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Our culture seems to be obsessed with "hacking" all parts of our lives. Those who want a more aesthetically pleasing appearance get into "looksmaxxing". Professionals look for ways to improve their productivity and optimize every minute of every day.
But this time, we here at Bored Panda decided to look into another type of life hacks. We're talking everyday life pro tips, but wackier; tricks to make mundane things like losing your keys easier but with a slightly unhinged twist.
That's why we went through the answers under two posts – one from Threads, another from r/CasualConversation – and picked the wildest we could find. We found people who cut their pizzas with scissors, decluttering hacks involving poop, and advice about how to keep your bathroom cleaner.
So, if you want to diversify your folder of clever everyday tricks, scroll down and save these ASAP!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
If you exert force from your top lip as well as your bottom lip at the same time, you have the ability to shut your mouth and keep your opinions to yourself. A life hack that a lot of people need to know about and should be using during certain events.
Sue Denham 5 months ago
Absolutely. In many situations you can appear smarter if you don't say anything at all.
Lily bloom 5 months ago
It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt. I believe Mark Twain said that, perhaps not verbatim but I remember writing the actual quote in high school for a calligraphy assignment
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Luke Branwen 5 months ago
On the other hand, a lot of today's problems are caused by people keeping their mouth shut and their head low, which allows the most asinine motherf@ckers alive to run rampart.
Michael Largey 5 months ago
I had a teacher who didn't have to tell the class to be quiet. He had a look that did it much quicker and surer. (I stole it when I started teaching. It takes practice, though.)
UncleJon_TheMadScientist 5 months ago
As the line goes "I had the RIGHT to remain silent, what I lacked was the ABILITY to do so"
RELATED:
#2
The realization that I didn't always have to be doing something. Sometimes or whenever I want I can do absolutely nothing and its ok.
Michael Largey 5 months ago
Nothing is the something I like doing best. (Trouble is that I never know when I'm finished.)
#3
If you have stuff to do after work just go do it. Don't have a bit of a sit down and a break because you'll lose all motivation to get it done.
Ace 5 months ago
I hate 'hacks' like this. No, look, if I was able to "just go do it" then I wouldn't have a problem.
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StrangeOne 5 months ago
This is what I do to get it over and done with. I do a bit of light, easy cleaning everyday. Floors are swept everyday, now. My floors feel great on the feet and I can monitor any potential pest problem. Bathroom gets wiped down after every shower. The sink and faucet gets wiped down after every use. (If water sits around the faucet it drips underneath the sink. The caretaker has been ignoring my requests to fix it.) Dishes immediately go into the dishwasher. I don't have big cleaning days anymore. Everything gets done eventually.
Michael Largey 5 months ago
When I had stuff to do at home after work, my rule was never to sit down until it was done.
Rebecca McManus 5 months ago
I'm on my arthritic feet 8 hours a day, I have to sit down for half an hour when I get home before I start cooking dinner and sorting stuff out
#4
Wait a good 15~20 years at least after talking to someone to get your revenge plan in motion. Far fewer people will suspect you.
Anonymouse 5 months ago
Plus, after that time, you realize that life itself has taken revenge for you... Or, like counting to ten before speaking, you may find it was not worth it.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 5 months ago
By that time, I wouldn’t care anymore. In fact, most of the time I no longer care by the next day.
Damned_Cat 5 months ago
Or you can spend those 15-29 years doing something that makes you happy or that helps make the world a better place in some way (even just a little) and then you won't care about that person's BS anymore.
#5
Do the washing up straight after eating. It always feels so much harder when it sits there for ages piling up.
Michael Largey 5 months ago
My idea of a disciplined approach to these matters is "Well, that dishwasher isn't going to unload itself!"
The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago
We had a dishwasher and either didn't use it, or things sat in there forever. Now I just tell everyone they have to wash their dish as soon as they're done using it, and voila, no dishes piling up 😁
Celtic Pirate Queen 5 months ago
I always clean as I go, so I usually just have the plates & silverware to deal with.
#6
Get rid of your facebook.
Kim Kermes 5 months ago
I have regained contact with Army buddies and classmates, found veteran support groups and creative groups which are inspiring and supportive. You can watch educational or "reality" shows on TV, it's what you choose that makes either one wasteful or unhealthy.
Geoffrey Scott 5 months ago
True, but we have a couple here in our small town that began a page highlighting what 'used to be' in buildings, locations, etc.. was taken over by whiners and 'something for nothing-ers'. They walked away. My mid 30's nephew told me on a recent visit he no longer has a presence on FB and feels emotionally better for it.
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Bryn 5 months ago
For some of my friends, it's the only way I can contact them. Also there are groups that I'm in that are useful (for my job) that aren't anywhere else. One of my hobbies, its one of the few ways to connect with other hobbyists (without going into too much detail, it is needed to connect this way). So yes, it does have a purpose
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Bacon Tentacles 5 months ago
Don't necessarily need to get rid of it, but maybe resist the urge to comment. Or get rid of the toxic groups and follows. And that odd racist relative.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 5 months ago
I’m still on it, but I limit myself to an hour a day—and none at all on Saturdays.
#7
Learning to say "no" without feeling guilty. It freed up so much time and energy for things I actually care about, and honestly, it’s been a game-changer for my mental health and productivity! 🙌.
UncleJon_TheMadScientist 5 months ago
I've found it a bit challenging to say no to second helpings from either a Jewish or an Italian Grandmother....
#8
If you can get it done in less than two minutes, do it now.
Patricia Steward 5 months ago
Less than five for me -- don't think I have anything I can do in less than two, LOL.
Michael Largey 5 months ago (edited)
True. Planning, scheduling, and remembering are all unnecessary additional work that I'm much too lazy for.
#9
I never preheat the oven when making a frozen pizza. I put it in the oven, turn it on and add 4 minutes to the time on the package. It always comes out with a perfectly crisp crust.
Uncle Panda 5 months ago
I cut the tag off a pillow yesterday. You can't stop me. I'm a rebel.
Load More Replies... Becky Samuel 5 months ago
Heat the tin, not the oven. I always put the baking tin/tray on the stove for a few moments before popping it in the oven and it does the job nicely.
#10
Get a wireless vacuum cleaner, vacuuming becomes fun and is way easier than with a traditional unit. Doesn’t even have to be a Dyson, other brands work just fine.
Bacon Tentacles 5 months ago
I thought getting one with the laser on the floor that shows dust might be fun. I was wrong. It shows me everywhere I need to vacuum next and before I know it, I've done a trail from the front door to the bathroom, and nothing else, plus I'm exhausted.
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Az Oz 5 months ago
Half the battle of vacuuming was dealing with the cord and having to plug and unplug the power as you moved around the house.
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Uncle Panda 5 months ago
I love Roomba because, in addition to clean floors for bare feet, if it's working I feel like I'm getting something done.
Michael Largey 5 months ago
I love to Roomba if the band keeps up a steady beat.
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#11
I don't know how weird this is, but we use clothes pegs to seal open bags of things in the pantry and fridge to keep them fresh, e.g. chips, bags of mixed salad, etc. It works really well. .
Betsy S 5 months ago
And biodegradable. The plastic clips eventually die and then that's just more c**p for the landfill. Clothespins can go in the compost once the spring is removed.
Load More Replies... LooseSeal's $10 Banana 5 months ago
I was *aghast* when I first went to my now in-laws house to discover they didn't do this. Cereal bags not even rolled up, just shoved down in the box like an animal. Meanwhile, my grandpa will use 3 clothespins to close a bag of chips.
Binny Tutera 5 months ago
Let my daughter decorate several clothes pins with markers when she was younger. She always remembered to close up things after she opened them.
Sarah Suelzle 5 months ago
Not weird at all! We use those small metal spring clamps like the kind used for woodworking and crafts and stuff. Very strong, durable and super cheap.
#12
If I have to take something to work that won't fit in my purse, I'll put my keys with that item (and yes, even if it's in the fridge, lol). So when I go to leave and look for my keys, I'll remember.
The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago (edited)
Or else I just lose my keys along with it... My ADHD brain can't handle it. I just put the item next to the front door or on top of my work bag.
Amanda Fondaumiere 5 months ago
Actual real ADHD is such a pain. I would do the same thing.
Load More Replies... SchadenFreudian Psychology 5 months ago
Not for me. I have a rule that my keys are never allowed to be anywhere except in my purse or in my hand.
Hetal Vyas 5 months ago
If I have to take something with me, I leave it in front of the door so I'd have to pick it up to leave
#13
Spring clean one cupboard or shelf a week. By that I mean empty, sort, toss, wipe down and put things back in an orderly way. A little bit every week soon adds up. Your home looks great and it’s so great to be able to find things without digging around for them.
Sapna Sarfare 5 months ago
I agree.. Every week, i try to clean a small section.. it makes a difference
LooseSeal's $10 Banana 5 months ago
It's much easier for me to just go hard for a whole day and get it all done. Put on some tunes, have a few drinks, clean the house.
#14
If you suffer from procrastination or anxiety , split what you want to do into small tasks then focus on the task not the primary objective to avoid escalating things in your mind
Sometimes our minds exaggerate things in order to protect us from disappointment and change which leads to resistance.
Ace 5 months ago
The flaw with that is that usually there are so many dependencies that despite knowing that each task is small you can't tackle one small thing without working out where it fits in the required chain of events.
The Majestic Opossum 5 months ago
Yes, exactly! Or then staring at the massive list of small tasks and getting completely overwhelmed
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Daya Meyer 5 months ago
I block myself a certain time for cleaning up. Nothing hard, just putting things back where they belong, wash the dishes, take out the trash, preparing the laundry... Thirty minutes in the morning, ten to twenty minutes in the evening. It is a habit that leads to a clean apartment on a daily basis.
#15
Get some mental health help. i started taking some light medication and i'm much happier.
Mari 5 months ago
Yes I struggled so many years because I didn't want to take any meds. When I started to take meds it became easier to deal with my anxiety and fears. I still don't like to take medication but my quality of life is so much better.
Nea 5 months ago
I have had three separate phases of bad ocd+severe anxiety. During the first phase, meds made it like I never had an issue. The efficacy 2 yrs later became moderate, most recent phase saw almost no response to medicine.
Load More Replies... #16
Put stuff back where it belongs when you are through using it. Keeps things clean, uncluttered and you know where everything is.
Kim Kermes 5 months ago
Make it simple to put away, keep it where you use it, get duplicates or multiples of things like brooms and scissors.
Janissary35680 5 months ago
I've got bedroom reading glasses, workroom reading glasses, and living room reading glasses. Each pair stays put and *I* move around among them.
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Fire Singer 5 months ago
OMG my sister said this to me when she visited probably 8 months ago and it LIVES in my head. It's made a real difference for me!
Load More Replies... Patricia Steward 5 months ago
I recently read somewhere "Don't put it down, put it away." Changed my life!
#17
Hang Christmas lights in the living room.
They provide the perfect lighting for a movie night.
#18
I don't really get criticised for this, but noone else seems to find it particularly interesting, so...
I try to always clip my nails right after a shower. They're softer after prolonged water exposure (in line with 'pruny hands'). It makes them cut cleaner and easier (yes, even the big toe), and they don't fly across the room.
Bacon Tentacles 5 months ago
It's knowledge, but like sense, courtesy, and decency, far from common.
Load More Replies... Becky Samuel 5 months ago
I have no idea how people manage to spend so much time either showering or pòoping. Both seem like quite short, simple jobs to me. And if you're using your phone on the toilet then eww, gross.
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Betsy S 5 months ago
When I was a kid, every Sunday night was bath night and then nail trimming. It was what Sunday nights always looked like. First kid in the tub, then out for nail trimming while the 2nd kid went into the tub. I still always trim my nails after a bath/shower. You're tidying yourself up anyway. Why not do the whole job?
#19
Leave your phone downstairs and just get an alarm clock - no going downstairs until you’ve showered/are out of your pyjamas.
StrangeOne 5 months ago
Nah, I need to know the weather and air quality these days, and if I need to call in I don't want to get out of bed. Plus I prefer waking up gently to certain types of music.
Geoffrey Scott 5 months ago
..and for pity's sake, put that alarm across the room. Cured my work shift lateness or "OH S*IT" scrambling. If I have to get up, I'm up.
#20
Treat your life questions as a research topic and use google scholar, there are no new s**t under the sun. Books and knowledge are your best friend.
Michael Largey 5 months ago
No, new s**t is being discovered or produced all the time. To find out what it is, books and knowledge are your best friends.
#21
Wear ear protection to get better quality music during concert. My theory is that eqr protection blocks the reboundig sounds, so you don't hear duplication. It also makes lyrics more hearable.
Fire Singer 5 months ago
I've started doing this and it really does make the experience better for me. I can't even stand loud music in restaurants though so that might make a difference. I still love concerts, but now I can actually enjoy them.
#22
Wiping the bathroom down for thirty seconds once a day pretty much keeps it clean, even if you start with an absolutely filthy bathroom. It will slowly get cleaner and cleaner and then stay there, and much more quickly than you would expect.
Ace 5 months ago
FFS yet another 'just do it' hack. I swear I can almost see the smug look on the faces of people posting these.
megabeth 5 months ago
One of my ex"s favorite expressions is "Doing it Does it ". I think my eyes rolled so far back in my head they almost got stuck there.
Load More Replies... Bacon Tentacles 5 months ago
Listen up, dudes - biggest bathroom hack I have learned in my 50+ years on this planet: Pee sitting down. The bathroom has stayed SO MUCH cleaner since I started doing that.
#23
Store fresh ginger root in the freezer. It grates easier and you don’t have to peel it.
You can cut the sugar by 1/3 to 1/2 in most recipes with no change in flavor.
Do gift shopping year round. If you see something a friend or relative would like for a gift 6 months before their birthday, get it anyway, put it in a “gift spot” and then you’re ready to go. Prevents both stress and overspending. .
SouthernGal 5 months ago
If you cut the sugar in half, it’s definitely going to taste different.
Daya Meyer 5 months ago
Over the time you will get more sensitive to sugar. So first you will taste less sweetness. But you will get used to it and then it tastes as good as before.
Load More Replies... Fire Singer 5 months ago
For the gifts, you have to make sure they're not the type of person to buy it for themselves during that 6 months though. My grandpa is notorious for this. :P
SchadenFreudian Psychology 5 months ago
The sugar might have chemical properties that will be changed if you use a different amount.
#24
Brushing my teeth when I have a craving I know I shouldn’t give in to. Midnight junk food? = Gone.
Emotional snacking? = Blocked.
Somehow minty-fresh mouth equals “we’re done here.”
Also: putting my phone in black & white mode. Makes social media feel like reading a tax document. Instantly less addictive.
Little Bit 5 months ago
If I get a craving, I occupy myself with a task. I forget about the craving and it soon passes.
Andrew Keir 5 months ago
Doing anything - distracting yourself, in fact - is a good way of beating the cravings - for a while. Not sure it would work for pregnant ladies though - their cravings are possibly driven by chemical changes in their bodies. But when I wake in the night, wanting chocolate, a sip of water or something that won't damage my teeth as I sleep, helps.
#25
If you are a hoarder or have trouble getting rid of things in your house and so you live in clutter, pick up an item and ask yourself if it was covered in poop would you try to clean it off or just toss that item in the trash.
whatever you’d choose to throw away, donate it. you’ll find out very quickly how little you care about a lot of s**t you have been holding onto.
Kim Kermes 5 months ago
There's a difference between hoarding and chronic disorganization. Hoarding requires counseling and specialized organizers, the other needs coaching in use of space. Usually, there's little need for discarding unless you really want to. Given the uptick in computer issues, paper is not dead. Even a separate hard drive has a limit for long term storage stability.
Ace 5 months ago
There's also another issue, not specifically that you don't want to get rid of things, but that you have so much stuff it becomes a major effort to sort out what's really needed. Becomes more of an issue the more space you have, stuff can be pushed into cupboards and attics without even having a need to address.
Load More Replies... #26
Need to clean a cup stained by tea? Baking powder works wonders to get rid of them.
Secifically baking powder, not baking soda.
Maggie Fulton 5 months ago
Baking soda also works. I cleaned a friend’s “uncleanably stained” glass coffee pot by heating water and essentially supersaturating it with baking soda, then letting it sit overnight. Worked like a charm. I’ve also read that bleach works, but I have never tried that.
Betsy S 5 months ago
Baking soda is all I ever use for scrubbing. Works like a charm.
Load More Replies... Uncle Panda 5 months ago
Baking powder is baking soda plus cream of tartar, a mild acid. It could work.
Erla Zwingle 5 months ago
Scouring pads such as Brillo, SOS, etc. Even the cheap ones get the job done.
Bacon Tentacles 5 months ago
Powdered Brewery Wash. Pretty much gets stains out of any d**n thing.
#27
Living below my means.
Geoffrey Scott 5 months ago
Impulsive shopping is one of the biggest negatives in finances. Later... if you NEED it, get it.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 5 months ago
If I see something I like but don’t need, I wait a day (or longer) before buying it.
#28
Actually using my calendar.
Tim Douglass 5 months ago
Google calendar is great for a family. Because you can create multiple calendars and share them to different people. I have a family birthday calendar, which my wife and I both access but the kids don't care about. We have a family events one that matters to everyone. Each of us can have a personal events calendar that we can either share or not. I can turn each one I see on or off as I want, so I might turn off my football season calendar except when I actually want to check something. Lots of versatility. I also maintain a church calendar that is shared to anyone in the church who wants to see it in their own Google calendar.
Andrew Keir 5 months ago
I find it's easier to make my own calendar via a spreadsheet, with entries only for important days - like family birthdays, insurances due, car tax, car servicing... A diary works better for me for dentist & doctor appointments, that crop up irregularly.
#29
I have my house as a contact on my phone. In Notes, I have things like AC filter dimensions, and other details.
I have my pets as contacts, with important dates and registration numbers for the show dogs.
Anonymouse 5 months ago
LOL, I also have BOOKS as a contact with notes like Author name, have book#1, need #2, etc. Really helps when you are at the bookstore and uncertain if you have a certain book, and you have a listing of authors to check for new stuff. My daughter has an app on her phone she scans the barcode of each book as she gets it - I am not that organized - yet
#30
I *hate* to hunt things; such a time waster. I don't hunt for "it," I go to the thing's *assigned place.* When I walk in the door my keys go to one spot on a shelf by the garage door. Cell has two places; beside my chair or my studio/work place ... no other spot. Purse hangs on my coat rack.
When I come home I never toss things wherever; it goes to its *place.* That works in my studio, which has had the same arrangement for decades; easel here, taboret beside it. Supplies in specific drawers in a chest. I don't hunt for my colored pencils, I go to their *drawer.*
I developed the habit in the AF; in a medical crisis you don't have time to hunt for something you go to its *assigned place* in the supply closet, grab it and get back to the patient. That formula works for literally everything.
Kim Kermes 5 months ago
Start them out properly and keep them to it. It's more work than doing it yourself, but you knew the job was dangerous when you took it.
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Foxglove🇮🇪 5 months ago
I've always done this, everything has its place - put it back when you're finished with it and you'll know where to find it next time. Unfortunately my husband and kids don't work the same way!
#31
Point and say.
Like, I have Invisalign right now (last 2 years), and like they say, the trays are invisible. I can't tell you how many times I've lost those f*****s on the rock countertop! When you're hangry and in the kitchen, you tend to forget where you set your teeth down in a quest for food.
I learned to point at them and say out loud to myself where they are.
It has worked for my cell phone, garden tools, work gloves, car keys, knitting needles, etc...
Janissary35680 5 months ago
Google "Shisa kanko". It's also known as "Pointing and calling" in English. It's a Japanese occupational safety method.
Becky Samuel 5 months ago
A place for everything, and everything in its place. Have one or two places where you put them and stick to it.
#32
Learn how to accept rejection gracefully it will happen to everyone
The sooner you stop blaming everyone else and work on you that is when you will grow.
Andrew Keir 5 months ago
When bad things happen, *you* are the only person who can properly deal with the consequences - so deal with them, don't bother blaming others, they won't help if they've already done you down.
#33
While everyone is sharing their unique life hacks, I've got to add mine to the mix. Whenever I borrow a pen from someone, I always put the cap on the end of my shirt or hoodie string. It's a tiny adjustment, but it ensures that I never walk off with someone else's pen because the moment I stand up or feel the cap against my body, it triggers my memory to return it. It's a small gesture of respect but it's saved me from that awkward moment of being called a "pen thief" more times than I can count! Plus, I make sure to choose pens that click instead of ones with removable caps for my own use if I'm lending it out, no risk of losing the cap either.
#34
I bought a Brother high speed scanner. Every piece of paper now gets scanned. Discarded unless it's required to be kept.
Michael Largey 5 months ago
Secretary: "Boss, can I throw out these outdated files? Boss: "Ok, but make Xerox copies first, just in case."
Bacon Tentacles 5 months ago
After a while it stops working. Keeps saying I need to scan something with magenta in it.
#35
Read the book “the subtle art of not giving a f**k” and honestly, learning to let go of stuff that you have no control over or no impact from has increased my quality of life incredibly.
#36
Honestly if people badger me after I say no I don’t reply
They can do literally nothing (illegal things pending),
And I don’t HAVE to explain.
Andrew Keir 5 months ago
"No." "Why not?" "It's classified". Askers are not entitled to an explanation, even less to a justification, of your decisions.
#37
Dont keep people that are incapable or growth around you. If that means you are alone, so be it. Get to know yourself before you try to get together with anyone.
#38
Only using a tablespoon of laundry detergent. My clothes feel so much cleaner and now my detergent lasts FOR MONTHS on end!
Ace 5 months ago
I'm sure some people wash their clothes before they actually get dirty, like the guy I used to work with who got through at least three sets of clothes every day with showers between, ,could get away with that, but an even better option is this: Don't wash stuff if it's not dirty. Re-wearing that T-shirt that you used for two hours the day before will not k**l you.
Geoffrey Scott 5 months ago
I have found also (I think on this site) that a pea sized amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush is adequate. Also, I never use shaving cream anymore, my wife's conditioner works just as good if not better. A small dollop spread on your face just before exiting the shower gives just as close a shave.
Patricia Steward 5 months ago
Definitely don't use the amount given on the container. My washing machine sounded weird, and the repair guy had me get some clean towels from the linen closet and wash them. They produced suds!
Niamh_ie 5 months ago
This depends on if something needs freshened up or washed properly and how large the wash is. I'd also be asking someone that you trusted to be honest. I worked with someone who made their own washing liquid, it definitely wasn't enough a manager eventually had to have words with them as the uniform wasn't washed properly and it smelled. They hadn't noticed.
Robin Porter 5 months ago
Don't fully depress the lever on your hand soap or sanitizer container. It squirts way more than you need.
#39
Make a note in your phone with all things your SO would like as a present. Whenever they mention something or just seem to fancy it, add it to the list. When their birthday or Christmas comes you can just look up what you would like to gift them and they will very likely love your present, while you don't have any trouble deciding.
Ace 5 months ago (edited)
I tried to do that for thirty years of marriage. It never worked. It relies on the idea of someone really really wanting something and not buying it. Edit: or more to the point, if I thought she really wanted it why would I wait until christmas?
Bacon Tentacles 5 months ago
My wife and I stopped doing gifts for birthdays/Christmas about 15 years ago. Same deal - if we want something badly enough we save up for it and just buy it.
Load More Replies... SchadenFreudian Psychology 5 months ago
When I see something that would make a good gift, I screenshot it, then email to myself. At holiday time, I then have a list of possibilities.
#40
Human beings are like dogs and toddlers.
If you want someone to continue doing something for you, compliment and reward them for doing it. They’ll keep doing it just to impress you.
Anonymouse 5 months ago
interestingly, if you want people to like you, ask them to help you with a small task. Studies have shown that helping others has less of an effect on their opinion of you then asking them to assist you.
M M 5 months ago
It’s only if you use it this way. People just crave recognition.
Load More Replies... #41
Start sleeping enough. Changed my life.
#42
There's a left turn to get to my house at a stop light with cars a mile long waiting to turn left but if you go straight through the stop light there's a left turn with no stop light a few hundred feet ahead you can turn left no problem and double back to the road home no problem been doing this for years don't want anyone else knowing about it lol.
Anonymouse 5 months ago (edited)
also known as a "Michigan left" as they actually force people to do this in many places. No left turn lane at intersection, instead a u turn option just down the road. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_left
#43
I put mouthwash in my waterpik/water flosser. Now I am doing mouthwash and flossing at the same time and getting a deeper clean!
Fire Singer 5 months ago
I do a splash of mouthwash and the rest water, straight mouthwash seems like it would be a waste and maybe to strong, but could just be me!
Zaach 5 months ago
My dentist recommended that I dilute my mouthwash by at least 50%; I have been considering adding MW to my waterpik - will try that
Load More Replies... #44
Regular Coca Cola for a migraine or severe headache.
SouthernGal 5 months ago
Caffeine causes changes to blood vessels, which can indeed help with some headaches.
Michael Largey 5 months ago (edited)
For those of us allergic to caffeine, it can change more than that.
Load More Replies... UncleJon_TheMadScientist 5 months ago
I've been using regular coke for years for minor upset stomach issues. Back in 1962 my pediatrician told my dad to ask for some coke syrup from the soda fountain and give me a tablespoon or 2 for upset stomach. Sipping on regular coke (room temp is best) really helps me.... my ex wife swore Budwieser worked for her...lol
#45
Since we're sharing unique life hacks, here's one I swear by: to remember important dates like birthdays or bill due dates, I set the event as an all-day appointment a couple of days early in my phone's calendar with a funny or memorable "fake" event title. So instead of "Dad's Birthday," it might be "Dad's International Super Spy Day." It catches my attention every time I glance at my calendar leading up to the date, which not only ensures I don't forget but also gives me a chuckle and makes the preparation more enjoyable. Plus, it's a great conversation starter when someone sees my calendar and asks why "Underwater Basket Weaving Championship" is marked on Tuesday!
#46
If I have some trivial thing to do, which I won't remember, I turn my watch around so the face of my watch is on my wrist. When I check the time, I can't see it. When I see the unnatural placement of my watch, it reminds me of my task.
Fire Singer 5 months ago
I'll set alarms on my phone to remind me to do things like "pay this bill" (for one time bills not like utilities which recur - I can manage to remember those) or "call the vet for prescription refills" because I'll get busy and forget!
Betsy S 5 months ago
I wear a ring on one hand. It's the only ring I wear. When I need a reminder I move it to the other hand, give it a couple of taps with my finger while saying out loud repeatedly, what the task is. That way, I get kinetic input (tapping and the feeling of something "wrong" on my finger), auditory input (saying it out loud) and the mental input of repeating the thought multiple times. Takes about 5 seconds but really helps my AUDHD memory.
#47
I just became aggressively grateful for absurd things… Like the cold coffee I’ve reheated 3 times and still haven’t finished, because it means I’ve been needed all day. Like laundry that never ends..because it means my family is alive and messy and home. I start each day by saying “Something ridiculously good is going to happen today.” Not because I feel it. But because I choose it. And honestly, this wild optimism and absurd gratitude heart definitely works... Every. Single. Time.
#48
If you get over whatever you're addicted to (and you definitely are to something) then you'll probably have a lot more free time and money to do actually meaningful things.
That's the best life hack I could ever give someone. Be in control, not controlled by your own impulsive behavior.
Anonymouse 5 months ago
Right up there with, " Stop being depressed!" as effective advice! Although to be fair, they do start with IF...
Load More Replies... #49
Get organized and create systems to help be more efficient and have more time. It lessens my stress, I have things prepared and I know where things are always.And my home stays more clean .
SchadenFreudian Psychology 5 months ago
If I could do that, I wouldn’t need to be reading this.
Vanessa Steis 5 months ago
wanting order and cleanliness but not being able to reach that point =/
Load More Replies... #50
In an office setting, conducting business by work email, often processes come to a head at the end of the day and require input from someone else to move forward. At the end of the day, no one checks email anymore, and they certainly don't ACT on them right away. The next day brings new challenges and my email goes unanswered for days.
After 2pm, I set those emails to send the next day 10 minutes after the start of working hours. People are primed to check off a task someone is presently waiting for, so they nail it because they are just settling in to their desk, and they think I am on the other end waiting for a response.
Secondarily, if I send a work email requiring a response, and get an out of office reminder, I recall the email, and set it to deliver at the beginning of the day they return so it doesn't get lost in the bulk of unanswered email.
Michael Largey 5 months ago
I deal with unanswered email first, so OP is putting themselves at the end of the line.
#51
As a procrastinator, instead of thinking “I’ll do this task at xx date/time,” I replace it with “I should finish this task by xx date/time”
Because for some odd reason, I’m fueled by the thought of deadlines.
Michael Largey 5 months ago
"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by." - Douglas Adams
Janissary35680 5 months ago
Same here. I also estimate how much time a job will take and then set a non-ignorable "Start job NOW" reminder for it.
#52
My job and my degree requires me to read lots of policies, studies and reports which I struggle to because of ADHD. I can read very well but I just can't keep attention.
So I copy of upload it to chatgpt, ask it to write a detailed summary highlighting the key points and actions and then click the 'text to speech' button.
It means I can get through so many more documents and understand them.
Kevin Warren 5 months ago
Be careful with this one - while often effective, it can make some very drastic misinterpretations!
#53
I butter things with the back of a spoon. Never use a knife. Ever.
Andrew Keir 5 months ago
"I eat my peas with honey, I've done so all my life; It makes them taste quite funny, but it keeps them on the knife". We all have our peculiarities ...
Load More Replies... #54
2 moderate workouts a week no options.
Geoffrey Scott 5 months ago
A 2 mile walk takes about 30 minutes, surely you can spare that amount of time, even if you are multi-tasking.
Fire Singer 5 months ago
I get your intent behind this so I'll cancel the downvote, but sometimes it's not just time that is the factor. I personally just make a lot of excuses not to work out because I'm actually lazy, but many people have very valid reasons why a two mile walk a day isn't realistic even if they have the time for it. <3
Load More Replies... #55
Started training on gymnastic rings at age 50 and never looked back.
Uncle Panda 5 months ago
When you land flat on your back, the first thing you say sounds like "hack, hack..."
Load More Replies... #56
Not thinking over and over again about the significance of things in the past and the possibility of things happening in the future.
#57
When I clean the house, I put on shoes
For some reason, it motivates me to keep going
And I can’t explain it.
#58
Minimalism. Nothing drastic or overly stark, just all the stuff I was keeping in case I need it, or if I loose weight, etc. Gone. I Marie Kondoed and now cleaning takes 1/5 the time it did before. I’m less stressed. Less mad at my family for not cleaning. Have more time for other things. Made some money selling things, felt really good about donating other things. Spend less money buying new things. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
Kim Kermes 5 months ago
Find your own level. If your knickknacks give you pleasure, keep them. Some people need visible storage, others don't. Be aware of retail therapy. Buy quality so you're satisfied.
Geoffrey Scott 5 months ago
That also extends to item of daily use as well. Is it nice to have a vehicle with all the bells and whistles?..yes.. is it necessary?..no. Generally if you buy mid quality items, unless it is for professional purposes, they will suffice just as well.
#59
I always try to reward myself before I start an assignment or something I’m dreading. I think the idea of having to work to earn a reward is dumb, and rewarding myself before hand always lifts my mood which in turn makes me more productive.
#60
This tip was more effective about 10 years ago because voice recognition has improved so much, but is still helpful imo.
The tip: if you use your voice to ask your phone/car/etc. to call a person/place that you call frequently, and if the voice recognition often goes wrong, take the time to rename the contact entry to something with a unique sound/word that can't be 'misheard' by the device. For instance, I renamed 'home' as 'abracadabra', and the call always worked as 'abracadabra' on the first try. If someone witnesses you saying 'abracadabra' to your device, they will definitely wonder about you... 😂.
Anonymouse 5 months ago
thus my wife is "My Wife" in my phone, it was always dialing someone else, lol
#61
When you are showing someone a photo on your phone, zoom the photo very slightly so they can’t easily swipe to your other photos.
#63
Make my bed, clean my room/house, wash dishes after each use. Living in a clean environment makes me feel better about myself.
Daya Meyer 5 months ago
Once I have read that it is easier to do if you change your mindset. You don't think about cleaning and tidying a room, you give it a reset so every rooms looks like before.
#64
Your email inbox should be a to-do list.
Clear out everything that isn't something that is still in need of doing. You can organize into folders if you want, or make one big "Misc" folder, as long as the inbox itself is reserved for stuff that you still need to do.
Alongside that, I try my best to keep my inbox to 15 emails or less. Helps me stay on top of the stuff I need to do.
SouthernGal 5 months ago
I laughed so hard at this one. My inbox is more like a file cabinet that goes back for many years. Wish I could be better, but it’s not going to happen.
Geoffrey Scott 5 months ago
Also, for those tasks that are borderline sketchy that you have been instructed to do via e-mail, set up a 'CYA' folder in your mail box. Send those items there so's you have record of who/why.
Ace 5 months ago
There are different approaches to this, my own preference is to ensure that nothing is left as unread unless it needs attention, or conversely to deliberately mark as unread any message that I have read but am not actioning or replying to right this minute so that it still shows up. My wife, on the other hand, did not use this approach so would have literally hundreds or thousands of unread messages in her inbox. Used to drive me mad, but she somehow made it work for her.
#65
Blinking fast for a minute to help fall asleep at night.
Gina G 5 months ago
If you keep your eyes closed and roll them around in circles it helps as well. Tired eyes tell your brain that you are tired. Anyone who has tried to stay up all night knows that the eyes being tired gets you every time.
Michael Largey 5 months ago
When my eyes are open, I don't have to remind myself to roll them.
Load More Replies... #66
Sleeping in gym clothes. I know it sounds chaotic, but it tricks my brain into thinking I’m already halfway to working out the next morning. No decision fatigue, no excuses just roll out of bed and move. Unhinged? Maybe. Effective? Weirdly, yes.
#68
I blend up all the nutritions I need in a smoothies and drink that instead of eating it...
Becky Samuel 5 months ago
Super bad advice. Studies have shown that people given exactly the same meal, but one group given it as solid food, one as a chunky 'soup' and one as a smoothie, the 'smoother' the blend the fewer nutrients were absorbed. Our guts are not designed to process liquid food once we pass infancy.
#69
Therapist here. One of my all-time favorite unhinged hacks for depression is: Live when everyone else is sleeping. Screw trying to fit the daily timeline. If you can, get things done when you know the rest of the world is sleep. It always helps me counterbalance the shame of sleeping when everyone is awake and I can’t get out of bed.
mandy the capibara 5 months ago
I'm not saying everyone needs to be on the exact same schedule, but depression-related insomnia is not a joke. Try and seek help for it first, before leaning in to it.
Vanessa Steis 5 months ago
I work better at night,when everyone else is asleep and it's quiet out.It just takes a little of the stress out of me,there is no one there to interrupt or watch.
Layaly Hamayel 5 months ago
People are judgmental in the comment section. You have no idea what other things this person is doing to live and cope with their depressions or to treat it. Please be kind!
mandy the capibara 5 months ago
I wasnt unkind at all, just reminding people to be careful before copying advice. Especially as this advice comes from a therapist, so someone you would turn to in times of mental distress and whose advice carries authority. Not just someone who found it usefull only in their own lives.
Load More Replies... #70
Tidy up your house on Friday after work.. set up your whole weekend for leisure and low stress projects!
#71
Moist toilet paper. Otherwise you're walking around with poopy pants.
SouthernGal 5 months ago
Moist toilet paper? It would disintegrate and you would end up with poopy fingers. I wish bidets were more common in the US.
Ace 5 months ago
It exists. And yes, it's flushable, but strong enough that you'd have to try really hard to push through it. Not to be confused with wet wipes.
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