People Are Sharing “Cheat Codes” They’ve Found That Work In Real Life, Here Are 35 Of The Most Useful Ones
No one likes to waste unnecessary amounts of time and energy on things that can be done with a few quick shortcuts. Or find themselves in challenging scenarios and have no idea how to crack the code. Or do things the hard way when... You get it — "work smarter, not harder" is the way to go.
We naturally pick up small pieces of wisdom that allow us to overcome unexpected obstacles and complete demanding missions, but as you’ve definitely noticed, the game of life is often quite difficult. Sometimes, our brains struggle to unlock the secrets and find the little commands and hacks that would help us to move on to the next level. But thankfully, Redditors bacongobbler and Lurial decided to do us all a public service by sharing some very useful "cheat codes" with anyone who strives to make their days a bit easier.
So if you want to finally nail down this game we call life, we've got you covered! Below, our team at Bored Panda has wrapped up some of the best insights from these two threads to share with you all. But as the Redditors warn, remember to put your thinking caps on and do your own research before trying these moves in real life. So continue scrolling, upvote the hacks you didn't know about, and be sure to share your own bits of advice in the comments!
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Secretaries, tech support and janitors are the true power in office buildings. Make friends, remember birthdays and you can get anything you need or go anywhere you need.
Plus, they're human beings. You CAN actually be nice to people without any ulterior motive!
When commenting on something, whether it be reddit, facebook, etc. finish typing your comment, stop, re-read it twice and then ask yourself what you are trying to accomplish with said comment before posting
Til that comments have to accomplish something, I have hereby accomplished making a bunch of strangers aware of my musings on above subject.
Shut the f**k up.
Wait for the lawyer.
Turn it off, then on again.
When you have forgotten someone's name, simply say : "I'm sorry, but what was your name one more time." They may act offended, but when they give you their first name you simply reply "No, I meant your last name." (more socially acceptable to forget).
Bingo. First and last names.
Buy things out of season, this can save you money. Unless its food, then buy it in season
When you're giving a presentation, bring a bottle of water up to the podium. If you find yourself in a spot where you blank, taking a drink will allow you to gather your thoughts. Nobody will be the wiser.
When you buy something online, you usually get a chance to enter a promo code before you purchase.
Google the promo codes.
They're out there - you can get anything from free shipping to 25% off the purchase.
If you have crushing chest pain, call 911 first. Then chew some aspirin. I work in cardiology.
if you gently rock back and forth while pooping it will take significantly less time and make it easier to pass more "troublesome" movements. Best. Lifehack. Ever
For essays with minimum page requirements: If you finish your paper and realize that what you wrote is a shy of the minimum requirement, ctrl F your paper and search for ".". Change the font size of the periods from 12 to 14. They are the exact same size, but it causes the paper to be significantly longer (my 5 page original essay was stretched out to roughly 7 pages).
When I am in a large shopping centre (mall) I take a photo of the information board on my phone so I can look up how to get to stores without having to go back to the board
This is even more useful in an airport. I saw someone taking photos of the connection gates and gates map and scoff to myself "ppfft that's what the app is for", just to have the app stuck and nearly missing my flight
Easy splinter removal: dip the splintered body part in some Elmer's glue, let it dry, remove glue with splinter.
Easy lawn care: Pour "beer" (Bud Light, Coors, etc) on the lawn. Fermented sugars make great fertilizer.
Easy broken glass clean up: Get the tiny pieces up with a piece of bread, the consistency and texture picks up even the smallest shard.
Babywipes for the bathroom. Seriously, your life will be +1.
Never bring anything in to work. That way, when you leave (ie, earlier than usual) it doesn't look like you're leaving for the day.
I've got one. If you feel uncomfortable looking into someone's eyes when they're talking to you, look at their nose instead. They cannot tell the difference.
Yes I can?? Don’t stare at my nose it makes me worry that I’ve got snot on it.
Yeah. Stupid advice. People can tell- especially if it’s a one on one convo.
Load More Replies... I'm uncomfortable looking somebody in the eyes, and hella more uncomfortable if they look me in mine. Let's just awkwardly stare off in opposite directions like God intended.
oh they'll notice ad they'll think yo are starring at their lips. And for most guys it's an invitation, because some weirdo started the assumption yers ago that "if she stares at your lips - kiss her" rule applies to 99% of the times
If I seem to stare at your lips, it's because I'm hearing impaired. Trying to kiss me would result in a dislocated jaw. 😐
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Yup! Particularly Autistic people or other people who are ASD or neurodivergent. We have trouble with eye contact. Even with people we love and know really well and trust. I speak from experience
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me too! Even with people that I'm super comfortable around, like my boyfriend, it kinda freaks me out a lot lol
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When I want to look like I'm focusing on someone (but really don't want to), I look through them. First, look in their eyes, then shift your focus like you're looking at something behind them. It's like shifting focus from your phone to the TV, except you're looking "through" them rather than around them.
I'm that person with heterochromia and typically different sized pupils. I am the soul gazer and shall not be thwarted.
i usually try third eye or eyebrows but then i can't decide if i'm doing it right and i just end up looking shifty. best not to try.
It's okay to look away during conversations; that's called normal human interaction. Fact is that looking people too long in their eyes can actually make people feel uncomfortable, just as well as not looking them in their eyes can make them feel ignored. So moderation is the key.
When they look like Jabba the Hutt it would not go well for you to do this
I didn't realise for about 40 years that you were supposed to look in people's eyes when you talked to them. I always looked at their mouth (that's where the sound is coming from! And it helps if you can't quite hear a word or two). I still (about 2 years later) have to make a conscious decision to look at people's eye. No-one ever pulled me up or commented on it
Actually, I have begun to wonder if I look people in the eyes too much.
Technically you can't look someone in the "eyes" the range of vision in a close conversation makes it so you can only look at someone in the eye. Focusing on the bridge of the nose gives the illusion that you are looking straight at the other person.
Or, If you want to make someone super uncomfortable, look directly at their ear. They can't tell if you're looking beyond them or at something on them, but you're still engaged closely enough to just make them nervous.
Oh, it's AT their nose, not UP their nose ... now I've got some explaining to do. :(
I usually look at their breasts but somehow they always seem to notice🤪
look at their mouths. The corners of the mouth are more expressive than the eyes and will signal emotions that may not be apparent in the eyes.
Well if you start squinting insistently at their nose I guess they'll notice something.
When you eat hard shell taco's, do it over your nachos. That way when they disintegrate, you can eat the bits you lost with your nachos
Avoid forgetting something in the morning by placing it in your shoes. (works best if you wear the same pair every day.)
Try to use your non-dominant hand for more things, try to maintain an equal balance in your body. If you have paper and a writing utensil in front of you, try scribbling circles with your non-dominant hand. Stir things with it, open doors with it. Use your dominant hand for things that you'd usually use your non-dominant for.
Be conscious of how your body moves. Pick up your feet when you walk, pay attention to your posture, try not to lean to one side if you're standing for a long period of time. *Stretch.* Stretching is important in maintaining strength, balance and coordination. Try doing routine things in different ways, it'll help your body with the aging process and keep you in better shape.
If you want to develop certain traits as a person, live your life as if you've always been that way/had said traits. Eventually after a bit it will become so second nature that you won't even have to think about it.
Don't pretend to know something if you don't. You look ignorant if you're called out on it, and you force yourself to lose the opportunity to learn something new. If you're mocked for not knowing something and needing to ask, you're around the wrong people.
**tl;dr** Be conscious of how your body moves; try to stay balanced. Sometimes pretending to have certain traits will actually help you develop them. Be open to learning new things.
On flights, if you are fighting for an arm rest with a stranger. bring your arm (the one thats on the same side the arm rest you want) up to your mouth and sneeze/cough. Then place it by the armrest. The other person will move their arm. Has had 100% success rate
Learn to cook. You will save money, eat better and feel better. If you are terrible at cooking, there is only one way to get better...cook. Think of cooking not as a chore, but as something that is fun and that brings joy to other people and to yourself. If you live alone, invest in some nice pyrex containers, put a few portions in the freezer, a few in the fridge.
If you get brain freeze from eating something cold too quickly, press your tongue against the roof of your mouth as hard as you can. Voila, instant brainfreeze relief.
If you're at home/work/party or GOD forbid your girlfriend's house and the toilet starts to overflow, take the lid off the back reservoir part and lift the long handle as far up as it will go. The water will stop rising and then you can quietly mutter curses at it till it goes back down (which it does, more often than not...)
Always walk like you know where you are and what you're doing. Most people will just let you go on through/by/away. Works on most rent-a-cops and campus police.
Go anywhere at all with a high vis jacket, a stepladder and a small toolbox, can add a hard hat for extra effect, even easier to carry a bag with some light bulbs, incase anyone asks. You can literally get in anywhere
Give yourself half an hour of downtime in the morning, between being ready to leave and leaving, and your day won't feel so rushed
Where do you get that extra hour? I am happy if I can fit a 45min walk in instead of 15min.
To get through tech support quickly with an ISP, choose the option for becoming a new customer. Then when you get there ask to transfer to tech support. Usually they won't put you on hold because they see the number coming from the new customer line.
In somehotlines it helps to talk gibberish to the machine. Others kick you out for it.
If you drive stick and the battery s dead, get some friends, put the key to the on position, put the car in 2nd and push the clutch down. have your friends push your car. when you get a decent speed going let the clutch up. (this is called "Popping the clutch." your car with start and you can drive around for a while to recharge your battery(provided nothing is wrong with the battery or the alternator)
This is called a jump start. EDIT no it isn't. Stupid brain.
If you are quitting something e.g. smoking, drinking etc. Everytime you feel the urge to do said addiction : Go for a run, do 20 sit ups, 20 push ups etc. This way you can start to associate exercise with quitting and you get fitter the more you quit which can make you feel better
If you are driving an unfamiliar car and you don't know which side the gas tank is on, just look at the little pump icon next to the gas gauge on the dashboard. The pump handle on the icon will be on the side of the tank
Also lmao, if you drive an electric vehicle, don't try to fill its tank at the gás station... ( Google Tesla woman gás station, and be amazed )
When you go to a restaurant where they bring you your drink in a cup/glass, ask for no ice or for ice on the side. Often what they do is load your drink with ice so that it seems as if there's more in there, especially at bars
Try to put yourself in as many socially awkward situations as possible. You will be desensitized to it which makes you more outgoing.
If you spill any liquid that will stain on your carpet (red wine, juice, etc), pour some salt on it. Work it into the carpet - just rub it in with your hands. Leave it there for a few hours (for serious stains, up to a day) and vacuum it out. Voila, stain gone.
When you're talking to someone and can't tell if they are interested in the subject/their mind is elsewhere, cross your arms. If they cross theirs as well, they are truly listening
Talk to everyone like you would your best mate, and smile.
This is the American way. In many countries this will make you come off as pushy and weird.
Note: this post originally had 67 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.
I guess when it is 'cheating'. Cheating was never something good out of a video game context
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Some of these are illegal in an awful lot of places -- fraud is fraud, no matter how you want to frame it as a money saving tactic. Postal fraud is a federal felony in the US, (and also against the law in most of the rest of the world too), for example. Are you sure you want to be on record that these are your "best insights?"
Which were illegal? Most of them were just silly/basic. Some of them seemed borderline from an ethical standpoint, but I guess I didn't see the one that suggested postal fraud. I'll look them over again ...
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Wow. More than half of these are either silly, or absolutely terrible advice.
If you have the hiccups, inhale as much air as possible (to the point where you can't get any more in) hold it for as long as you possibly can, then let it out slowly. This compresses the diaphragm and 99% of the time will get rid of the hiccups.
What a rubbish list! Often, the advice is more trouble than it's worth.
I have one! If you are ever stalking someone on Instagram and accidentally like an old pic, just unlike it quickly and scroll up to their most recent picture and like it. That way they'll get 2 notifications but when they see the picture you liked, they'll just assume it was a glitch. And then since it's normal to like a recent post they won't know you were stalking
To clarify - when you like something and then unlike it, they get the notification but when they open the app they can't see the notification anymore. That's why this works
Load More Replies... I guess when it is 'cheating'. Cheating was never something good out of a video game context
Load More Replies... Some of these are illegal in an awful lot of places -- fraud is fraud, no matter how you want to frame it as a money saving tactic. Postal fraud is a federal felony in the US, (and also against the law in most of the rest of the world too), for example. Are you sure you want to be on record that these are your "best insights?"
Which were illegal? Most of them were just silly/basic. Some of them seemed borderline from an ethical standpoint, but I guess I didn't see the one that suggested postal fraud. I'll look them over again ...
Load More Replies... Wow. More than half of these are either silly, or absolutely terrible advice.
If you have the hiccups, inhale as much air as possible (to the point where you can't get any more in) hold it for as long as you possibly can, then let it out slowly. This compresses the diaphragm and 99% of the time will get rid of the hiccups.
What a rubbish list! Often, the advice is more trouble than it's worth.
I have one! If you are ever stalking someone on Instagram and accidentally like an old pic, just unlike it quickly and scroll up to their most recent picture and like it. That way they'll get 2 notifications but when they see the picture you liked, they'll just assume it was a glitch. And then since it's normal to like a recent post they won't know you were stalking
To clarify - when you like something and then unlike it, they get the notification but when they open the app they can't see the notification anymore. That's why this works
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