“Stir Drinks With Butter Knives”: 30 Life Hacks That Made A Difference In These Women’s Lives
Interview With Expert
We all want to live better, more efficient lives and fulfill our potential. We all want to be happy and healthy, as well as have meaningful relationships and purposeful, rewarding careers. While luck is an undeniable factor in this, the rest depends entirely on us and the choices we make every single day.
In a series of insightful online threads, the members of the r/AskWomen community shared some of their favorite life hacks that apply to almost everyone. Most of these pieces of advice might sound small and simple, but you shouldn’t underestimate the gravity of their impact. Grab your notebooks and scroll down to see what they shared.
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Do small things with your non-dominant hand to become even slightly ambidextrous. Brush your teeth, pour a drink, use utensils, use your computer mouse, brush your hair, ect. I did this for a while and worked up to being able to write legibly with my left hand! Now I use both hands equally and it's kind of cool.
I've been doing this for years!! Now my left hand doesn't feel like a useless limb! 😎 Also try to clap with your non dominant hand on top, it feels really weird at first!
My savings accounts at my various banks are usually just filled with dust. I've never had any money to save. Recently, I've been trying to quit buying fast food and other quick meals because of how expensive it can get. When I feel the urge to buy a McDouble or something and when I successfully resist that urge, I put the general amount I probably would have spent into my savings. Makes me feel good so see that number climb. Also, I've started an automatic transfer of $5 two times a month from my checking into savings, because in my head losing 5 bucks isn't enough to make me nervous but it will add up quickly.
When you can’t squeeze any more product out of a tube container (hand cream, moisturiser, body lotion, etc.), cut it in half using scissors. You’d be surprised how much product can be still in there - sometimes a few days’ or even a week’s worth.
There isn’t one single ‘magic’ number for how many days it takes to build a habit. It depends on a lot of factors, including your genetics, your environment, how intensely you pursue things, and the difficulty of the habit itself.
Current research from Caltech shows that it takes roughly 6 months to establish a new exercise routine. Meanwhile, something like getting into the habit of washing your hands if you’re a healthcare worker, is easier. It takes weeks, rather than months, for the behavior to become automatic.
Bored Panda wanted to learn more about habits, so we reached out to Alan Castel, Ph.D., a UCLA psychology professor and the author of 'Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging.'
Dr. Castel, walked us through why some people might resist making everyday changes, even if they're small and seem to require little to no effort.
"We often get stuck in a routine, often without thinking about why we have this particular routine," he explained to Bored Panda via email.
My first stab at solving any problem related to my body or mood is water. Hungry? Drink some water then see if I'm still hungry. Craving sweets? Drink some water first. Headache? Drink some water. S****y mood? Drink some water.
Turns out half the time I think I'm hungry, I'm just thirsty. Turns out that filling up a bit on water makes me less hungry. Also turns out quite often when I'm pissy I'm just thirsty or mildly dehydrated.
No, of course it doesn't solve every problem, but it costs me nothing to do it and it's just a good habit anyway.
Also i try to never ever go to the grocery store hungry.
Best one I've heard for saving money (when wanting to buy luxury things) ... Ask yourself if someone approached you with the item you want and the cash to buy the item. Would you take the cash or the item? If you'd take the cash, you probably shouldn't buy the item. Turns out I'd rather have a t shirt with Homer falling on a rubbish bin on the pocket than forty dollars. I regret nothing.
I usually compare the value of things to stuff I already own to estimate if they are worth it or not. For example, a shirt has the value of 4 sushi packs, a makeup kit has the value of an anime figurine, a laptop has the value of 5 Nintendo Switch consoles ... However, the result of this was that I absolutely never buy makeup. It doesn't bring me joy anyway, and for the 70 buck value that stuff has, I could buy a nice new videogame that doesn't vanish after 4 months because I rubbed it in my face.
"However, with small changes to these routines, we can begin better habit formation," the author of 'Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging' said that even small changes can have lasting effects.
"This can be as simple as taking the stairs or walking more whenever possible, or limiting how much time we are on our phone/screen, or sitting at a desk, or the food that we eat," Dr. Castel shared what some of these small routine adjustments might look like. Of course, what someone prioritizes will depend on their current habits and goals.
For those who use shaving gel that come in aluminum cans: before you put it in the shower stall, use clear nail polish to make a thin coat all along the bottom rim of the can. Let it dry for a few minutes then put it in the shower stall. This will prevent the can from rusting at the bottom/leaving those rust colored rings.
Buy men's razors. They're more cost effective and they work better.
I do as much as I can at night so that my mornings go smoother and I don't have to worry about rushing. Shower, set out clothes, get bag and purse together, make my breakfast shake, make my lunch, etc. It saves time and stress.
"Changes in habits can lead to long-term benefits as often habits can remain with us well into older age," the expert told Bored Panda.
According to the psychology professor, we should all prioritize those habits that can improve our happiness and well-being.
"This can have big benefits," Dr. Castel said, adding that these habits can range "from being better connected with friends and family and engaging in exercise or other stimulating activities."
I do 10 of some sort of exercise every time I stand up at home. Usually squats or burpees, without really even trying I can do a few hundred a day and I've definitely noticed a difference in my body.
I need to do this... However, I also need to find that burning motivation. How on earth does one get that?
Learn the power of saying the word “no”. Set those boundaries for yourself. Life-changing.
Also, using vinegar and baking soda to keep drains clean
sleeping with no underwear on. life changing!
deleting social media. if you like social media, use it once a week. i’ve been social media free for 6 months and it’s been wonderful.
tea. any tea. if anything, all the tea. tea, tea, tea. morning, afternoon, night. any tea you like. tea.
budget for pedicures, massages, hair cuts, waxing. if it’s self care, budget for it. taking care of yourself goes so far.
for my oily-haired besties, condition before you shampoo. yes, im crazy, and yes, it works. so soft.
walk everywhere. park a lil further, take the stairs, go the scenic route. helped increase my average daily steps SO much.
so many tips. being a woman is hard sometimes.
If she's gotten off social media, how did she post this?
Some of us don’t have the patience to commit to cultivating healthy habits. We want the positive effects right now! And we’d prefer it if we could achieve them through a burst of effort rather than doing it slowly, over a very long period of time. However, that’s not how life works.
If you want to be healthy, you have to commit to a healthy lifestyle. That means changing your eating habits, getting plenty of movement, and ensuring that you get enough sleep. Exercising super hard at the gym one time or avoiding fast food for a week, while a good start, won’t be enough to make long-lasting positive changes.
When it comes to building habits, less is more. Many of us have so many things going on in our lives: work, studies, meeting up with awesome people, parenting, passion projects, etc. So it can be exhausting to think that we now need to free up however many hours of our time to work on our health, wealth, or new skills.
If you're unemployed/ working at home/ studying - get dressed and showered! It helps with your mindset and productivity a lot, IME. Also, drink plenty of water
I've worked from home for years, pre pandemic. I have the same routine I would if I had to go into an office. Get up at 5:30, have coffee catch up on news. Get in the shower by 7 and at my desk between 7:30-8. I don't wear work attire, it's yoga pants and t shirt but I'm always ready for an impromptu video call
If you drop an earring or earring back while leaning over a sink, just put your hand over the drain as quickly as possible. Don't try to catch the item.
It's easier to cover the hole than it is to try and catch a tiny bouncy earring.
Stop buying shaving products and use cheap conditioner instead! It’s a closer shave somehow, and also moisturizes your skin.
That’s why making small, deliberate, subtle changes to our daily routines is so powerful. It requires very little effort on our part. We slowly start to form the habit. And our efforts quickly compound over time. But this means having the patience to stick with it.
It might sound laughable to, for instance, do a single pushup today and then one more every next day. But the entire point is to form the habit. The point is to do whatever it is you want to do, no matter how good or bad or not in the mood you feel.
Once a week I boil water with a few splashes of white vinegar in my electric kettle, let it cool, then rinse it out. Ta da! No more scales! Just a sparkly kettle!
Or you can put one of those wire mesh balls in there and the rarely need to clean it. And don’t leave water in there if you’re going to away for more than a day.
10 minutes of housework
10 minutes of f**k off time
I work harder and more diligently in the 10 minutes of work and still get to be a lazy a*s. (set a timer)
You can't control what others think, say or do. You can only control you. Stop wasting time and energy concerned about things you can't change and focus on things within your realm of control.
The same goes for any other habit, whether that’s practicing the piano or learning to juggle. Even a couple of minutes of effort, at first, are more than enough. Think of it this way. If you’re not the type of person who can do even a couple of minutes' worth of practice, you won’t suddenly become someone who’ll be able to dedicate hours on end to that activity.
Start small. Be patient. Slowly ramp up your efforts. By the time you’re putting in large chunks of your free time, things will seem easy because you’ve already formed the foundations of the habit.
Always keep an emergency outfit in the car. It’s saved me a few times.
When I was in the healthcare industry I always kept an extra pair of scrubs in my locker at work or stashed in my car. That saved my a*s count!was times!
I sew my adjustable bra straps in place at the right size. No more straps always pulling looser and slipping off my shoulders
Most bras will stretch out over time, so that won't be a long-term fix.
To make sure I don’t forget anything for the gym (socks, underwear, sports bra, shirt, bottoms) during folding laundry, I place all the items on top of the pants and then roll them up like a swiss roll. I have a whole drawer of just rolled up workout outfits that allow me to just grab and toss into my gym bag with my shoes.
Which of these life hacks did you find the most useful, dear Pandas? What small habits and hacks have improved your daily routines a lot? What habits are you currently working on building? We'd love to hear from you, so scroll down to the comment section to share your thoughts.
Stir drinks with butter knives, I have a ton of them and they barely get used for anything else.
Today, I also learnt that some people have multiple butter knives! Anyone who has worked in an NHS environment, knows that there are never any teaspoons and so knives are a standard go to for stirring drinks.
If you are up past your bed time, ask yourself if this thing would be worth getting up early for. If it's not, go to bed. If it is, set your alarm, then go to bed.
Floss and stretch. Every night. Really. It's worth the 10 min it takes.
If you can't open a jar, tap the edge of the lid against something hard a few times. It forces air to break the seal so the next time you try it will work!
Have all your body measurements written in your smartphone notes. Feet length, standard bust-waist-hip, your height, wrist girth, finger girths, etc. Update them once a year, or when your body changes.
If you come across any clothes that fit you perfectly - write down brand and exact size, maybe also model name if that's something that the brand does have in stock at all times, like Levi's jeans.
This way, when you go online shopping, you can always check brand's size charts, especially regarding shoes, and increase your chances at picking right size. Don't forget to take fit into consideration - standard, oversize, slim, petite, tall...
Ever since i started doing this, my shopping skill improved immensely.
This only works if brands and sizings are consistent ... Sizes vary dramatically between brands, where they're made and even a brand's actual garment sizes. It's not uncommon to buy an item from a brand in one colour and size and the exact same brand size but in a different colour and discover its a completely different size...
To get rid of static from clothes, dampen your hands (water, lotion, whatever) and run them over the insides of the clothes. Static gone.
I spread a little bit of lotion on my stockings (while wearing them) to prevent my skirt from ‘sticking’ to them because of the static electricity
Here are some of my tips (you are welcome to ignore, what works for me may not work for you):
I exercise in the morning before work. I used to be a night owl, but I hit my thirties and started running and now I wake up at 5 am and run 5k three times a week, fueled only by my own vanity and a genetic weakness for ice cream.
Coffee maker with a timer. I never have to wait for coffee in the morning!
I put dirty clothes in the hamper and the clothes that I could wear again go in a bin at the foot of the bed. Or a pile on the floor. Okay, so that tip might not be so good.
If I am only shopping for a few things I don't grab a cart or basket. Makes me less prone to buying things I don't need. Especially at Target. When I carry a basket I just throw in random dollar items and snacks (which adds up). If I only need an item or two I'm in and out!
No, you do the shopping walk of shame where you have to carry all your choices back to the front of the shop to get a trolley/basket
Keep the roll of new trash bags at the bottom of the bin (though maybe not in the kitchen bin if sticky liquid sometimes leaks out the bottom of the bag). I use this in my bathroom bin and bedroom bin (both mostly tissues and empty containers/TP rolls, so the bottom of the bin stays clean for the bags to be there). The bags are always where you need them!
Note: this post originally had 55 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
If you have pets - keep an extra lint-roller in the cupholder of your car. Countless times my cat has ambushed me with a rub against my legs as I try to leave the house. When you get in the car, and realise your black trousers are now sprinkled with cat hair, having the lint roller right there is handy.
I keep a lint roller at work and share it with my office mates.
Load More Replies... I really dislike housework. The way I motivate myself is to pay myself each fortnight when I clean from top to bottom (live on my own so it doesn't get that messy). After I vacuum, dust, wash the kitchen/bathroom floors, I pay myself $60 by moving money from my general bank account to my travel account. Doesn't seem like much, but in a year that's $1,560 towards a holiday (and a break from housework).
Might have to start paying myself to be my own maid... It will probably work really well since I like cleaning and organising other people's spaces, just not my own :)
Load More Replies... If you have pets - keep an extra lint-roller in the cupholder of your car. Countless times my cat has ambushed me with a rub against my legs as I try to leave the house. When you get in the car, and realise your black trousers are now sprinkled with cat hair, having the lint roller right there is handy.
I keep a lint roller at work and share it with my office mates.
Load More Replies... I really dislike housework. The way I motivate myself is to pay myself each fortnight when I clean from top to bottom (live on my own so it doesn't get that messy). After I vacuum, dust, wash the kitchen/bathroom floors, I pay myself $60 by moving money from my general bank account to my travel account. Doesn't seem like much, but in a year that's $1,560 towards a holiday (and a break from housework).
Might have to start paying myself to be my own maid... It will probably work really well since I like cleaning and organising other people's spaces, just not my own :)
Load More Replies...