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30 Stories Of People Trying Out Various Popular “Life Hacks” But Getting Nothing But Frustration
Literally everything in this world has its own life cycle, and sooner or later everything comes to an end. People, countries, products, trends, knowledge, and even life hacks. In fact, it's very difficult to think of a single life hack that would be absolutely universal and applicable for even a few decades.
Indeed, paradoxically, many useful tips don't even withstand a simple confrontation with reality, essentially only complicating the lives of those who try to follow them. Don't believe me? Then let's read this collection of stories and opinions, made for you by Bored Panda!
More info: Reddit
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#1
Those YouTube videos of an "Amazing Quick Meal With Two Simple Ingredients" that take 12 more ingredients, 4 different kitchen appliances and half an hour to produce something that looks like fried vomit.
RELATED:
#2
Most tips on how to prepare food in a slightly less efficient way: “Remove a mango rind easily! All you need is a knife, spoon, glass, plate, a colander, your first born child, and three blind mice…”
My dude, mangoes and avocados are soft fruits. You can just scoop them out with a spoon.
#3
Any "hack" that involves mixing vinegar and baking soda to clean better. The bubbles do nothing, the carbon dioxide does nothing and the sodium acetate you make...also does nothing.
A few days ago, a thread appeared on AskReddit, whose author, the user u/One_Seat4219, asked other netizens: "What's the most overrated 'life hack' that everyone swears by but actually makes life more complicated?" The question turned out to be quite relevant - at least today, the thread already has almost 5K upvotes and about 2.5K different comments.
Well, a significant portion of these comments are precisely the heated debate of examples provided by netizens in the discussion. After all, as often happens, what works for one person turns out to be completely inapplicable to another. And for a third or fourth, it may seem downright ridiculous or even harmful.
#4
Touchscreen controls in cars.
Jumping Jellyfishes 1 month ago (edited)
I love knøbs amd dials! I want them back on cars and appliances, pls. Also, apparently I'm not human enough for touchscreens to react my touch. And while we're at it, more usable pockets on women's clothing, too.
#5
Waking up at 5:00 am. If it works for you, cool, but not everyone is an early morning person.
#6
Anyone who says "if you're always the one reaching out, you don't have real friends." it's a great way to end up making everyone lonelier.
This panda says ur worth it 1 month ago
Yeah mostly I’m just reaching out cuz my friends are weird little introverts who don’t want to feel like a burden and want me to start conversations but love talking to me just don’t want to be the first
A separate category among the life hacks in this collection is occupied by various frugal hacks from the "do-it-yourself" category. While it's true that knowing how to use basic tools at home, cook well, or do the chores quickly and efficiently is almost a must-have and truly saves time, everything has its limits.
For example, if a senior programmer, whose hourly work costs a lot of money, were to take on, let’s say, tiling their own bathroom, is it actually worth the time spent? Of course, you can learn everything and do it quite well - but is it worth it?
After all, for the time spent, the person in our example could’ve earned so much money that it would’ve compensated for the work of a professional, plus some extra, right?
And yet, a professional would’ve done the job better, simply due to their skills and experience. So, everything needs to be considered - unless, of course, we're talking about the moral satisfaction of doing something with your own hands.
#7
Unplugging all your normally "always-on" appliances, then plugging them back in to use them, then repeat...all to save 75 cents worth of power in a year.
#8
Idk if this qualifies but I keep seeing spam videos of people taking sea water and boiling it for “free salt”. You can literally get a thing of Morton salt for like $1.50.
Ace 1 month ago
I've never seen it, and surely it's so obviously ridiculous no=one would fall for it? Or do these people think that power for the stove comes free?
Eliyahu Rooff 1 month ago
Salt isn't the only mineral in sea water. You have no idea what you're getting if you don't have a chemistry analytics lab in your home.
Emilu 1 month ago
I totally use 'thing' for anything for which I can't remember the name. ... which is most things.
Load More Replies... #9
When people post about making their own clothes washing "detergent".
"Just buy these four products, a bucket, and mixer for a drill, etc. Grate these soap bars, mix with these powders, cook in a pot with water then add to the bucket with more water. Then mix with more water to 5 gallons."
And end up with 5 gallons of terrible "detergent" that will gunk up your clothes, break your washer and probably give you rashes since your clothes are full of that stuff.
Just buy a good detergent on sale for about 8 bucks and use 1 to 2 tablespoons per load and youll get clean clothes and a long lasting washer. The largest jug of detergent will get you like 200 loads when you use the CORRECT amounts, not what they "recommend" on the bottle.
Lady Eowyn 1 month ago
Using a fraction of the amount of liquid detergent that's recommended on the label gets the clothes just as clean.
By the way, regarding programming and technology, a special place in our selection is occupied by various points of view on AI and its widespread implementation in different companies. Well, artificial intelligence can undoubtedly be incredibly useful, but what about being implemented completely thoughtlessly - just for the sake of an extra line in an advertising brochure or in a pitch deck?
I remember about 15 years ago, riding the wave of hype surrounding the recently released "Avatar" movie, a similar 3D craze was literally everywhere - and even 3D TVs were being released. So, where are those TVs today? "Don't expect 3D TVs to make a comeback anytime soon," a recent post on Wired claims.
By and large, any hyped product always goes through its life cycle and eventually finds its niche. But implementing AI where its use can only cause chaos and bottlenecks in the workflow isn't rationalization; it's simply the mindless following of a trend.
#10
You have to forgive others that wrong you to heal. Nope, you need to only forgive yourself for not seeing through them.
Joe Publique 1 month ago
Disagree. Both statements are trash. Forcing yourself to forgive someone when you don't feel ready is unhealthy, and blaming yourself for 'being fooled' is just victim-blaming from the inside. Healing is about letting go. Love and hate are not opposites. The opposite of both is indifference.
#11
AI in the workflow just so your company can say they rolled out AI and integrated it into their workflow. But it interrupts workflow.
#12
That way they fold fitted sheets. It’s just as easy for me to ball them up and toss them in the closet.
The same applies to various health hacks. After all, each of us is unique. No, this isn't just another "life growth" slogan. We’re all truly unique, even from a biological perspective - take it from a father of twins! Each of us has our own limits, our own personal biorhythms, and our own “body settings.”
While waking up at 5 a.m. is a fantastic productivity boost for some, others will simply feel grumpy and sleep-deprived all day. Yes, if you wake up early in the morning, you'll likely have more productive time to do something useful. But that's only if your body actually accepts it.
In fact, every piece of biological advice and life hack from experts should come with a disclaimer: "It worked for me, but it's far from guaranteed to work for you!" But then, such expert opinions wouldn't sell as well, right?
#13
Opening a banana from the bottom. Saves literally no time or trouble.
The Other Guest 1 month ago
I've opened bananas both ways, and I do find it easier to open it by pinching the bottom rather than trying to get the stem end to break, especially if the fruit is still a little green. (Now there's a sentence I wouldn't want taken out of context.) YMMV of course.
#14
Downloading almost all apps. Web version is fine and doesn’t eat all my storage….
#15
Kitchen gadgets. Nearly all of problems they “solve” could be done just as easy with a quality sharpened knife.
In fact, it's often impossible to determine whether life hacks that lack any kind of performance metrics actually work. For example, those that affect our mood or productivity. Nicholas A. Coles, Assistant Professor at the University of Florida, convincingly demonstrates in his recent study that the placebo effect is actually much more influential on our minds.
In other words, if we use a popular and widespread hack, does it actually help us, or do we just think it does? According to Coles, "without proper control conditions, we will never know."
#16
Internet has told me that I've been opening juice boxes and milk cartons wrong all our life.
I feel like I'll continue with the old ways. They maybe 'wrong', but its how everyone I know does it, and has served us alright.
Apatheist Account2 1 month ago
One hack that does work - if you have a carton with the opening at one side or corner, put that to the top (ie away from the receptacle rather than near to it) before you pour (imagine the opening is the dot on the "i" - have that at the top). It will not then spurt out like it does if the opening is at the bottom. It's to do with making it easier for air to replace the liquid.
#17
People that will drive across town or really any distance at all to save a nickel on a gallon of gas!
This one drives me crazy. It’s like “Even if you have a 20 gallon gas tank ( most are 12 ) it’s still only a dollar.” You’re going to use that up in the travel time to and back. Please stop telling me you’re saving all this money it’s absolutely nonsense!
Ace 1 month ago (edited)
Most people are able to do simple sums, you know. Most will know how much fuel their cars use. If you can save even 5 cents a litre (and prices can often vary by up to 10c between cheapest and most expensive locations) then that's $2.50 on a normal tankful, well worth driving a couple of km out of your way at a fuel cost of perhaps twenty cents per km. Do the maths, rocket science it is not.
#18
Uh, using tech for so many of the things we already have or had ways to take care of.
My life has definitely not been made easier by a lot of tech things.
Kelly H. Wilder 1 month ago
My refrigerator does not need to be able to tell me to go buy milk.
Be that as it may, over thousands of years of human evolution, humanity has accumulated a vast amount of life experience and wisdom. Much of this wisdom has already become outdated and sank into oblivion, but some of the useful and not so useful advice listed here should still be appreciated. So, please read carefully what's written here and consider whether it's worth applying to your daily life.
After all, no one can guarantee it won't work for you. Why? Well, at the very least, I have a neighbor who's been happily watching 3D TV for 12 years now, and considers it the ultimate pleasure... And what do you, our dear readers, think of these "useless" life hacks?
#19
Hacks that save a dollar or two but take a lot of time to execute. You may as well just work another hour in a job.
#20
Not sure if it's a "life hack" but people have suggested I "journal". No thank you I prefer to write my thoughts into the void of the Internet thank you very much.
#21
Hardcore Couponing - the average person is spending more driving to all the different stores than they are saving. Plus all the hours spent clipping/organizing/planning could be spent on other things. And I say this as someone who hardcore did hardcore couponing for 2 years.
#22
Almost all "productivity apps". They take more time to set up and maintain than they will ever save.
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago
But I do use spreadsheets a lot. For recipe development, tracking expenses, etc.
#23
Drinking a gallon of water a day. Having to find a restroom every hour definitely complicates things.
#24
Check in all the time culture. It doesn’t build connection, it builds burnout. If you want to connect, show up.
Tyranamar Seuss 1 month ago
What the heck is "check in all the time culture?" This person has friends that make them check-in? And they think this is some type of "culture" going on? No, that's just weird.
#25
Putting everything in your pantry into jars
Yes it looks nice but it’s not practical.
- It usually takes up more space (especially when running low) but also usually isn’t big enough to handle a refill before you’ve completely run out.
- you lose all your use by dates
- you don’t have a reference for which brand you bought last time in case you want to buy similar again (or different)
- they break if dropped.
#26
Waze. If I wanted to save three minutes which became 14 minutes, I would have stayed on 101.
#27
Growing plants so you don't have to buy them.
Jumping Jellyfishes 1 month ago
I don't care if the yield is low or sporadic. Having fresh from the garden tomatoes every once in a while is totally worth it.
#28
Meal prepping sounds disgusting. Enjoy this food you made six days ago, for the sixth day in a row .
#29
Pomodoro technique. Everyone loves it online, but I find switching tasks every 25 minutes more distracting than helpful.
#30
Common ADHD hack I see is brush your teeth in the shower 😬 like where are you putting your toothbrush so it's not getting soap on it? Just feels unsanitary. I get the idea behind it but not the application
Edit cuz some people are misunderstanding. I'm not saying people with ADHD do this. I'm saying it's a hack suggested a lot in the ADHD subreddits to help people who forget to brush their teeth.
Biana Weatherford 1 month ago
I do this and I swear by it. I get in, get the toothbrush ready (I have a cup mounted on the wall by the showerhead) and then let the minty fresh wake me up. I allow the water to soothe me, get my long hair wet, and wake me up. Then I swish and spit and carry on with the cleaning. Works for me.
What do you think ?
Lee Gilliland 1 month ago
I find anything single-use, be it agadget, a recipient, or a hack pretty worthless.
Lee Gilliland 1 month ago
I find anything single-use, be it agadget, a recipient, or a hack pretty worthless.
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