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“What’s Something ‘Low Effort, High Reward’ You Wish More People Knew About?” (30 Answers)
People tend to underestimate things that come their way the easy way, or without any extreme effort. Be it things, education, skills or something related to our health - incredible efforts or big money spent on it increase its value in our eyes. But how true is this?
No, in some cases - for example, when it comes to education, high costs are mostly justified. You will not find, for example, courses on YouTube comparable to Harvard or MIT. But in everyday life, it's quite possible to significantly improve your life with really low efforts. So our new selection of facts and stories is dedicated to such pieces of advice.
More info: Reddit
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#1
Walking daily. Even just 10 minutes in the morning helps a lot.
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#2
Sunscreen and a hat works better than a $300 skincare routine.
Mel in Georgia 4 months ago
As an older woman, I have sags and wrinkles everywhere except on my b*m and tatas. There's a reason for that!
#3
Drink enough water daily.
In various communities on the Internet, you can find many threads dedicated to this question, or more precisely, "What’s something 'low effort, high reward' you wish more people knew about?" and in two fresh threads that we found, several hundred answers and their discussions have already accumulated in just a couple of days.
So please meet our collection of the most interesting and useful opinions of these threads, made for you by Bored Panda!
#4
Calling your 80plus year old parents just to say hi and end with love ya guys.I work in a retirement home for last 16 years and this makes there day.
Mel in Georgia 4 months ago
And please don't think that a visit or call to a parent with dementia won't matter because they won't remember. They might not remember the conversation or even that you were there, but they will FEEL better. One study had memory patients watch either a sad or happy movie. They weren't able to recall the movie, but when asked how they felt, they were happy or sad depending on the movie they watched. Your positive attention matters!
#6
I find it really rewarding giving people genuine compliments. Often I'll think, Oh that person always dresses nicely when I see them, or, her nail polish is really cute, and i used to just think this and move along. Lately, I've been telling people if I think something nice about them and you'd be surprised how genuinely happy it can make people.
We were shopping at this big outlet mall and there was a nice but pretty unhappy looking lady (in the States people smile a lot but not so much in this part of Europe; i understand that but this wasn't a case of that, really, she looked like she might be having a bad day) helping us. While she was packaging up the purchase I noticed her nails were really cute and, though I was kind of intimidated to say something (I try to mind my business here in case my small talk is unwanted lol), I said, "I like your nails, your nail polish, it's so cute." Her whole demeanor changed, it was like a dark cloud lifted from her face. She smiled and held up her hands to show me and said, "I did them myself!" I said, "really? It looks so good and it's like Easter colors" (this was before Easter). She was so happy, "Yes! I did them for Easter!" When we left the store she still looked happy and it felt so nice to me to think i made someone smile even if it was just for a moment.
Mel in Georgia 4 months ago
This is easier for a woman to do than a man. Still, if a man compliments me, I try to take it at face value, smile and say, "Thanks!"
Interestingly, a significant portion of the advice presented in this selection concerns mainly our health, both physical and mental, as well as our household. The most interesting thing is that the vast majority of recommendations fully correspond to the description - these are really low effort and mostly high reward things.
For example, the idea of putting things in their place immediately after using them is, by and large, as old as the world, and as effective as the world too. We take the laundry out of the dryer - we put it on the shelves. The dishwasher signals the end of the wash - we do the same with the dishes. In fact, this really saves a lot of time... so why do many of us not follow this wise advice?
#7
Brush your d**n teeth!
Yrral Spavit 4 months ago
Lost a tooth. It had a difficult root so $2k for a root canal to try to save it. Lost it anyway two years on. Several hundred to remove and prep for implant. Implant is north of $3K. Brush and floss your teeth!
#8
Flossing once a day.
It takes like 2 minutes, but the long-term payoff in dental health, fresh breath, and avoiding painful (and expensive) procedures is massive. Plus, it makes your dentist way nicer to you.
#9
Put stuff in their place immediately after using. Dishes in the dishwasher. Dirty clothes on the hamper. Snacks in the pantry. Takes a few seconds and decreases the mess exponentially.
Child of the Stars 4 months ago
I do this as a coping skill for depression and anxiety. Mess and clutter make it worse, so if I stay on top of it, it helps keep the symptoms manageable.
If we discard trivial things like human laziness, then procrastination (which has become an integral part of our lives today) and just being overloaded with various things remain. In fact, we're sometimes so afraid of not having time to do something - that in the end we end up not having time to do even more. A paradox? Yes. But it's precisely these boring routine habits that sometimes help us be more productive.
"Researchers have found that we’re more likely to overcome a relational or work-related impasse not when we are hunched over our desks in rapt concentration or collaborating in a Zoom meeting, but rather on breaks when we do boring activities or when our minds wander," Lydia Sohn, a United Methodist minister and writer, notes in her article for The New York Times.
"Approximately one-fifth of our most creative ideas emerge during those times."
#10
7 minute stretching routine when you wake up and before you go to bed. Stretching is an extremely underrated type of exercise that can drastically affect how well your body moves without pain, especially as you get older.
keyboardtek 4 months ago
When you get old and your tissue dries out, it is important to not stretch cold muscles. Move around a bit to warm them up before stretching anything. Too easy to tear the cold soft muscle tissue.
#11
Shutting the f**k up.
Michael Largey 4 months ago
Not everything that pops into your head has to pop out of your mouth.
#12
Doing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen, every time you've eaten food.
I've made it a habit, and it's so nice that I can just go to my clean kitchen and start cooking, or make me a sandwich, whenever I feel like it.
I've begun cleaning while I cook, that limits the piles of dirty cooking gear afterwards, making the cleanup a lot easier and faster.
Karl der Große 4 months ago
In my house, I have some bugs that come by and lick off the big chunks of food. It makes it a lot easier when October rolls around and it is time to do the dishes again. PM me your address and I'll send you some.
In fact, this point of view is supported by many examples from the lives of famous people. For example, the great detective writer Agatha Christie admitted more than once that she came up with her best plot twists and book ideas when she was simply washing dishes at home.
Washing by hand - and while the hands did the usual mechanical work - the mind, free from thinking about a long-familiar procedure, was creating with all its might.
In other words, by doing some routine things useful for the household, we actually free up time for the future (after all, if you don’t empty, for example, the dishwasher in time, you will definitely have to do it at the most inopportune moment - well, I have personally verified this...!), and, in addition, we free up our brain for all sorts of creative things or hobbies.
#13
Working out, even for 10-20 mins every 2 days is enough to keep you in a better condition than the average person.
#14
Setting up autopay for bills
saves time and avoids late fees.
Tele Avision 4 months ago (edited)
Most people who don't use autopay its because they have to make sure they have money in their account at the time of withdraw. These are the many who are people living paycheck to paycheck. These are the working poor making Utility Companies, Property Management companies, and every other basic needs parasite providers wealthy.
Another category of advice presented in this selection of ours concerns various frugal hacks. A very relevant thing in the modern world with its insane prices, when money sometimes slips away like water through your fingers. So, in fact, I will tell you for myself - I completely agree with the authors from this list who say that the ability to cook and various DIY skills are a real treasure.
In fact, I'm even afraid to imagine how much more money would be spent on our family budget if my wife didn't know how to cook (I can do it too, but she does it better). As for, well, household skills, I generally support the opinion that critical things should be done by professionals - however, for example, I assembled all the furniture in our house (my wife can do it too, but I do it better).
The most interesting thing is that this is really a low-effort thing - you can really learn a lot, for example, through videos on YouTube. Perhaps a professional will do it better and faster, but you, firstly, will be proud every time you look at what you did yourself (if, of course, you did it well), and secondly, your wallet will be just as happy as you are.
#17
Not drinking will improve your life so much.
Bell-icose 4 months ago
In every way. Even if you don’t quit outright, just cutting back significantly is a huge win.
#18
Investing early. Even small amounts grow into something huge if you just leave them alone. Compound interest is the ultimate "set it and forget it" cheat code. I wish I would've started earlier.
Henrik Knudsen 4 months ago
A lot of people are living paycheck to paycheck. So that's a no go.
Okay, anyway, the main thing about this selection is the opinions and advice of netizens that we've collected for you, so please feel free to read this list to the end and, if you also have something to share with other people, feel free to write everything in the comments below this post. In the end, as the great Roman sage Cicero said, "No one can give you better advice than yourself."
#20
Making bread or, in general, your own baked goods. So much better than what you get in a package (in taste and quality) and not as hard as people think.
Mel in Georgia 4 months ago
I don't eat enough bread to justify this. I like my preservative-loaded store-bought loaf so I can have a sandwich every once in a while!
#21
I live in Indiana and had kids in my 20s. I took online classes at community college with PELL grants for 2 years. While working. I didn't get a degree but I looked at what certificate I could get related to my day job. I worked at a warehouse. Got a certificate in Supply Chain Management and Logistics. I've gotten two promotions since then at the same company. I mailed my transcript to corporate HR and my profile in the system gives me credit for basically having a degree when I apply for jobs. I work in the office now doing inventory on spreadsheets and records etc.
#24
Meditation. Once you get the hang of it it transforms you and your life.
Just 10 minutes a day will make a big noticeable difference within weeks.
#25
If something takes less than 2 minutes to do, just do it. You’ll feel better when it’s done.
#26
Putting money in a Roth IRA while you are under 40 years old and leave it be. Just put it in a stock index fund, nothing fancy needed. Compound interest and passive income are about as low effort, high reward you will ever get.
keyboardtek 4 months ago
Hopefully one has the income level to be able to have extra money left to invest after paying your bills. Too many people do not.
#28
Using people's names to get them to like you.
Michael Largey 4 months ago
I always learned my students' names (and what they liked to be called) right at the start.
#29
Flowers. A bunch of flowers is such a high impact romantic gesture that costs so little.
Boredandsomea 4 months ago
not always, my girlfriend hates flowers and don´t see the point in them, she likes low maintains plants and there is the whole ordeal with when you get them: at the beginning of a night out going to different places flowers are a nuisance.
#30
Automated low cost index fund investing.
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What do you think ?
Yrral Spavit 4 months ago
Preparing a go bag(s) and reviewing it annually. We were evacuated for a wildfire and all we had to do was pack personal bags and the car. Others were running around in a panic wondering where this that or the other needed item was.
Lee Gilliland 4 months ago
Telling people that you admire them and why always makes your life a little better. Melanie Wilkes was very underrated.
Mel in Georgia 4 months ago
Why on earth were you downvoted? To be complimented for who you are is so uplifting!
Load More Replies... Mel in Georgia 3 months ago
So much this! Hard to hate what you're doing when you're shaking your booty doing it!
Load More Replies... Yrral Spavit 4 months ago
Preparing a go bag(s) and reviewing it annually. We were evacuated for a wildfire and all we had to do was pack personal bags and the car. Others were running around in a panic wondering where this that or the other needed item was.
Lee Gilliland 4 months ago
Telling people that you admire them and why always makes your life a little better. Melanie Wilkes was very underrated.
Mel in Georgia 4 months ago
Why on earth were you downvoted? To be complimented for who you are is so uplifting!
Load More Replies... Mel in Georgia 3 months ago
So much this! Hard to hate what you're doing when you're shaking your booty doing it!
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