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Genius often lies in simplicity. Even if it sounds off. So, to figure out the true capacity of human ingenuity, one person recently turned to the place that holds all the secrets to our collective intelligence - Reddit. Now, it's not important whether or not you caught my sarcasm; 1 month ago, redditor NecessaryPrudence posted a question on the platform asking, "What is so stupid but it actually really works?" and it immediately went viral, generating nearly 12,000 upvotes and 4,478 comments. From soothing bug bites with hand sanitizer to putting ice cubes in the dryer with a garment that needs ironing, here are some of the best replies, proving that if something looks stupid but does the job -- it isn't stupid!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Stay at least a year behind in technology and gaming. Better, yet, two. You'll save a s**t-ton of money.
Sue Hazlewood 5 years ago
My sentiments too. I never buy a new product straight away.
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Jayson Hammer 5 years ago
The games have reviews, lots of help if you get stuck and much much cheaper.
Andrew Gibb 5 years ago
this works for film releases too- just wait a few years and then get it in a thrift store
Joe Berger 5 years ago
A mentor of mine once told me something similar. "Always get 2nd best". The best is a moving target. If you get 2nd best, it gives you peace of mind to stop chasing the latest and just enjoy yours.
Martha Meyer 5 years ago
Very few people are obsessed enough with video games to always want and buy the newest stuff anyway.
Bacony 5 years ago
Don't try to jumpstart it with extra amps. That causes it to undergo a themonuclear chain reaction and you'll need a replacement.
Load More Replies...NecessaryPrudence told Bored Panda that they have had quite a few random conversations with friends and family that sometimes produced silly but somewhat interesting thoughts and questions, and it was what inspired this post, too.
"It's not something I intentionally came up with," NecessaryPrudence said. "Not even a serious conversation, but rather just chitchat."
The original poster has done things they would consider "really stupid" that actually worked out well. It made NecessaryPrudence relate to a lot of the answers, they said.
RELATED:
#2
I work in a hospital and when I'm doing something scary I tell kids that whatever they do they must not laugh.
Elsker 5 years ago (edited)
also, when I had my baby: afterwards, everytime the docs/nurses had to do something, like stitch me up or check the stitches, they would lay the baby on my chest. that way I would be distracted from the pain, and I would have to lay still to make sure the baby didn't fall.. it works, but doesn't really help with the pain😅
Reading the replies, they also realized that people have varying perceptions of what "stupid" is. "Is it really that stupid if it actually works? Maybe they see things as stupid because they don't see themselves doing these things until they find themselves actually doing it and get favorable results. The thought after the 'stupid' deed is what's funny," NecessaryPrudence summarized the post.
But what really defines an act as "stupid"? To find the answer to this question, Balazs Aczel and Bence Palfi of Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary teamed up with Baylor University's Zoltan Kekecs and analyzed various real-life examples. They first built a formidable assortment of 180 stories describing stupid actions, collected via the internet and from daily reports provided by a group of 26 college students. Then, a group of seven raters reviewed all of the stories to ensure that they described a "stupid" action, were comprehensible, and were relatively brief.
#3
If you want someone you don't know well to like you, ask them for a small favor.
When I get new coworkers I go out of my way to ask them for something little, like borrowing a stapler or giving an opinion on something I'm working on.
Then they feel like they can ask me for something next time they need help, and soon I've tricked them into thinking I'm a nice person.
I don't know why it works but it does.
Blakkur Sverrir 5 years ago
Can't remember where I read it, but there actually is a scientific study that found out that people who DID YOU a favour are thinking better of you and are more likely to give you another favour, than people that YOU DID a favour. Seems strange. Feels like it should be the other way. But it's true
Monday 5 years ago
We like feeling useful. If we've been useful to someone else we assume they trust us...which makes it easier for us to trust them.
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K.Kobayashi 5 years ago (edited)
This is called the Ben Franklin effect. He used this technique to befriend a rival legislator - specifically, he borrowed a rare and precious book.
Pseudo Puppy 5 years ago
Why This Works: Because the one being asked to do a small favour feel like they're being included, helpful, and therefore are valuable. When thanked for this small favour, they feel recognised, and appreciated. So, they go back to that source of recognition, appreciation, and being valued, because it's a positive reference point for their own self-identity. Rather than saying "you make me feel nice", they say "you're a nice person", because they attribute their feelings, with your actions.
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
Asking new coworkers for their opinion works best. They feel valued and you can judge their abilities.
Cheryl Fontaine 5 years ago
Asking someone for advice on how to fix something or arrange something has the same effect I've noticed...Most people love to be asked how to do stuff...
Marcia Cash 5 years ago
"When you do someone a favour, they will think of you every time they need a favour"
From the data, the researchers distilled three key categories that make an action stupid. "The first situation in which people call an action stupid is when the actor takes high risks while lacking the necessary skills to perform the risky action," they explained. "A typical story for this is when burglars wanted to steal cell phones, but instead stole GPS navigation devices. They didn't switch them off so the police were able to track them easily. We named this category 'Confident ignorance.'"
#4
I've worked in mental health for years. I can't tell you how many people tell me what a good listener I am..because I just shut up and let people talk.
It's not rocket science, but the large majority of people just want to feel like their voices are being heard. Too many therapists and providers don't know how to be quiet and stop loving the sound of their own voices.
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
Thinking loud can help you in many situations not only in mental health. This loud thinking works best if there is someone to listen to you.
Mama Panda 5 years ago
Oh how I wish my doctors would listen to me. 8 years of pain and suffering caused by one leg being shorter than the other and all my doctors could talk about is that I am fat and I need to lose weight. I don't know how many times various types of doctors other than a nutritionist would discuss bariactric surgery with me instead of listening to me and fixing the real issue.
ChimeraBubbles 5 years ago
My opinion: Everyone should do an Active Listening course. It improves your work relationships with colleages/clients/customers AND your personal relationships. Listening is not the same as active listening.
Jon S. 5 years ago
I've never personally suffered with mental health issues, so I'd appreciate some other people's take on this. Does therapy actually work? My only experience with therapy is through my wife who has relatively mild depression. Before going she would be a nervous wreck, afterwards she would be worse than before. What did work was improving home life and anti-depressants.
ChimeraBubbles 5 years ago
Meant to add that if outside factors in a person's life (job, home life, medical needs) aren't attended to then change is even harder! Sound's like your wife needed an improved home life and anti-depressants and not therapy. Glad she's doing better.
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Mascha Claessens 5 years ago (edited)
This is true, and many people think it's easy, while for most of us, unfortunately it's really not. I'm working on it!
Transat 5 years ago
Same here. When someone tells me about his problems I immediatly want to find solutions, while sometimes he just wants me to listen.
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The second cluster consisted of cases of "Absentmindedness—Lack of practicality." "A typical story here is when someone inflates more air in the car tires than allowed. Here the person either forgot to pay attention to the action or he or she doesn't know something essential about tire inflation."
Finally, the third category is "Lack of control." "Cases here are thought to be the result of obsessive, compulsive, or addictive behavior. For example, one of the stories in this category described a person who canceled a meeting with a good friend to instead continue playing video games at home," the researchers explained.
There you have it. Now, the next time your friend falls on their face while attempting to ride a shopping cart, you can tell them exactly why they were acting stupid.
#5
Exercising once per day cutting down on caffeine after noon keeping your phone out of your bed reading light fiction at bedtime keeping a notepad and pencil next to your bed Then you will fall asleep on time.
Parmeisan 5 years ago
Well, I wasn't going to upvote it but then I did, just for you. So you found a way. :)
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Lsai Aeon 5 years ago
I hate when people throw this stuff at me when I say I have really bad insomnia. I've had really bad insomnia since I was 4 in 1983. Well before I even had a TV in my room, no screens then, I ran around like a crazy person all day and still couldn't get to sleep till well past midnight... Melatonin doesn't work on me, it takes 150mg or more of Benedryl or over the counter sleep aid to even remotely get me drowsy but I'm still awake. Any other sleep medications make me violent... None of this c**p works on me and I'm seriously fed up with being judged as not following good sleep habits and thus not being a good person because I can't sleep
Shelley DuVal 5 years ago
None of these help my insomnia either, and the same goes for me, been like this since I was a little kid, I have one tablet that isn't actually designed for a sleeping tablet, but it does work for me to get between 3 -4 hours sleep at night.
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Peter Kelly 5 years ago
Caffeine has absolutely no effect on me; I could drink half a pint of strong espresso just before bed and is still sleep like a log.
Astrid Nineor 5 years ago
Uh, no, not if your day has like 30 hrs in it. Non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder (N24) is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder in which an individual's biological clock fails to synchronize to a 24-hour day. Instead of sleeping at roughly the same time every day, someone with N24 will typically find their sleep time gradually delaying by minutes to hours every day. They will sleep at later and later clock times until their sleep periods go all the way around the clock. (In extremely rare cases the sleep rhythm will gradually advance rather than delay.) Patients' cycles of body temperature and hormone rhythms also follow a non-24-hour rhythm. Attempts to fight against this internal rhythm and sleep on a typical schedule result in severe and cumulative sleep deprivation. N24 occurs in 55-70% of completely blind people, but also occurs in an unknown number of sighted people
Jasmine 5 years ago
I think they meant this as a general rule. Not applicable to every person on the face of this planet.
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Linda Smith 5 years ago
If I start reading at bedtime, I’ll be up till I finish the whole book...
CharliAnn Olney 5 years ago
Started doing all this. Fall asleep right after I finish this chapter, no wait, this chapter. Uh, this chap....
JuJu 5 years ago
If you have stuff running through your head ("I really have to buy milk tomorrow." - "I have to remember to pick up that thing right after work.") Write it down and stop the carousel of thoughts.
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#6
My aunt puts her expensive jewelry in a zip lock bag, and her cheap jewelry in the jewelry boxes. She apparently had a lot of her jewelry stolen in the past by family. She now only has the cheap stuff stolen.
Stimpy 5 years ago
Sorry, I have to ask: as an actual magpie, are you sad that her family is stealing from her, or that she is making the really good shiny stuff more unavailable?
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chi-wei shen 5 years ago
That's terrible! I wouldn't call such people family and wouldn't let them roam around in my house.
#7
Feeling tired, headache, muscle cramps? Drink water. It is amazing how many people walk around in a state of dehydration. Water is an amazing fluid that solves a lot of problems.
Nevid 5 years ago
Don't feel tired? No muscle cramps? No headache? Drink water anyway. Don't wait being dehydrated in the first place and drink water regularly.
Monday 5 years ago
Just don't overdo it and give yourself water poisoning.
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Angell Harding 5 years ago
PSA: You're probably not as dehydrated as the internet would lead you to believe.
Xan Maranya 4 years ago
Depends on the climate. In a dry atmosphere dehydration is very common.
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Craig Silberman 5 years ago
I often say "water is my favorite medicine" because it's the first thing I reach for whenever I'm feeling less than great.
BeazleBug 5 years ago
Be aware of dihydrogen monoxide contamination, however. Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless, and kills thousands every year. Too much exposure to it- you die. In small amounts it has some therapeutic effects. It is in just about every consumer product in one form or another. It is in everything you eat in varying amounts. It is in particularly high levels in water...
sorlag110 5 years ago
It's so common you have non-lethal levels dihydrogen monoxide in you right now. But you really don't want it in your lungs.
Load More Replies... Dorothy Parker 5 years ago
Short of breath? Drink water. I was chronically short of breath, thought I had asthma. Doctor was of no use for years. Figured it out myself. Changed my life.
Xan Maranya 4 years ago (edited)
No. Alcohol has a dehydrating effect in the body.
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#8
I don’t even know what made them think of it, but some researchers filled iPods for their elderly, confused clients with their favorite music. When they listen to the music, they are calm, recognize people better and are generally more cognizant.
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
Music has a calming effect and when your're calm everything works better.
Beth McFadden 5 years ago
I think it also helps them to recall the past. Music is so associated with certain times in our lives--like certain smells--it helps put their mind back in that place.
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Remster Bingham V 5 years ago
My grandma's caretakers do that to her. It works miracles, whoever made this up saved a life
StrawberryParfait 5 years ago
It's because it takes them back to the time when they were younger, and it clears their mental confusion. It triggers memories. It must be the music that they grew up with, however. It must be familiar. There was a documentary about this, called "Alive Inside".
Mama Panda 5 years ago
Music is amazing at calming all sorts of people down. Scatterbrained? Listen to some music. Stressed? Music is your friend. Angry or hurt? Music will comfort you. Missing someone? Music will take you to them.
Pseudo Puppy 5 years ago
Those with dementia (or similar) often have their more recent memories affected the most, but maintain their older memories, especially those of teen years (it's why everyone thinks the music of their teen years is the "best" regardless of the era). The music brings back those memories, and by accessing that part of the brain, allows them to access more of that part of their brain.... and therefore increases their cognisance etc. <3
Ausrine Ciapaite 5 years ago
Not just music. I reckon their favourite music is from their youth or at least back from 30 years ago. There was an experiment done when elderly were put in the "time capsule" with things from 30-40 years ago. It had a miraculous effect. Not only elderly had more energy but also their heath stared getting better to the point their hearing improved. This experiment was to prove that aging is in your head.
#9
Putting a piece a duct tape on your bike seat so people won't steal it.
Who wants to try and sell a potentially ripped bike seat, let alone buy one.
Saint Thomas 5 years ago
Lots of bike thieves in Belgium don't give a f*** about that. Bikes are not stolen only to be sold back. A lot of them are used by the thieves themselves, or by friends/family members. Other are sent out of the country, or just stolen for a bit of joyride and then dumped in any pond/river nearby. So yes, this trick can maybe dether one particular kind of thief, but certainly not all of them...
Rosie Hamilton 5 years ago
Bike frames can be very expensive as well - easy enough to buy a new seat!
Load More Replies... Martha Meyer 5 years ago
This is super naive. Half-broken bikes get stolen all the time. The thieves just disassemble the bike, use the good parts and throw the broken bits away.
Clau Ramirez 5 years ago
In México, it could be missing seat, pedals and more, and still be robbed hahaha
K.Kobayashi 5 years ago (edited)
But you wouldn't put duct tape on THIS particular saddle. (This is a Brooks saddle, it is made of genuine leather and takes a lot of care and maintenance. But some people swear by it - it conforms to your body just like quality leather shoes.)
Uchman 4 years ago
A hell of a lot of people misunderstood this trick. It's talking about THE BIKE SEAT ONLY not the whole bike. Where I used to live, there were a lot of bike vandals that will steal anything removable and valuable on your bike rather than the bike itself. You can usually secure a wheel but no way to secure the seat, so this worked for me after I lost two seats
#10
For me personally, I make a to-do list but put like 3 or 4 things that are just mind-numbingly simple. I knock them out, cross them off, feel productive, and feel motivated to hammer out the tougher pieces.
B-b-bird 5 years ago (edited)
This is my forever habit. And I should say not only it makes your life more simple, it keeps you productive and aware. One tip... if you started noticing that you have sooo many things on a list, AND by the time you accomplished them and crossed out... even more thing you had to add, AND it's like never ending story of piling up even though you are utilizing all your daylight hours. AND this piling up is stressing you, AND you need to highlight or put exclamation mark next to those with higher priority.... ...then your workload is too big, time to stop, take a breath and do something about your load. Health of your body and mind is of highest priority.
Harold Summer 5 years ago
I do this. 1. Make up the bed as soon as I get up. 2. A set of pushups. Regarding the bed, the room just looks better and neater. It reduces visual clutter and calms my mind a touch. Regarding pushups, the exercise and the number of reps doesn't matter. You could do squats or stretches. Just something physical & healthy and a tiny bit challenging. That way, no matter how the day might end up, I at least know I did two things right that day, and those two successfully completed tasks cannot be taken away from the day. It makes a subtle but real difference in how I perceive the world and my place in it. Try it for a month. I bet you will continue it's relatively easy and makes you feel better about yourself.
Alan Green 5 years ago
To do list: 1. Write a list 2. Read the list 3. Cross off items you've completed. 4. Pour yourself a beer. You've earned it!
Martha Meyer 5 years ago
So how do you motivate yourself to start the mind-numbingly simple tasks?
Miss Cris 5 years ago
Procrastination. You do them in order not to do the important task (or to do it afterwards).
Load More Replies... Mama Panda 5 years ago
I have been doing this for some time now and it really works. One piece of advise is to add some fun things to your To Do list so that it doesn't feel like you are constantly working. Add in things like getting a mani/pedi, watching an episode of your favorite show, start a book/read a chapter or two, working on your hobby, and simply just sitting in a quiet place are good examples of what I write down in my To Do list to keep me from going insane.
Craig Silberman 5 years ago
also, until people make a list, the number of things they have to do feels like more than it is; but by quantifying it and putting it on paper, they're able to see their burden isn't so great
#11
My anti-clothing static device. I think I learned about this on reddit.
I live in a dry climate and static cling was always a problem. I really dislike fabric softeners for multiple reasons, but this trick solved the problem.
Take an old cloth (mine is a cloth napkin) and pin 7-10 big safety pins to it. Just toss it in the dryer with your clothes. The safety pins hit the sides of the dryer, continually grounding your laundry.
oddkiddo 5 years ago
Or hang your clothes to dry. Better for the clothes, better for you, better for the planet.
Fred Burrows 5 years ago
Until the day you find an escaped safety pin in your underbritches the hard way
Anna Moffat 5 years ago
If you pin your sock pairs in the wash, it will do the same thing once they reach the dryer.
Gracie Mae 5 years ago
I need to try it this way--I've been attaching a safety pin to the inside of my clothes to ward off static cling.
#12
If you think someone is following you, literally act as crazy and stupid as you can. It is so stupid but the other person is usually so freaked out they leave you alone
Katy McMouse 5 years ago
One Halloween a friend gave me a DIY blood pack because I wasn't wearing a costume and it might have helped me not get assaulted. I had a bad feeling about a guy standing near the elevator in a parking garage I was walking through. Sure enough, I heard footfalls rapidly approaching from behind. Without even really thinking about it, I popped that blood pack in my mouth, grabbed my skull on both sides, let out a really loud groan and turned to face him, biting down on the pack just as he saw my face. It stopped him dead in his tracks and he turned tail and took off. I wasn't wearing any sort of costume or makeup, so if he had not been about to do something horrible, why didn't he try to help? Pinterest saved my a*s that night.
elfin 5 years ago
I'm not sure about this one. Predators tend to be looking for easy prey and this could make you look like easy prey.
Xan Maranya 4 years ago (edited)
Most people's first response to weird behavior is to avoid, not attack.
Load More Replies... Mama Panda 5 years ago
I have been known to turn around and walk straight at them. I will memorize what they look like, what they are wearing and any other things that will help the police ID them. I also am reaching into my bag when I do this like I am reaching for a gun or a weapon. Sometimes I have even gotten vocal with them. They do not like any attention being brought to them at all and will typically retreat when confronted.
Mimi M 5 years ago
Yep - a good one. I also will stop suddenly, forcing them to pass me. Then I follow them. This is particularly good if someone is pretty close behind. I've done this several times.
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infinite upvote 5 years ago
I've done this with creeps - it 10/10 works. My fave trick is to find a garbage can and start throwing the contents around while making eye contact with the guy who's following me
BeazleBug 5 years ago
No need to act crazy...just mutter "I need to kill them all. I want to kill them all." over and over just like when you watch the TV news.
ChinaPandas122 5 years ago
ok.... actually good idea!!! although that stalker/assasin/whoever might call the police ok i just thought of another thing ok never mind
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Carolina Fernández González 5 years ago
When I don't feel safe in the street or I feel someone is too close to me I start to cough as loud as I can like if I'm very sick, works like a charm (pre COVID)
Jane Petersen 5 years ago
In 1999, I was a very young woman at a conference in D.C., far away from my small town. A group of us were walking and being bumpkins when this methed-out homeless guy was following us closely and harassing us for money. We were all terrified but that just made him do it more. I finally just stopped, turned around, and yelled like an animal "NOOOOOOOOOO!" He freaked out and ran the other way! The other kids were like, "dayum, you scared us!" LOL
Go Hawks 5 years ago (edited)
I signed on just to comment on this. Sometimes people are simply going the same way you are, but sometimes that turns into following. I was followed once, and since I was headed towards a sort of isolated woody area, I tested the idea by going around a block (literally 4 rights, right back to where I was). He was still there. So I pretend answered my phone enthusiastically (phone was on vibrate, so no accidental real call ring), turned 180°, and walked straight past him. It stopped that guy on that occasion.
#13
Taking a shower to remedy any ailment. Prescribed by my mother. Headache? Take a shower. Anxious? Go take a shower with lavender. Have a cold? Get in the shower with Vix vapor rub. It's not a cure all, but I guarantee it always makes me feel less bad than before.
Raine Soo 5 years ago
Having a shower always makes me feel better. I hate getting into bed feeling grubby.
Chris Challis 4 years ago
I never understand those who shower only in the morning. I tried it, didnt feel right. Getting into bed clean at night is the way to go. It also washes away any bad vibes from the day..
Load More Replies... Martha Meyer 5 years ago
This is actually true. Taking a shower is a big mood improver for some reason. Was taught this by a nurse.
Susan Stead 5 years ago
I get this! Whenever I'm ill, I will take a shower, brush my teeth, put on clean pajamas and change my sheets (especially if I've been sweating from fever). If I have the stamina, I'll also empty the trash can that I've been putting my tissues into. I swear, it makes me feel at least 50% better to be clean and on fresh bedding.
KombatBunni 5 years ago
I do feel better sometimes after a nice hot shower..especially if I've had a crappy day.
#14
"The Superhero Stance"
Stand up straight. Chest out, shoulder back, hands on hips, chin slightly elevated.
It's so f**king stupid. But damned if you don't start to believe your own fake superhero hype.
Pseudo Puppy 5 years ago
Jody Brown... you look plenty cute too! Not all superheroes look alike. <3
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chi-wei shen 5 years ago
This could go wrong if you do it in front of the wrong audience your spouse/co-worker/boss might feel threatened and react accordingly.
Vee Lyons 5 years ago
Totally agree. This is a very agressive "looking for a fight" stance.
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Naima Ivansdóttir 5 years ago
also, stand up straight when you walk and don't drag your feet. it does wonder for your self-esteem.
Christine O'Hare 5 years ago
I did this before a job interview - anecdotal, but I got the job!
Irina Deneva-Slav 5 years ago
Not stupid at all. The're a scientific reason for this, basically comes down to your body's position influencing the way your brain feels. Same as forcing a smile and ending up feeling more cheerful.
Peter Kelly 5 years ago
That is the secret to good photographs and models know it. Most people don't like pictures of themselves, but that is usually because they are cringing inside and pulling an awkward face. Stand like a 'superhero' saying, "Look at me, I'm gorgeous!" and the pictures will be so much better, even if you don't believe it.
GirlFriday 5 years ago
This is amazing if you have to give a presentation or a speech. For a few minutes before the presentation, stand in the Superhero pose. It builds confidence.
#15
Telling your little kids to clean their room is a guaranteed way to get them to spend the day playing with their toys.
Elsker 5 years ago
true... but then you still have to clean up de room yourself. so if anyone has tips to get them to actually clean?
Pseudo Puppy 5 years ago
having babysat / nannied tons of kids... this ALWAYS works, regardless of how many kids there are. Turn it into a competition, just before morning snack / afternoon snack / bed time stories you're going to do anyway,. Get them together, & announce that they have to clean the room as fast as possible. Be clear on what that means (eg books on shelves, toys in boxes, crafts in crate.) Time it. Monitor what they're doing, so it's done properly. Announce it like you're a sports announcer (immediate & positive reinforcement). Write the time, & put it on the fridge. Next day, tell them to try to beat that time. They MUST work as a TEAM(teaches teamwork). (no individual competitions, because older kids will always be faster than little kids). If they beat their time, jump up and down & cheer (self-recognition being the reward). If not, celebrate & congratulate them for a game well played (teaches sportsmanship & losing with class). Do the snack / story = life moves on positvely.
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Lynne Harbison 4 years ago
I used to make it into a race. Whoever had all the toys away and room tidy first, had the first bedtime story read to them. It worked every night!
Sharon Dean 4 years ago
I used the old "if it's still on the floor it goes to Goodwill" line....worked most of the time!!!
Gracie Mae 5 years ago
this is a great way to get them to do that, but what happens when you really want them to clean their room, and in a timely manner? I'm old school in that I always told my boys to "go play" when I wanted them to play, and "clean your room" when that needed to be done. In the beginning, yes, I helped clean to show them how, but as they got older, they did it or lost the toys--there was no Mommy doing the clean up...
#16
Putting hand sanitizer on bug bites. It's the most glorious feeling and it works better than any itch spray!
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
Nowadays almost everyone has hand sanitizer at home so it should be simple to try it.
kate h 5 years ago
I use a Qtip to put Ammonia on mosquito bites. Works 100% of the time. I learned this after buying a "stop itch" pen and noticed it smelled like Ammonia...looked up the MSDS and yep, that was the main ingredient.
Miss Cris 5 years ago (edited)
Yes. It works because what itches is an acid from the bug, so any basic/alcaline substance can neutralise its effects. Mix ammonia with some water. Or you can use any type of alcohol instead.
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Sian Rider 5 years ago
Better still, avoid bug bites altogether by putting a drop of clove oil on pressure points. Works on sandflies, Asian mozzies, but not all of the African ones, and other biting crawlies. You smell like a barbers shop, but it's not unpleasant and is a darned sight preferable to getting bitten.
OhForSmegSake 5 years ago
When I had chicken pox nothing stopped the itching until my dad dabbed methylated spirits on the spots. Immediate relief.
Elaine Everett-Klimas 5 years ago
I put a hot teaspoon on insect bites. It stops the itch scratch cycle instantly and with no harsh chemicals....except maybe a drop of lavender oil to soothe
Cybele Spanjaard 5 years ago
I have heard this too but always forget..possibly as no heat or teaspoon at the time
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Debbie Burton 4 years ago
Shampoo works just as well....it's the air hitting the bug bite that makes it itch. Shampoo or hand sanitizer block the air.
Jaxier Lucies 4 years ago
Add toothpaste to any insect bite for 10 min will remove the itches completely. Also works on other types of itches too
#17
Long story short: A boorish guy was bullying my grandfather at a movie theater. My grandpa turned around and literally blew air on his face. The man was so weirded out that he left the theater.
Stephanie Did It 5 years ago
I would NOT do that during this pandemic, it would be construed as a physical attack and could get you hurt or in deep trouble!
Blakkur Sverrir 5 years ago
If, during this pandemic, someone is close enough so you can blow air in their face, a lot of other things already went wrong
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Robyn Jacobs 5 years ago
Whenever I’m waiting in line at the checkout and the person behind me is way too close- I can feel their breath or their cart is bumping me - I lean back, nothing else, and after a moment they back up. Probably I weird them out but I don’t have to see them or talk to them.
Kimberley Thomas 5 years ago
I swing my purse behind me as if they're not there and if that doesn't work I say "I don't appreciate you trying to enter my b******e."
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François Carré 5 years ago
I think it is a universal way to say "leave me alone". Animals don't like it either and for example you can try it on your cat if they annoy you while you're trying to read or whatever.
cassiushumanmother 5 years ago
When i was a kid my brother never stopped to annoy me, one time he was bullying me AGAIN while we were eating outside. My reply was blowing to his face, we were eating couscous. Then he stopped, frozen by surprise. Don't mess with my couscous!
Kimberley Thomas 5 years ago
That reminds me of how some guys purposely fight naked to make the other person go away in disgust.
#18
My depression makes it hard for me to do chores on command, but I figured out that if I set a timer or give myself some time to psych myself up, then I do it. It doesn’t always work, but 85% of the time I end up succeeding, and it’s a huge leap from a few months ago when I just shut down over chores.
Katrijn Vermeiren 5 years ago
I actually even managed to turn it completely around. I used to not be able to do housework when I felt depressed but then I discovered that listening to a funny podcast helped with being able to do it and now whenever I feel down, I actually consiously start doing housework with the podcast because I know I feel better after when the house is clean.
Suzi Gauthier 5 years ago
I used to clean only during commercials, but that's getting harder now because we don't always have commercials. Most of the time, once I started cleaning, I would want to continue. It's getting started that's hard. I've also learned that every time I get up to go to the bathroom or something else, I take stuff with me to put away.
Molly Cule 5 years ago
You could try a stopwatch instead. Just make a note of your time and compare it to the next time. You could try to beat your previous time or take it steady and just compare out of interest, without any looming pressure.
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Giles McArdell 5 years ago
This is a great tip and I know from my own depression it can even help with "can't get out of bed today" - I start a countdown and I'm much more likely to get up when I hit zero.
Nevits Yibble 5 years ago
Ever since being locked down, I like setting a timer for when it's time to set the timer. Yay big fun! I am insane of course. But it's an edifying insanity.
Cathy Price 5 years ago
Also, if the task seems overwhelming, set a timer for 10 min and only work on the task that long. Nothing says you have to complete an entire chore all at one time. And, if after the 10 min you feel motivated, reset the timer for another 10 min.
CharliAnn Olney 5 years ago
Thank you for sharing. I frequently get bad cases of the "Don' wanna's" And NOTHING gets done. Will do this!
elfin 5 years ago
I have Amazon echoes and I use them as alarms and timers every day. It helps me remember appointments and also helps with my watering schedule. The best thing is that the sound goes on for a long time--an hour, I think--so if I miss it when it goes off I will hear it the next time I come in the house.
#19
If you think someone is watching you in a crowd, yawn. If they yawn too, they are watching you. Yawning is contagious!
Blakkur Sverrir 5 years ago
Except for psychopaths. Psychopaths are not affected by someone else yawning
sabocat 5 years ago
Oh s**t! So if you try this and nobody yawns back, you might think everybody is a psychopath!
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Octavia Hansen 5 years ago
When I saw a teen looking at my mom's handbag, then looking at a clear exit door, he looked at me. I stared hard and slowly shook my head no. He left, looked back once to see I was still staring, then he was gone.
PhantomBuni 5 years ago
I once yawned while in front of a mirror, I kid you not, I didn’t stop until I moved out of the frame.
Shelley DuVal 5 years ago
As a kid, I learned to yawn through my nose, otherwise the first time I yawned meant I had to go to bed.
Calane E. Vanya 5 years ago
that's not true. not so often that you can see if anyone is watching you. not only psychopaths do not "catch" yawning. most people "catch it" sometimes and sometimes not. it depends on many factors
#20
Smile when you talk on the phone and you sound much happier than you really are.
Monday 5 years ago
If talking on the pone is your job it's pretty important to seem happy and approachable.
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Darwinist 5 years ago
Dopamine, dopamine, gets made in your head, when your down try smiles instead
Kristoffer Rahbek-Jensen 5 years ago
I have worked 15 years in sales/service/support over the phone and i can confirm that this works.
Xan Maranya 4 years ago
Try this Buddha Smile now: Lift the corners of your mouth and soften your eyes. How does it feel?
Robert Robi Z 5 years ago
I won't smile if I don't feel like it. If the other person needs me to be somebody else while we are talking, maybe they don't need to talk to me at all.
#21
Eating off a smaller plate. That trick helped me lose 80lbs.
Cuddles 5 years ago
It's true. You can't eat what won't fit on the plate. Although if you're going back for more it's not really gonna help much.
Pamela24 5 years ago
Not only that but the same amount of food looks much bigger on a smaller plate which tricks your brain into thinking it is actually more. Mindful slow eating works similar way.
Load More Replies... YupItsMe1234 5 years ago
Also, never eat any "snacks" out of the box/bag. Always pour them into a small bowl, that way when you finish them on the couch watching tv it takes actual work to get more.
CharliAnn Olney 5 years ago
Drinking a glass of water when I got the munchies helped me lose 40 pounds!
Ronel du Plessis 5 years ago (edited)
Living in south Africa and being Afrikaans I learned myself a little rhyme. I'll translate after the Afrikaans: Vreet die helfte minder. in English eat half of what you used to eat. So, using a smaller plate definitely works! I lost 45kg already
Cybele Spanjaard 5 years ago
I know that ..I ignore that.. I am suffering because I do/did. Tomorrow ..Ground Hog Day ..again?:+{
Doris Bennett 5 years ago
I lost 30lbs eating off a salad plate instead of a dinner plate... it really works!! I still use it. Now I want to lose another 20lbs so I guess I'll have to downsize to a saucer.😀
#22
Dressing well at work. You can be an amazing worker but people really do judge you by how you look. And by well I mean looking put together and professional. This applies for trades/blue collar work as well as white collar. I’ve worked both.
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
This works almost everywhere, not only at work. If you wear formal clothes at work and go to a supermarket before going home you might see the difference.
BG 5 years ago
I'm looking forward to seeing all of you pandas in tuxedos and ball gowns in Walmart tomorrow!
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K.Kobayashi 5 years ago (edited)
This doesn't work in science or engineering - the only people who dress up are inexperienced interns.
NMN 5 years ago
Yep, at my university we had both professors that prefer suits (except when doing field work) and professors that preffered old band t-shirts and muddy pants (due to field work). Both equally treated and respected. Now at an IT area same thing (but less mud involved)
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Karen Stanford 5 years ago
It works every day. I cant believe how differently people treat me from when I am in casual clothes with no make-up to dressed up in full make-up!
Mama Panda 5 years ago
Shouldn't we be teaching each other to not judge a book by it's cover instead of trying to get everyone to conform to ideologies they might not have the means to practice? It takes money to look as good as it's expected to not gain the negative comments and thoughts. If you don't have the money to buy the necessary items, one should not be shamed. We need to reverse our thinking!
Cassie 5 years ago
My husband kept getting passed over for promotions repeatedly over the course of about five years. He then went out and bought a $300 pair of shoes (at a deep discount, but nobody knew that) and a decent suit. Within the next two years, he got all the promotions he wanted as high as he wanted to go, then switched back to his khakis and polo shirts. He was still offered the next job up, but he had made it to the spot where he wanted to be and stayed there.
#23
If you always forget if you have locked the door/closed the oven/charged your smartphone/... do something stupid after you did the thing you're about to forget. You won't remember the actual locking, but you'll remember the stupid thing, and then you'll know you did the thing. Stupid things include doing a little dance or pirouette, singing a small song (rickroll yourself!) or saying something really stupid like "I'd like to eat a towel right now!".
Serbob 5 years ago
Did I remember to eat a towel before I did the dance after singing Baby Shark before I locked the door?
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Bender Bending Rodríguez 5 years ago
My late aunt (RIP) used similar trick on us when we were kids. She would give a harmless pinch on our palm to make us remember something. Still works for me.
Miranda Meehan 4 years ago
Record video of yourself locking the door, putting out the trash, etc or take a photo of the stove, iron, light etc that are off.
Robert Robi Z 5 years ago
It helps me if I say out loud 'I've locked the car' (or whatever). I do wait that there is nobody near, though.
Melanie Duncan 5 years ago
I like to just say the thing I have done. ie; The iron is turned off. That works for me, especially when I am 2 minutes down the road and I remember the iron is turned off.
#24
Wash your hands in shaving cream to remove fish/onion/nasty smells.
Stephanie Did It 5 years ago
You can also rub them with a stainless steel spoon while washing them and the smells will disappear. Works on everything: garlic, onion etc.
Courtney Christelle 5 years ago
Rubbing your hands on stainless steel. We have a stainless steel faucet and whenever I chop onions or something I rub my hands on it... I probably look insane but it works.
Suzi Gauthier 5 years ago
Or rub them with stainless steel - I usually use a spoon & rub it on my hands while I wash them. Works with garlic too.
Kappy Pfeiffer 4 years ago
Adding your favorite scented hand lotion as you wash your hands helps remove scents, too.
#25
Watching movies you've already seen to help you fall asleep
danielw 5 years ago
is cricket as boring as baseball? if it is, I bet it works like a charm. Only game more boring to watch is golf.
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Monty Is Fiennes 5 years ago
I also do this when I do house work. Because it keeps my brain from getting bored while I do monotonous physical stuff, but also doesnt distract me because I have already seen it. Comedy tv shows do it for me...endless re runs of Rick and Morty or Jim Gaffigan stand up..
Felicia Murphy 5 years ago
I literally YouTube old Looney Tunes when I want to nap and it works like a charm. Downfall is whenever they come on tv I immediately get tired
Roadkill The Brave 5 years ago
You can actually train yourself to fall asleep to a specific movie. All you have to do is keep the movie on every night when you go to sleep, same movie, eventually after a couple of months of this when you start the movie you're body will go 'Oh sleep time'. I did this years ago because of my insomnia, only problem was that I choose LOTR the first movie, I will still get extremely tired when I put it on and sometimes I don't even make it to the Council of Elrond.
K.Kobayashi 5 years ago
My technique is similar - I listen to audiobooks I'm already familiar with, but still enjoy. Mostly Terry Pratchett novels.
Lauren Caswell 5 years ago
I read the Harry potter ebooks, I've read them so often I know them by heart but it still helps settle my mind for sleep ^-^
Load More Replies... Pseudo Puppy 5 years ago
Having dealt with insomnia since a teen, this 100% works. I also find that the choice of movie can impact the quality of sleep, as you'll often incorporate the theme of the movie in your dreams. Comedy = enjoyable dreams. Horror / action / drama = stressful dreams that wake you up again.
Louloubelle 5 years ago
I watch Star Trek (all incarnations). I've seen them all so many times, falling asleep to them is easy.
#26
Positive self talk
Xan Maranya 4 years ago (edited)
Say to yourself, "I love you even when you don't believe it." Keep going....
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Avery S Alberico 5 years ago
When I talk to myself, I cannot say I am talking to myself, or I'll stop. Doing it makes me seem weird to myself. Anyone else?
#27
Facial expressions affect your mood. Just faking a smile can help boost a meh or bad mood. Just squinting in the sunlight can bring your mood down. So spend time smiling and wear sunglasses.
Clandestine 5 years ago
I did this when I was in a low place and it helped a lot! I wish we were wearing masks then, would have made it easier.
StormWolf 5 years ago (edited)
Hmmm, I'm on the fence with this one. I do get the "fake it 'til you make it'" adage, but still prefer that episode of The Simpsons when Marge is driving a depressed Lisa to school and gives her the sweetest pep-talk ever; telling her to be sad for as long as she needs to be and that she (Marge) will do the smiling for both of them. 💜
Cori 5 years ago
I practiced something I called 'disproportionate joy'. If something brought me even a spark of happiness, I went nuts over it. Dealing with depression means dealing with a happiness vessel that is full of holes. It requires actual work to keep it full. Or at least it did until I got on the right medication. The right med is a literal gift from the gods.
Lauren Caswell 5 years ago
Wait I knew the smiling trick...but squinting makes u sad?! My medication affects my ability to handle bright light I squint all the time, maybe this all makes sense now why I get down! Aha!
Xan Maranya 4 years ago (edited)
Try this Buddha Smile now: Lift the corners of your mouth and soften your eyes. How do you feel?
Stannous Flouride 5 years ago
What happens is that by smiling you constrict the muscles in your face which constricts the blood vessels which lowers the amount of blood going to your brain thereby lowering it slightly and that produces dopamine in your brain. When your face is relaxed the muscles are not as taut and that raises the temperature.
Gerry Higgins 5 years ago
People wait around to feel happy but if you act happy you'll soon start to feel more happy. The action preceeds the emotion.
#28
People resent being emotionally manipulated, so don't do it. Ever. You might get something in the short term when you try to 'butter up' or trick a person, but if you instead are civil and clear about what you want they will not spend days plotting revenge.
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
Don't spend days plotting revenge! If you got manipulated by someone address this problem and, if necessary, avoid that person in future, but do not waste your time, your energy, and your mental health with plotting revenge.
Monday 5 years ago
Unless plotting revenge is something you find entertaining...or if you're a writer.
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Aileen Grist 5 years ago
If you do something wrong - apologise. I used to work payroll and would get odd clock cards wrong. Short waging is unpleasant, but I always apologised as soon as I was told - it stops people feeling victimised.
Carole Hamilton 5 years ago
After losing my job promtion to an unqualified younger (slim) girl, I thought about all the ways I could reak problems on the boss, ie nailing a piece of chicken iunder his desk, cutting the legs off his chair, etc. When I had thought of a load I felt better and didn't do any of them. But when I was asked to teach her my job I resigned.
elfin 5 years ago
I am getting many, many political email appeals lately. Far too many of them have titles that fake being urgent or bad news or good news or require you to respond, etc. The are manipulative and I delete them without reading them. What they want is money, but aren't truthful about it.
K. aka letmeplaywithkittens 5 years ago
Some people can and will turn that around and accuse you of manipulating them, or trying to make them feel a certain way. “You’re making me feel bad about making you feel bad.”
Laura Crawley 5 years ago
LOL I have never plotted revenge! you get what you give people! Don't forget to give the good to the ones you love! Karma is real
#29
Yell “strength of a bear!” before lifting something heavy
David de Fortier 5 years ago
Olympia winner ronnie coleman used to always start lifting heavy weights by yelling "light weight!"
#30
Wearing two pairs of socks, one thin pair under a thick pair. Sounds stupid. it helps wick the sweat away from your feet reducing stinky feet and crusty socks.
jknbt jknbt 5 years ago
old hiker's technique to avoid bruises & blisters after a long hike in the woods
Nevid 5 years ago
In winter, if you're wearing pants, wear a long par of think socks under a short pair of think socks. The two layers with overlap with the pants/shoes layer, protecting the pants/shoe gap and will not be uncomfortable or reduce mobility. Also, two layers of clothes is always warmer than one doubly thick layer.
Chris 5 years ago
Your comment is accidentally very amusing in English English.... I'm imagining really long socks pulled all the way up to your (under)pants!
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Ren Karlej 5 years ago
If people wash daily and change their socks daily how can they get that bad? Ugh. Though I usually wear two pairs of socks to prevent blisters anyway (long dog walks).
jevais 5 years ago
Bamboo viscose socks and panties keep the skin dry. Much better than Coton or polyester.
Load More Replies... Hollybolly 5 years ago
Use toesocks! They're comfortable and I never have sweaty feet in them.. Nor cold feet! And in summer it's nice too because there are no sweaty toes running against each other. I'm switching my complete sock drawer to them
Ren Karlej 5 years ago
That's surprising regarding the cold feet point as I'd assume it would be similar to mittens - mittens tend to be warmer than gloves because your fingers generate more heat when they're not separated from each other by fabric, as they are with gloves. I can see that it would work from a sweat generating aspect though!
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#31
Allowing that random relentless dude following me to catch up just a wee bit before letting out a LOUD fart. Told you I ain't interested in a date, that is what you get for trying to persuade me when I've already said no. Effective and they turn around in absolute disgust LOL
Todorokie-dokie 5 years ago
I thought I was the only one who thought this.
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Kahna Wanna 5 years ago
Spitting works well too. Especially if you clear your throat loudly before actually spitting.
Thomas Turnbull 5 years ago
How do you fart on time to do this and how do you guarantee it will be loud?
Kimberley Thomas 5 years ago
ROFL. I did that once at work. A guy kept following me and didn't take my ignoring him as a sign. He was standing me as I was talking to someone else, and I felt one coming on. Out it went. I can't fart on cue as I'm sure some guys can, so that was luck.
Drishti Pillai 5 years ago
I'd be too afraid of accidentally s******g myself instead lol.... But I guess that would be an even better remedy for getting rid of the stalker... And anyone else within a mile for that matter.
#32
I have trouble with motivation and procrastination but I am learning that I routinely fall for some pretty dumb tricks...
giving myself a countdown. If I need to do something I don’t want to do, I do it on the count of three and for some reason it really helps
setting insanely easy goals to trick myself into starting a task (e.g. spend 1 minute practicing). Once I’ve started I usually keep going.
CelSlade 5 years ago
I've found Pavlovian training helps - If I have a big desk-based task I need to do but dread, I allow myself a little bit of procrastination (it's actually quite productive) then I go 'right, it's time' and I make myself a cup of tea or coffee. The act of making that cuppa is a signal to my brain that it's now work time. Over the years I've trained myself this way and it absolutely works - after the first few sips I'm fully in work mode.
Ren Karlej 5 years ago
I do the same - starting a job with a delicious coffee triggers me into the correct mode. As well as being a treat to enjoy while you get started.
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John Laurens/Gay Turtle 5 years ago
Whenever I give myself a countdown, I usually end up not doing it and restarting the countdown..
Monday 5 years ago
"I'll start in 5 minutes"...."oops I lost count, better start over".....
Load More Replies... chi-wei shen 5 years ago
Whenever I have problems with procrastination at work my boss finds a way to motivate me, even if he's not there.
#33
You know the Flintstones method of repair of "hit it repeatedly"? The technical term is percussive maintenance and it is often effective. A lot of machines that rely on moving parts can have something get stuck. The solution? Bang on it until whatever it was dislodges and falls back into place.
Lesley Relph 5 years ago
If it's mechanical, kick it. If it's electronic, turn it off and on again.
Nicky OldfieldDesciple 5 years ago
Same as the old Turn It Off Wait For 30 Seconds Then Turn It On Again. This works for most electronic devices.
J. M. Montes 5 years ago
Whenever we have an issue with one of our machines I threaten to kick it.
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
This advice is in the same category as "switching off and on again". Simple but often effective.
#34
If you feel you need to sneeze but it won't happen, look directly into a bright light. I don't know why but it always works.
Magpie 5 years ago
Some people always sneeze when they walk out into sunshine. It seems to be a genetic thing.
L.A. Trefry 4 years ago
Yep, I do. Also my husband and my two kids. When we went out in the sunshine, often there would be synchronized sneezing.
Load More Replies... Malakai 5 years ago
A more consistently successful trick I learned is to start "ah-ah-ah-" and motion your head like you're going to sneeze. My brain associates the motion with sneezing and 9/10 times it makes me sneeze. That, or I hold my nose amd breath for 10 secpnds to make it go away if it doesn't feel like it's gonna go
Suzi Gauthier 5 years ago
Except when jerks see you & purposely mess up your sneeze. That's so frustrating!
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*sigh*, The Yellow Teletubby 5 years ago
?! staring at light STOPS sneezing for me?!? My music teacher taught everyone in my class that, and it has yet to fail us!
#35
tossing a coin for making decisions, it kind of tells you what you're actually hoping for. in my case, i flip a coin whenever i am inclined towards calling my ex, if the answers no it helps me stick to my self esteem as "universe is against this" and if yes. . . well it never comes out like that i dont know why?! haha lol. it's stupid but works fine for me
Little Wonder 5 years ago
It also shows you what you really want. For example if I say Heads for X and it comes up heads and I'm disappointed, then I know I really want Y.
Darwinist 5 years ago
Also try How to Lie With Statistics by Darrell Huff
Load More Replies... #36
Putting in ear buds but not listening to anything & instead listen to the people around you.
Also, was having a hard time being on time, so set the clock in my bathroom ahead 15 minutes. I mean, I KNOW it’s fast, but I’m not late anymore.
LeAnne Sheldon 5 years ago
The clock in my bedroom has been set for 10 minutes ahead for years. Weird but works for me.
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
The advice with ear buds is sneaky and you should be very careful. If you do it often people around you will realize what you are doing and avoid you.
Monday 5 years ago
..Which is the point. Whether or not you're listening to music ear buds signify you don't want to talk/be disturbed.
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#37
My fiancé will stand on top of the couch and vacuum it like it’s a floor. He does the same for all the removable cushions. I thought he was a fu**ing heathen the first time I saw him do it. Then I realized how much faster it is than using the damn hose attachment. It’s more lifting and maneuvering but it’s a ton faster and pulls up the dog hair better due to the rolling brush in it.
Alethia Nyx 5 years ago
How else do you easily get rid of cobwebs when the vacuum is already out?
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#38
On hot days, our neighbor turns on his lawn sprinkler and sits next to it in a lawn chair in his bathing suit.
White Wolf 5 years ago
I am not sure your neighbour would be happy if I'd sit next to him in bathing suit.
#39
Putting a few ice cubes in the dryer with a garment that needs ironing. 15 minutes later you have a wrinkle free item of clothing with extra time free to spend on other things
Stephanie Did It 5 years ago
No more so than putting wet clothes in the dryer.
Load More Replies... #40
If you have trouble locking your car or opening your gate via remote control because you are far away. Hold it to your head and you improve your remote's antenna. Some people are scared of it but it is because your head is a Faraday cage that it simply conducts the signal around your scalp giving you a giant antenna. So next time you forget where you parked your car and you press the button and nothing happens, hold it to your head and push the button. Your car will probably unlock and make a noise so you can find it.
Cathelijne van Weelden 5 years ago
Indeed! A Faraday cage would block the signal!
Load More Replies... chi-wei shen 5 years ago
You also could use it far above your head and the signal is less likely to be partially block by object closer to the ground, especially in a parking lot with man cars.
Grumble O'Pug 5 years ago
Let's be honest: not a Faraday cage, just a big surface to bounce the signal off of.
kkathleen517 5 years ago
What the f**k is a Faraday cage? And what? Hold it against your head?
Cecilia Cheung 5 years ago
If you ever lose your key or lock it in your car, use a cellphone to call someone with access to your spare, hold your phone facing your car and ask them to click your spare key, usually works for us
#41
Placebo effect. Not just the placebo effect, but knowing it's a placebo and it still works.
Stephanie Did It 5 years ago
When I can't sleep, I tell myself that I've taken a sleeping pill. Within 15 minutes or so, it absolutely works!
Katie Garr 5 years ago
My trainer tricked me into this once! I was always really nervous to ride my horse in a certain field because at the time he had a bucking issue and had put a friend of mine in the hospital. My trainer told me she'd give him a sedative to keep him calm. she did, but not enough to make any difference. we had a perfect ride in the field and she told me after that it was because I thought he was calm. me thinking he was calm caused me to relax, which caused him to relax as well! I'm not sure if it was really the placebo effect but kinda similar and something I always fount interesting :) never had another issue in a field with him!
Scagsy 5 years ago
I have treatment-resistant depression and have tried almost every SSRI, SNRI, MAOI etc. on the market and none work long-term for me. The weird thing is that whenever I start on a new pill I always, ALWAYS, feel better a couple of weeks later. This result tapers off unfortunately but I can practically set my watch by it.
Ren Karlej 5 years ago
I have the same problem! Now struggling without meds but working hard on my thought processes.
Load More Replies... Todorokie-dokie 5 years ago (edited)
When I couldn’t sleep, I used to replay the dream that I was an animal in the woods who just got hit by a tranquilizer dart. The forest is calming, the dart puts you to sleep.
Kallyn Desmarais 5 years ago
This does not work on everyone. Some people, like me, are impossible to 'hypnotize,' even if we really wish it worked.
DC 5 years ago
It works incredible. Ever seen how high you can become from smoking oregano and basil? "Smuggled along herbs, may taste a bit italian" ... and constantly repeating how well it is ... man, he died laughing, cuz you do when you're high, and fell asleep in the subway, cuz you do when you're high.
#42
Sometimes after using the restroom I get worried that I forgot to flush so I go and check. 99.99% I did but my brain broken so I am constantly anxious about it. I now sing a little six word song straight after flushing. The song sticks with me so I may chill in peace without worry that I left something for the next person to use the toilet.
Kookamunga 5 years ago
I think this one is called OCD. Even if you forgot to flush, it's not a big deal. The world will keep on spinning.
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
When you are constantly forgetting whether you've done something do something afterwards which is easy to remember. It's the same when you often forget if you have locked the door. You wont remember the routine task but the unusual thing you've done afterwards.
#43
Telling yourself you look good in the mirror will make you think that you look better
Aileen Grist 5 years ago
And if you think you look good it changes your aura - and you look good to others too.
#44
Convincing someone that it was their idea to finally get them to agree to it. It works at an incredible success rate.
brukernavn340 5 years ago
#21 People resent being emotionally manipulated, so don't do it. Ever. You might get something in the short term when you try to 'butter up' or trick a person, but if you instead are civil and clear about what you want they will not spend days plotting revenge.
Bob Wildzunas 5 years ago
Diplomacy (aka persuasion, aka manipulation) is the art of allowing some to do what you want them to do!
Willem Groenewald 5 years ago
A colleague of mine was an absolute master with this. She would be able to get the most demanding, arrogant and stubborn person walk into a meeting with a clear agenda of his own, and walk out thinking he just came up with the greatest idea during the meeting. But it was just her getting him to buy into her idea. It was an absolute work of art seeing how she played him.
#45
Drinking pickle juice for a leg cramp. Works within seconds on the most excruciating Charlie horse.
Magpie 5 years ago
Oh thank you! for the translation. I have been wondering what Americans meant by "charlie horse " for YEARS.
Stephanie Did It 5 years ago
Now I'm wondering what the word or phrase for it is in other languages!
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#46
When you try to stand on one foot (for stretching, let's say) and people tell you to hold onto an imaginary rail for balance.
Scagsy 5 years ago
I heard somewhere that if you put a finger in your belly button you'll be able to balance on one leg much easier. Something to do with changing your centre of gravity.
GeneralZod 5 years ago
Dancer's trick is to stare at a stationary object. it helps you stay stable.
Sarah Tate 4 years ago
And old dancer's trick is to imagine a string coming straight out the top of your head - then imagine someone is pulling gently on the string. It really does work if you are trying to keep your balance.
#47
Sucking your thumb on the roof of your mouth to ease brain freeze
Cuddles 5 years ago
I do this by rubbing my tongue on the roof of my mouth. It still works for me and I don't have to worry about where I've just had my thumb.
Peter Kelly 5 years ago
But when you're stuck trying to think of the best way to get that fat out of the sewer you're working on, it's not such a good idea...
#48
Telling yourself you’re warm when you are cold or telling yourself you are cold when you are warm. You may think I’m bulls**tting, but you can seemingly focus your energy on one and it seems to help slightly. I saw something about this one guy who calls himself “The Iceman” and goes shirtless into the wilderness of any given tundra. He said that it’s all in the mind, and he’s obviously never died of hypothermia up to this point. It gave me the idea to try it and occasionally I’ll try it in a real scenario and it will sort of actually make a difference. Don’t get me wrong; could be compete wishful thinking and some circumstantial evidence that it works, but it has helped in the past. Give it a try.
Sullivan Webster 5 years ago
That iceman has a skin condition that allows him to not be as cold as an average person
Joe Berger 5 years ago
His name is Wim Hof and you can train to do the same (google his name for his course) It's all about breathwork, cold exposure, and mindset.
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WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
They left out that "the Iceman" has been training his body for many years to survive freezing temperatures.
JohnnyRook 5 years ago
Wim Hof 'The Iceman' has many exercises that you can use to train yourself. Breathing exercises, Cold shower etc. You feel energized afterwards.
Eunice Probert 5 years ago
I do the same thing with pain. I tell myself it's just heat I'm feeling, and it often works.
Martha Riche 5 years ago
It's possible - I find that if I'm cold & shivering, focusing on slow, deep breathing works fairly well. Unless it's 20°F with a 20 mph wind, then it's best to stay indoors!
StrawberryParfait 5 years ago
As long as your head, hands, and feet are warm, your body can withstand very cold temperatures.
#49
Plan your own birthday party. Choose a few good friends and do something you really want to do. No stress, it's just contacting friends and cuing them that you like to spend time with them on the most important day of the year.
Laugh or not 5 years ago
Who else would plan your birthday party ? Why is this considered stupid? This one is so weird.
Soodney 5 years ago
your mother, or someone who trys to control your life.
Load More Replies... Scagsy 5 years ago
Many people already do this - pick a restaurant and some family and friends - there you go. I do it every year; I'd do it more often but it might seem weird with me not being the Queen of England and all.
Lucas 5 years ago
Hahaha - it would be so funny if Liz's nickname was Scagsy!
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Thalia Lovering 5 years ago
I live in Greece and we always plan our parties. When we are kids our parents do all the planning but when we start highschool we start planning them ourselves.
#50
Tie up some plastic bags outside to mimic a wasp nest. Other wasps won't make a new nest thinking there is already one there.
Stimpy 5 years ago
That's been shown to be a myth that does not work. Also, wasps do not see that well to rely on visuals alone that much. They would not recognize something that only LOOKS like a nest as a nest
Nevits Yibble 5 years ago
Not to mention having to look at an ugly hanging garbage bag
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chi-wei shen 5 years ago
This is an advice I will try today. We have to fight wasps every year and never found a good way to prevent them from making a nest somewhere around the house.
#51
cleaning airpods with a toothbrush, not even putting toothpaste on it, just using the bristles to clear out the earwax
Signe Manat Hansen 4 years ago
"not even putting toothpaste on it" because I was totally gonna put toothpaste in my earbuds
Nicky OldfieldDesciple 5 years ago
Toothbrushes are great for cleaning around the keys on a computer keyboard too.
White Wolf 5 years ago
This is not how it works. You might clean your ears all the way you want, but earwax is building as a sortof protection against the earbuds, so it is building even during the time you use them. It is natural.
Load More Replies... #52
Eating sunflower seeds to stay awake while driving long distances. It's so simple and works so well.
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 5 years ago
I'm in the south. Boiled peanuts are way up there in the nasty scale.
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Megan O'Neil 5 years ago
This is a really really good idea, I always turn up the cold air directly on my face.
Bender Bending Rodríguez 5 years ago
How does this work? Are we talking shelled or not shelled seeds?
#53
Dipping rusty stuff in coke for a while
Jon S. 5 years ago
I've cleaned moderately rusty things. That brown scale that forms. But by the time the bubbly scabs have formed, it is too late for coke.
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WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
That's why you always have WD40 in the house. It also does a lot of other things: https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/20-brilliant-ways-to-use-wd-40/
Zhivka Yotsova 5 years ago
I use it for cleaning the toilet. And another thing for coca-cola - I forget a cup of coke at work and the next day it was full with dead cockroaches... /I know, I know - it is an old building with a lot of pigeons/
Malakai 5 years ago
Nope. Rust is a chemical reaction that Coke doesn't magically.just undo and needs good old fashioned elbow grease to help get rid of. However, anything you have that runs on batteries like a remote or toy, if it gets crusty and corroded on the receptors, you can swab it with vinegar and it'll remove the corrosion. It might be helpful with removing rust, too--it's nore acidic than Coke at least.
#54
Running really slow to become a faster runner.
JackTheAllSeeingEye 5 years ago
Running slow (in this case Zone 2) improves your Aerobic fitness level. If you train enough on your easy run levels (Zone 2) your heart will be more strong in time and your heart rate will stay low on higher speeds. Most of training plans are %80 slow runs and %20 high speed intervals. %80 strengthens your heart, %20 strengthens your legs and stamina.
Load More Replies... Ronel du Plessis 5 years ago
If you pace yourself better, in other words run slightly slower then normal, you will run further in the same time, thus faster....
#55
Ok so I have a cure for hiccups that everyone thinks is bs until they try it. I get hiccups whenever I drink alcohol, yes like the tom and jerry mouse. Its annoying and when I'm drunk they get painful. So one day I had them and this drunk dude with like 3 teeth at a bar showed me this trick. Get a glass of water, no ice, put a paper towel on top and drink the water through the paper towel. Just tilt the glass like normal and suck the water through the paper towel. No more hiccups, it's worked every time for me.
Stephanie Did It 5 years ago
I have a theory about methods like this. Doing anything unusual that you have to focus concentration on will generally get your brain to 'forget' to hiccup, and the pattern is broken. I used to cure my kid's hiccups by saying a random silly sentence to them and it worked.
S 5 years ago
I totally believe this because my best friend always tells me "hold your breath for 10 seconds then scream FAT COW!" and it's always worked for me. LOL. It's just the silliness that breaks the pattern.
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michal lev 5 years ago
You can also drink water from the glass' other (further) rim. Works every time.
Ms Forty Seven 5 years ago
Cold water down your chest is sure to be effective... I love it 🤣
Load More Replies... K.Kobayashi 5 years ago
Old Japanese cure (or maybe it's a family cure) for hiccups is to fill a rice bowl with water, put a pair of crossed chopsticks on top, and take a sip from each of the 4 quadrants of the bowl. Same idea, it's something that requires concentration.
Phil Potts 5 years ago
Another one that works every time to help people get rid of them, is; "Oh do you have hiccups?" "yes" "Ok prove it" Pressure them into forcing one out
Thomas Turnbull 5 years ago
Half a teaspoon of sugar stops hiccups as it disrupts the breathing cycle when you swallow it.
----- 5 years ago
my colleauge told me one, that i need to bend down and drink from a glass "upside down" and obviously i said you are crazy until one workday i hicupped like 1 hour and couldnt work. Nothing of the usual tricks would take it away only this stupid idea. Ever since i use it and it is works just fine. Makes me giggle also, as how stupid it looks :)
#56
If your kid sharpies your wall? Use mayonnaise to clean it off
Jody Brown 5 years ago
Hand sanitizer works surprisingly well on Sharpie. I used to take the bus and I'd often spend time cleaning off the graffiti with Purell & a tissue. It just wiped right off.
Darwinist 5 years ago
Also works with any strong spirit since alcohol dissolves most ink. Also why sharpies smell like chemicals and alcohol
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Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 5 years ago
I haven't found anything that magic erasers can't get off yet.
Jessica Nametz 5 years ago
WD40 also works. That and magic erasers (it's just melamine foam if you don't to pay for the brand pricing and can order a bunch through Amazon)
tuzdayschild 5 years ago
Use dry a erase marker the same color as the permanent marker to remove it.
#57
Giving someone a compliment before asking them to do something
JuJu 5 years ago
I hate this kind of "sandwich"-strategy. Say something nice - put in a slice of criticism/work order - say sth nice again. I get so annoyed that I will simply say no, just because.
Marion Connolly 5 years ago
That one will not work with me, I have a supervisor who tries this, annoys the hell out of me. Makes the compliment meaningless if it is only given to elicit an action
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
People that use this kind of manipulation often ask you to do something they should have done, so they can put the blame on you. Don't fall for it.
Nicky OldfieldDesciple 5 years ago
This is kind of mean. It’s like you’re only worthy of a compliment if you can do something for someone. It just makes the compliment fake and you feel bad. It’s really nasty. Don’t do it. It’s a great way to loose a friend.
#58
Flattery. Every time I do it I think, this person is going to call me out and do the opposite of what I want but nope. They share their donuts every time I tell them they're, pretty/handsome/smart.
chi-wei shen 5 years ago
Flattery works but there is a thin line between flattery and dishonest manipulation.
Ms Forty Seven 5 years ago
Oh wow! This is the smartest, most unique and beautifully-written advice of the entire list! * glances casually at donuts *
Nevits Yibble 5 years ago
No problem with this as long as it's sincere. That's really the difference
What do you think ?
Rick Seiden 5 years ago
When you're young children need to start taking pills, go out and buy some mini M&M's and a bag of regular M&M's. Give them a few of the mini's to eat, then give them one, and challenge them to swallow it without chewing it. Do that two or three times, then give them the regular M&M's to eat. After they've eaten a few, challenge them to swallow one without chewing. Do that two or three times. Then show them a pill next to an M&M and tell them that they just learned how to swallow a pill without chewing. The M&M's are fun and non-threatening, so they are immediately up for the challenge. And when they see the pill is really no different, it's not so scary anymore. Worked like a charm for my three kids.
Pseudo Puppy 5 years ago
as a kid who hated swallowing pills.... I reckon this would've worked!
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Tracy Costa 5 years ago
I am always late to appointments. I started putting them in my calendar 15 to 30 minutes earlier, but sometimes I put in the real time. Of course, I immediately forget which ones are which. I have to get to all my appointments on time because I can never be sure if I gave myself extra time or not.
Bunny Wood 5 years ago
Got a cold? Run as long and hard as you can. Shakes the snot out of your sinus and sweats out the bugs..
Dorothy Cloud 5 years ago
I've done a couple of those before, and they do work. I'm going to try a couple more....
Quazmodic 5 years ago
Anything that works is not "stupid". If it was stupid, it would not work. What IS stupid is anyone saying the method is stupid in order to save face because they were too stupid to think of it. LOL e.g. "Aw, my car stopped and won't go again". TIP! Put gas in it! ... "Gee! That's so STUPID, but it works! Wow!"
Lucas 5 years ago
I don't! I'm quite the slob... but then I work for myself and from my home. My dogs think I'm a complete disgrace! Though I will make the effort not to embarrass them when I take them for a walk! 🤣🤣🤣
Load More Replies... Rick Seiden 5 years ago
When you're young children need to start taking pills, go out and buy some mini M&M's and a bag of regular M&M's. Give them a few of the mini's to eat, then give them one, and challenge them to swallow it without chewing it. Do that two or three times, then give them the regular M&M's to eat. After they've eaten a few, challenge them to swallow one without chewing. Do that two or three times. Then show them a pill next to an M&M and tell them that they just learned how to swallow a pill without chewing. The M&M's are fun and non-threatening, so they are immediately up for the challenge. And when they see the pill is really no different, it's not so scary anymore. Worked like a charm for my three kids.
Pseudo Puppy 5 years ago
as a kid who hated swallowing pills.... I reckon this would've worked!
Load More Replies... Tracy Costa 5 years ago
I am always late to appointments. I started putting them in my calendar 15 to 30 minutes earlier, but sometimes I put in the real time. Of course, I immediately forget which ones are which. I have to get to all my appointments on time because I can never be sure if I gave myself extra time or not.
Bunny Wood 5 years ago
Got a cold? Run as long and hard as you can. Shakes the snot out of your sinus and sweats out the bugs..
Dorothy Cloud 5 years ago
I've done a couple of those before, and they do work. I'm going to try a couple more....
Quazmodic 5 years ago
Anything that works is not "stupid". If it was stupid, it would not work. What IS stupid is anyone saying the method is stupid in order to save face because they were too stupid to think of it. LOL e.g. "Aw, my car stopped and won't go again". TIP! Put gas in it! ... "Gee! That's so STUPID, but it works! Wow!"
Lucas 5 years ago
I don't! I'm quite the slob... but then I work for myself and from my home. My dogs think I'm a complete disgrace! Though I will make the effort not to embarrass them when I take them for a walk! 🤣🤣🤣
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