pay Stupid Amounts Of Money To Read Research Papers

How To Not Pay Stupid Amounts Of Money To Read Research Papers

hwitteman Report

One way to go about it is setting a goal for yourself in order to learn something. Turns out, it’s a key to long-term happiness, as it gives you both a long-term vision and short-term motivation. First off, it focuses on you and makes you the creator of your own life in a world where we too often believe in coincidences. No wonder many of those who accomplish their dreams, goals or resolutions become much more confident in themselves.

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Your journey of progress really depends on what kind of goal you set for yourself. It may be big or small, life-long, year-long or even a week-long goal. For some, it may be losing a few pounds, for others it’s getting promoted, learning a new language, running a marathon, overcoming a fear, you name it.

#7

How Do Y’all Cook Your Egg? Tbh This Is Most Of Us

How Do Y’all Cook Your Egg? Tbh This Is Most Of Us

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Gin. No tonic
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Add eggs to cold water, bring to boil, boil 3,5 mins (half-easy yolk) or 5 min (hard york), take the eggs out and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.

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#8

How To Self Rescue In The Event You Fall Through Frozen Ice

How To Self Rescue In The Event You Fall Through Frozen Ice

imbratoor Report

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#9

Using Google Like A Pro

Using Google Like A Pro

glennvho Report

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dravadres avatar
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Robert T
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dashes? It's a ruddy minus sign. Means don't include. Plus means must include. Vertical bar means "or" in many programming languages.

jodybrown avatar
Jody Brown
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Boolean operators! This is great because Google recently reconfigured their Advanced Search service.

imbriuminarian avatar
Bunzilla
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This guide should really be on the site and easily find-able. I don't know why it's such a secret. I already knew about "" and -, as well as site:, but not the others. Also, not really sure why they included the ~ or |. Google ALWAYS searches for associated words and will readily omit words it finds inconvenient, which makes it really frustrating when you're looking for something more specific, but not specific enough for "". In the last 15 or so years, they've just kept cramming in more and more associated words and choosing to ignore more of your must have search items, which is really frustrating. Wish there was an easy shortcut to turn those off. I'm guessing it's so that they can justify throwing more paid-for results at you. (also: *vertical, not verticle)

ssnx01 avatar
Chich
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It could just be me, but search engines seem to be getting stupider as time goes on. I have used these for years and used to get good results but not so much now.

vickyz avatar
Vicky Z
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably cause now the information is so much more! And all they care now is their damn cookies rather than fix these issues

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patrickstpatrick2 avatar
Thomson StClair
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

some of this is either way outdated or was always false. I searched: Jazz -utah -basketball and all I got was Utah Jazz results..

jjdilligaf avatar
John Dilligaf
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the site: search operation will also work on domains. for example site:.edu will only return results from education domains. .gov from government websites, .mil from non-classified military websites. etc. Very useful for finding legitimate sources when writing college papers

hanlin3t avatar
Tom Hanlin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not a hyphen, a "minus sign". It subtracts from the search results.

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Molly Block
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm confused about the "site:" query. Where do you put the term/item you are searching for in the specific website? After the query? Let's say I want to search for the flower called a 'petunia' at HGTV.COM. How do I do it? Like this?---> site:hgtv.com petunia OR petunia site:hgtv.com? Does it matter? Do I need to put 'petunia' in quotation marks?

bobbruce avatar
bob bruce
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As CatFist says, it doesn't matter. AFAIK the only thing that matters is the order of words that are the thing you're searching for. Even that may not always matter, but sometimes a different order will change the meaning and therefore the results.

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MAKtheknife
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's all well and good, but I'm still searching for the vertical bar on my keyboard????

karin_18 avatar
Karin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, sort of the same as you did when search engines were a new thing?

dirkvantroyen avatar
Dirk Van Troyen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Too bad the asterisk and question mark operators don't work anymore. I wonder why they left them out

dysamoria-accounts avatar
Jace
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Quotation marks are often, if not usually, ignored by google these days. Same for the rest of these. Google don’t care to be a search tool. They sell advertisement space.

e_morgan avatar
E. Morgan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This was with Google about twenty years ago. Before phones. Do these still work the same way today?

bcgrote avatar
Brandy Grote
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, think about what you want before you type. Think of synonyms and alternate ways to ask for what you want. Spell as correctly as you can, then use Google's suggestions if you misspelled, or if you didn't! You can lock out the "did you mean" by clicking on your original search term below the box. Next, look at results. The first few WILL be ads. You can read a bit on each site before you click to get some idea. But if your search is obscure, you might get fake sites wanting clicks.

robindjw avatar
Robin DJW
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought using quotation marks, especially around a phrase, meant the search would find things that contained that exact phrase. In this instance, searching for "I love you" will ignore the text that says "I know that my love for you will endure." All three words are there in that order, but are not the phrase. Even if this is not correct, searching for BROWN SONGBIRDS gets a different result from "BROWN SONGBiRDS" (caps are for emphasis only). Can someone clarify please?

blasphemousriots avatar
Rick
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew all of these apart from the vertical bars one

rz_1 avatar
R Z
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So I did the dolphins -football like it said and the first results were Tweets by the Miami Dolphins 😑

helenburns2006 avatar
Carbonel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It doesn’t work perfectly because Google algorithms are complex. But it can help.

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Dela Will
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Minus sign does not work anymore. In fact, most of these no longer work for most search engines...

nfrlprdpr avatar
somethingsimple29 avatar
Colin Conrey
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only if you are too lazy to go back and check your spelling. I’m a technical recruiter and I do this sort of search Every👏God👏Damn👏Day

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Another way to go about it is to try and become more useful to the people around you. The feeling that you are, in some way, useful to another human being is one of the most precious things that can boost your self-esteem, help the relationship, and give a sense of fulfillment. And to be so, you don’t have to be an inverter, entrepreneur or have a wall of diplomas.

The key to being useful to others is making them stand taller than you are. And it takes simple things like telling people their strengths when they forget about them, or helping them to avoid mistakes. Believing in others and telling them that is another way to empower those around you. Try listening without judgment as most often all people want is simply to be heard.

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By doing that, we realize that our actions, our words, and our presence are capable of adding value to another human being’s life. And that is one hell of a life hack I wish to carry with me for years to come.

#10

Useful Tip

Useful Tip

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm ... m ..... Can't he .... hear you ..... you're ..... re breaking up ..... up....... *Hangs up*

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#11

This Is How My Wife Protects Her Yarn From The Cats

This Is How My Wife Protects Her Yarn From The Cats

stinksnots Report

#12

How To Delete All The Tourists From Your Travel Photos With Ease

How To Delete All The Tourists From Your Travel Photos With Ease

vitruv Report

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LuckyL
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know that I've saved this image at least two times before - and never tried the advice

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#14

Good Boi How To

Good Boi How To

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#15

How To Finish

How To Finish

Relojero Report

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Tolga ÜSTÜN
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Take twices as long" and "have twice as much fun" sounds easy to say but in reality...

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#16

How To Make Chloroform

How To Make Chloroform

"Did the news just teach us how to make Chloroform"

BeatSalty2825 Report

#17

How To Apologize

How To Apologize

dukekwondc Report

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Carrie Laughs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Got to say it's a shame Boris Johnson hasn't seen this or knows how real apologies work.

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#18

How To Properly Pour A Beverage From A Box/Carton

How To Properly Pour A Beverage From A Box/Carton

virilante Report

#19

How To Extract A Splinter

How To Extract A Splinter

soglamsofresh Report

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Caro Caro
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, I needed this. I still have a splinter in my thumb and it's driving me nuts!

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#20

How To Get Help In Case Of Home Violence Or If You‘Re Being Threatened

How To Get Help In Case Of Home Violence Or If You‘Re Being Threatened

EduDo_App Report

#21

My Coworkers Ear Got Blisters From Wearing The Surgical Mask. My Easy And Cheap Solution, 4 Large Paper Clips

My Coworkers Ear Got Blisters From Wearing The Surgical Mask. My Easy And Cheap Solution, 4 Large Paper Clips

TheCupsOfWater Report

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Tolga ÜSTÜN
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Masks blisters are no joke and it ain't stupid if it works. This man is a MacGyver

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#22

How To Stay Sane In Isolation, From Stereoplex

How To Stay Sane In Isolation, From Stereoplex

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K Witmer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Isolation has been so easy for me. I rarely leave my home and I prefer it this way.

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#23

Thanks To Your Advice On This Sub, I Was Able To Restore My Favorite Boots! Vinyl Repair Kit And Some Kiwi Really Did The Trick

Thanks To Your Advice On This Sub, I Was Able To Restore My Favorite Boots! Vinyl Repair Kit And Some Kiwi Really Did The Trick

m00nchild_ Report

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Whatshername
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now share how it works, please. I mean, who puts kiwi on a shoe? (yes, I know they're probably talking about the shoe polish brand and yes, I know banana peel seems to be a great way to make your shoes shine like.... a banana peel)

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#25

Watering Your Plants While On Vacation

Watering Your Plants While On Vacation

"If you're going away on vacation,place a pot on a step stool on your counter your succulents around the step stool,wet & run strings from the pot to the plants (tuck into each pot),fill the pot with water & the water will leach down to the plants."

Inaroundaboutway Report

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Francis
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

how long are your vacations that your succulents will need water?

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#26

Explain Relatives

Explain Relatives

Inaroundaboutway Report

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Sawdust
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, is First Cousin Once Removed really used for two different relations?

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#27

How To Say “Sorry, I’m Not Going That For Free”

How To Say “Sorry, I’m Not Going That For Free”

Misscuudi Report

#28

How To Know If You Have Heat Stroke

How To Know If You Have Heat Stroke

trongs24 Report

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Elliot Fowler
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An EMT responder once told me to never dump ice cold water on on a person if they have a heat stoke. I don't remeber the reason but it might kill the person.

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#29

Howto Boost A Car

Howto Boost A Car

wolffblitzer Report

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malenchki
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it wrong that when I saw how to jump a car I thought of a person actually trying to jump over a car

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#30

How To Survive Falling Over A Waterfall

How To Survive Falling Over A Waterfall

AnasuiCabrera Report

#31

If You’ve Never Shovelled A Drive Way And Happen To Have A Snow Shovel. This Is The Most Efficient Way

If You’ve Never Shovelled A Drive Way And Happen To Have A Snow Shovel. This Is The Most Efficient Way

decendingvoid Report

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Rijkærd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would like to shovel snow. Am from the equator and only snow I've seen is on a mountain 5000+ m high that am not cli.bing anytime soon again..

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#32

How To Know How Much Time There Is Until Sunset

How To Know How Much Time There Is Until Sunset

trongs24 Report

#33

How To Get Your Kids To Take Medicine

How To Get Your Kids To Take Medicine

denisaki07 Report

#34

How To Survive A Grenade Explosion

How To Survive A Grenade Explosion

BlackElf01 Report

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Tolga ÜSTÜN
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"How to jump a car" to "how to survive a grenade explosion"... Well that escalated quickly

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#35

How To Make Different Color Camp Fire

How To Make Different Color Camp Fire

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#36

Wanted To Share This Great Idea

Wanted To Share This Great Idea

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BorPand8
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And here's the bit they should have included with this: "So I just remembered something my dad taught me about organizing the disassembled screws/nails during a project, simply use cardboard and a pen"

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#37

How To Escape A Sinking Car

How To Escape A Sinking Car

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Nianudd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, when the kids I work with pass their driving test, I give them a present. In the bag is a seatbelt cutter/hammer tool, a small book on basic car maintenance, and a keyring that can fit a rolled up £20 note for emergencies. All useful things to have, and not very expensive

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#38

How To Test If A Plant Is Edible

How To Test If A Plant Is Edible

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#39

How To Make Hand Puppets

How To Make Hand Puppets

randomusefulbits Report

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September
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That boredpanda, looks more like a snail. Wait! Is that a euphemism 🤔🤭

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#40

How To Correctly Reverse Park

How To Correctly Reverse Park

Sumit316 Report

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Steffen Rehm
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You forgot the Car behind you, that usually keep close to you, or take the spot you want first.

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Note: this post originally had 92 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.