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43 Strange Everyday Hacks People Swear By That Actually Make Life Easier
Life can be messy, and saving a little time or effort here and there can add to a noticeable difference. Not to mention that even an attempt to do so introduces novelty to our daily routines, which can keep things from feeling so monotonous.
A few days ago, Reddit user This-Aint-Frankie asked the internet, "What's your 'don't knock it ’til you try it' life hack?" The comment section quickly filled with clever, unusual, and genuinely useful tips. If it sounds stupid, but it works, it isn't stupid!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Married guy here, sleeping in different bedrooms sometimes. Different sleeping patterns, loud sleepers, bedtimes, etc. Outdated concept that needs to change.
Laughing Orc 2 months ago
Seconded. Getting a good night's sleep is more important than spending the night in the same bed as your spouse.
RELATED:
#2
Doing things alone as a single person.
Laughing Orc 2 months ago
Or when you're in a relationship. Nothing wrong with having your own interests.
It makes sense that discussions like this one go viral in such times of relatively h**h uncertainty.
According to a new survey of 2,000 people, which explored the health approaches and habits that really make a difference, three in four people (77% of respondents) are now trying to actively prioritize what feels good over what makes them look good.
And 30% of individuals reported they’ve adopted a more mindful health approach in 2025, which is a result of their increased awareness of bodily cues, mental processes, and emotional responses.
#3
This is absolutely genius. I doubt I’m anywhere near the first to do this, and I don’t know if there’s been any official research into this in regards to ADHD, but it works for me so hopefully this is helpful. Pavlov’s Dog refers to a Russian physiologist who trained his dogs to salivate whenever they heard a bell because he rang a bell every time he fed them. A few months ago, I accidentally did the same to myself.
Every Saturday, I clean my room and light a scented candle (Sandalwood if you’re wondering). Completely coincidentally, I also get takeout food on Saturdays, so now whenever I smell sandalwood I crave orange chicken. It then occurred to me that I could intentionally start doing this to myself. So, I found a cologne I like the smell of but don’t use, and I started spraying a copious amount of it every time I needed to study or do assignments for around a week. Now, I only need one spray and I’m fully focused in work mode, it really works! At least for me. Hope this helps someone.
Ronja Oksanen 2 months ago
I have accidentally Pavloved my brain thinking that I must have a cup of cappuccino after showering 😅
#4
I can't believe I have to say this, but therapy.
keyboardtek 2 months ago
I wished therapy was a socially acceptable thing when I was a teen. Some mental issues just do not heal over time. Only when one becomes old and one's memory of one's painful past vanishes will past pain be gone unless you get therapy.
#5
Separate blankets for sleeping partners.
Peter Parker 2 months ago
Europe does it, why are people in the US so astonished when they find out?
The survey found that people are, indeed, stacking small, intentional habits that feel good and build long-term wellness.
The most popular include prioritizing sleep (50%), eating nourishing meals (49%), and moving their bodies in ways that feel good (44%).
Other acts respondents are embracing are saying "no" to things that are draining (38%), connecting with friends or loved ones in person (38%), and spending more time in nature (36%).
On average, people report adopting five of these acts daily, while many are enhancing their feel-good factor by learning more about what their body needs in order to improve their well-being inside and out.
#6
Smile broadly for a minute every morning when you are alone (like in the shower).
People think it's weird or stupid or superficial.
But it works in lifting your general mood. It confuses youir brain into thinking you are happy.
#7
Slow close toilet seats.
And when things aren't going their way, people seem to be increasingly happy with taking a softer and slower response to the adversity.
Nearly half (45%) of respondents say they take a nap or lie down, while others listen to music (30%), go for a walk (29%), or simply take a moment alone (24%).
#9
Green (Granny Smith) apples and (sharp) cheddar cheese
apparently not many people had this growing up but it'll always be one of my favorite snacks.
#11
Pilates is great for everyone but it’s life changing if you are over 50.
LillieMean 2 months ago
I recently started Pilates and it increases body control and awareness, but is surprisingly challenging. I recommend it.
#12
Using scissors to cut up a pizza.
#13
Putting a damp paper towel in the freezer for a few minutes and then using it as a quick cool-down on your face/neck. Sounds weird but it’s a lifesaver on hot days.
#14
A dash of strong black coffee in any chocolate cakes, cookies, brownies, frostings, or pastries. A dash of almond extract in any vanilla cakes, cookies, brownies, frostings, or pastries. I don’t know why it works, I just know it works like a charm.
no adhesiveness 2020 2 months ago
My mother always added a teaspoon of almond extract to cherry pie filling. Enhances the flavor immensely. Like adding musk to perfume.
geezeronthehill 2 months ago
Espresso powder in baked goods accentuates the flavor of chocolate without tasting of coffee.
Celtic Pirate Queen 2 months ago (edited)
A dash (1/4 cup) of strong coffee in any tomato based sauce (spaghetti or chili, for instance) adds that depth of flavor people just can't figure out. In any white sauce - a touch of freshly grated nutmeg. Trust me on this.
#16
Mammalian diving reflex. Just splashing some water on your face, while holding your breath, triggers your nervous system to slow the heart rate and redirect blood to vital organs. It’s some good s**t.
#17
Trading a social life for a healthy sleep schedule. I don't go out much, I don't party, but I actually look forward to going to sleep because I know I'm going to have a nice restful and refreshing night. Waking up naturally, without an alarm, is really really nice. Much less stressful. But I'm the kind of person who thinks that an event that starts after 7pm is "too late" now.
Child of the Stars 2 months ago
Many people underestimate the effects of good sleep hygiene, which includes both the quality of sleep and a bedtime routine. I prioritize it for myself and my kids.
#18
Dance like nobody is watching to start your day. Even if it’s for 3 minutes. Put on a song that gets you moving and reaaaally get into it. it will change your mood and mindset.
#19
If your every reheating any type of meat, pasta, rice, or pizza in the microwave, take a wet paper towel and put over the food and then microwave it. This life hack keeps your food from drying out.
#20
Put toothpaste on mosquito bites. They will disappear, or at least not itch anymore, within minutes.
Zig Zag Wanderer 2 months ago
And on skin tags! They will dry out and fall of. Amazing, but it works.
#21
Making burgers, hot dogs, subs and other sandwiches (breakfast sandwiches, too) at home, then wrapping them in food wrapping paper, as the deli or takeout joint would do, then setting them down for 10 minutes before eating them. EDIT TO ADD THE WHY: Wrapping sandwiches is often the last important step to get everything to come together, to marinate in a way, to have ingredients come to a cohesive temperature, soften, etc. When we struggle at home to duplicate a sandwich from a favorite joint, it's often missing this important step. Cheesesteaks, subs, burgers, dogs. Try it!
WindySwede 2 months ago (edited)
Cheesesteaks? Im listning! Edit " A cheesesteak is a sandwich made from thinly sliced pieces of beefsteak and melted cheese in a long hoagie roll. A popular regional fast food, it has its roots in the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania." Wiki
#22
Making your own salad dressing, if you’re not stuck on super sweet mass produced dressings, or if so now’s a good time to switch, it’s waaay cheaper and you can keep it for a while in a closed mason jar in the fridge.
Julia Ford 2 months ago
Lemon, honey, evoo, salt & pepper - mix and put on arugula. Sooooo good!
#23
Pineapple on Pizza.
#24
Folding laundry while watching trash TV. I swear it goes from “ugh” to “mindless background task.”.
#25
Ham radio. It a fun hobbies. But people today knock it as they think it pointless because of cell phones. Without realizing the power ham radio has because it does not rely on infrastructure having to exist.
Manic Mama 2 months ago
When Cyclone Tracy demolished Darwin (city in Australia) on Christmas Eve/Day 1974, it was ham radio operators that got help. All the telecommunications infrastructure was gone, and the local ham radio operators got a message out to someone overseas. Those people contacted Canberra (Australia's capital), and help was arranged. We owe them a lot.
#26
Give the max amount to your 401k day one.
Trust me on this. Your retired self will thank you later.
Michael Danhauer 2 months ago
Sure, retirement will still be a thing 20 years from now with our strong economy and social security program. In case you can't tell this is sarcasm.
#27
Sing! It feels good, increases your oxygen levels, can improve your lung and respiratory function, and all sorts of other wonderful things.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
When I sing, it makes people go away. So there’s that.
#28
Pedicures. Not necessarily thought of as a thing guys do, but having a daughter, it is great bonding time and feels amazing afterwards.
#29
If you're doing a frustrating task and you feel your temper rise with your body temp, put a small fan nearby blowing on you to cool you off while you work. Increased body temperature is strongly linked to irritation and aggression. Literally cooling off will help keep you cool off.
I am constantly doing annoying jobs in tight spaces like plumbing and electrical work and automotive jobs that are frustrating and stressful. If you're like me, you get real hot and sweaty and you feel that "F*****g FORD ENGINEERS!" mood kicking up, a breeze on the back of my neck literally solves it.
Callum Young 2 months ago
Or run cold water over your wrists and forearms. Works on pretty much the same principle, but a bit faster as it's directly targeting (cooling) blood running close to the surface.
#30
Bidet bidet bidet bidet bidet.
Zig Zag Wanderer 2 months ago (edited)
Ayup! In Italy people would be disgusted if they knew you hadn't washed that ârse after a dump.
#32
Putting chapstick on fresh TP just before your final wipe. Literally saved my a*s in the winter so many times.
WindySwede 2 months ago
Gives a new meaning to " I kissed a girl and I liked it The taste of her cherry ChapStick"
#33
Idk if other people already do this , my family says its weird . Putting mayo on a bacon egg and cheese bagel 🤤.
#34
Cheezits in soup instead of crackers.
EDIT: It works for soup, chili, or pretty much any liquid based meal. Chili cheese Fritos are a solid choice if Cheezits aren’t available. I’ve never tried goldfish, but I expect similar results. Chunky soup and “fat b*****d” chili are my go to work meals. I was not expecting this much of a response. You guys are great for validating my soup-cracker choices 😂.
#37
Grilled pineapple on a chicken burger can be kinda nice.
#38
Sitting/standing in the sun after waking up.
#39
Teach yourself to laugh when in pain. Your body just needs to make noise to alert others to danger. If you laugh that still happens, but if you're ever attacked and start laughing when they expect you to scream, it scares them. Since fighting isn't working, they go into flight mode.
#40
Set a 15-minute timer and start the thing you’re avoiding. Momentum kicks in, and half the time you just keep going after the timer ends.
#41
Sea salt on watermelon. Thank me later.
#42
If your nose is absolutely congested to the point where you cannot breathe, take a muscle massager and put it on the bridge of your nose. The vibrations will stimulate the nerves in there and it will make you sneeze the most blast-worthy sneeze you ever had. Clears you right up for maybe 5 minutes.
laughtracksuit replied:
Be VERY careful using a massager anywhere close to your head. My wife did this and rattled the inner ear crystals loose - this causes intense vertigo (BPPV) that can be very difficult to resolve.
Child of the Stars 2 months ago
There aren't any cold medications in the US that are approved for children under 6, so when my kids were little, I'd take a super hot shower and have them in the bathroom with me. The steam seemed to do the trick most of the time.
#43
Sobriety, no carbs, cook at home 90% of the time, bidet, wooden pellet cat litter, no spend days, a healthy amount of selfishness. Watch your life 🚀.
WindySwede 2 months ago
Wood pellet cat litter is quit ok for the humans but cat here did absolutely prefer the usual Bentonite kitty litter!
#44
Get a cooling blanket. Thin, slippery as all get out and when you spread it over you, it feels like it came out of the fridge!
#46
Taking a nap on your lunch break. Awesome….
#47
Go skydiving. Just do it. I go once or twice a year for a tandem jump and every time it is a treatment for depression and anxiety. It's 6+ months of "yeah that's small s**t" instead of "holy f**k I have Soo much on my plate and I want to lay down and die".
Complete reset mentally. It's like it f*****g cleans you out. I compare it to taking a hot shower after playing in snow all day when it's over.
For people wondering why I don't get licensed to skydive myself 1. I like my money in my wallet 2. I actually don't "enjoy" skydiving. I enjoy the effect it has after the skydive.
#48
Making a bacon and egg sandwich with toasted leftover French toast.
#49
Grilling a peanut butter and jelly sandwich like a grilled cheese.
#50
Brushing my teeth in the shower.
#51
Air Fryer. Hands down. Breakfast takes me 15 minutes. I throw a Hashbrown patty and sausage patty in the air fryer for 15 minutes, jump in the shower, egg in the microwave for a minute, english muffin in the toaster, slice some cheese and within 15 I'm done and ready to head out the door.
#52
Fried pepperoni on top of your lasagna. Its not that wild but my first reaction was absolutely not. You have to fry the pepperoni like bacon in a pan then pour the grease and pepperoni on top of your lasagna when youre in the final cheese stages. It will make your tongue beat your f*****g brains out.
#53
Shower beer.
Don't ask me to explain, just take a cold can of beer into the shower next time, thank me later.
#54
Say I love you in the mirror to yourself every morning until you completely buy it. Will change your entire life.
#55
Drizzle magic shell on some pretzels and put them in the freezer for a minute.
#56
Frozen blueberries with honey drizzle on top!
#57
Using a potato peeler instead of a knife for cutting cheese has really sped up my prep time. It's so simple but effective.
#60
Dill pickles and cheetos puffs simultaneously are my fav snack. Curly fries with nutella when I’m drunk. Microwaving your scrambled eggs to get them the fluffiest, best scrambled eggs ever. Crack eggs into a bowl, pour a tiny splash of milk into it, whip the s**t out of them (the key is to whisk a lot of air into them too) and put in the microwave for 1min per egg. ((1 egg = 1 min, 2 eggs = 2 mins, etc)) and they will come out fluffy and delicious!
#62
Putting chips on your sandwich. Don’t argue, just do it.
#63
A cold egg roll.
#64
Ice in your milk! You’ll never go back.
#71
Spread your a*s cheeks as you sit down to poop. It will just slide out and you barely have to wipe. But don’t sit on the toilet too long like that, you’ll get hemorrhoids.
#72
Cheap sangria. Half coke half red wine.
Jan Rosier 2 months ago (edited)
Cold coke and red whine with icecubes is called 'calomocho' and is very popular in Spain and Spanish Campingsites. Which is where the Germans and Austrians mentioned by Jihana most probably got it from.
#73
Dipping pizza in bleu cheese dressing.
#75
Boiling eggs in the kettle.
Pop ‘em in, switch it on, forget about them for a bit, and then voila, boiled eggs.
#76
Butter a slice of bread, then wrap it around a freshly-cooked corn-on-the-cob to coat the corn with the butter.
Laughing Orc 2 months ago
Or just spread the butter on the corn and don't waste a slice of bread..?
#77
Eating a kiwi with the skin on. Significantly less effort to eat, and is significantly more convenient.
#78
Be bi. Doubles the size of your dating pool!
Laughing Orc 2 months ago (edited)
Arbitrarily changing your sexuality isn't really a life hack... Or something you can just 'do'...
What do you think ?
Callum Young 2 months ago
Food preferences (which make up most of these replies) hardly seems like a "life hack".
Lene 2 months ago
I have begun to eat salad instead of rice/pasta/potatoes on a daily basis. I feel just as full (I use bell pepper, carrots, whatever kind of cabbage or kale I feel like, cucumber, mushrooms, and sellery) and it just taste so great! When I do eat a bit of pasta I get so tired now. It's weird. Also, I used to snack every evening after the kids fell asleep. But now I just brush my teeth when the kids do and I go straight to bed when they have fallen asleep. I get more and better sleep that way. And my snacking has gone down to a minimum -I still snack in the weekend.
Barbara Smith 2 months ago
Dip a saltine cracker in your favorite flavor of yogurt, and it will taste like pie
Callum Young 2 months ago
Food preferences (which make up most of these replies) hardly seems like a "life hack".
Lene 2 months ago
I have begun to eat salad instead of rice/pasta/potatoes on a daily basis. I feel just as full (I use bell pepper, carrots, whatever kind of cabbage or kale I feel like, cucumber, mushrooms, and sellery) and it just taste so great! When I do eat a bit of pasta I get so tired now. It's weird. Also, I used to snack every evening after the kids fell asleep. But now I just brush my teeth when the kids do and I go straight to bed when they have fallen asleep. I get more and better sleep that way. And my snacking has gone down to a minimum -I still snack in the weekend.
Barbara Smith 2 months ago
Dip a saltine cracker in your favorite flavor of yogurt, and it will taste like pie
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