People Share 50 Personal Life Hacks That Have Considerably Improved Their Everyday Routine

If your child watches the same DVD over and over so many times that they know it by heart, switch the language and let them learn Spanish.

When someone says something outrageous (racist, mean, hurtful, whatever), do not respond at all. Go completely silent. Leave their comment hanging there like a fart. Let them marinate in what they just said.

Hear me out, or

Repeat exactly what they’ve said out loud back to them. Say nothing else after. It gets them thinking.

As a black woman whose recently moved to Australia I’ve had to adopt this approach instead. It’s been a wonderful strategy.

No matter what size bed you have, get a duvet that’s at least one size bigger.

Anytime I am getting up, I am taking something with me to put it back where it belongs.

Going to the kitchen? Taking empty mug with me.

Going to the bathroom? On my way out, taking laundry with me to the basket.

Helps keep things tidy and it doesn't feel like I'm working at it.

If you’re feeling sluggish or down in the dumps go for a walk or get out in nature, even if it’s the last thing you want to do.

If someone is rushing you, they're scammers who don't want you to stop and think.

Are some situations objectively urgent? Yes. Is most urgency manufactured? Also yes.

The best way for me to deal with loneliness is actually not to pursue platonic or romantic relationships actively, but to keep myself busy working on and developing my interests.

(Additionally, it's important for me to do this both in a solitary and semi-social way - taking classes, joining groups, etc. However, I don't use these semi-social outlets to make friends per se, but as a way to just be around like-minded people.)

I find actively pursuing relationships when I am in a state of loneliness stress is a recipe for bad outcomes. I always meet the best people when I am more at peace with my life. Also, one of the big perks of having a relatively slow social life is time for personal development and working on interests.

Don't go to the supermarket hungry.

Balance on one foot while you brush your teeth or wait for your dog to go pee or wait for the water to boil. Good balance is a really important physical skill especially as we get older and I find it can serve as a mini meditation session.

Go to thrift stores the week before Christmas and the two weeks after Christmas.

The first week is all the stuff people threw out to make room for new things.

The second week is all the stuff people threw out because they got newer versions.

I adopted a snippet of conversation from the movie, Bridge of Spies. At three, separate points in the movie, there is this fragment between Hanks (the Lawyer) and Ryland (the Spy) (whose birthday is today, too):

Lawyer: You don't seem to be worried about «event».
Spy (after a short pause): Would it help?

I like that. There's no point to getting your knickers in a twist over events you have no control over, cannot influence, etc.

My life is considerably more relaxed with that attitude.

Whenever I open spices, baking soda, oil, whatever I use my designated kitchen sharpie and write the date on the package. Expiration is one thing, but open forever in the pantry is another. I also will mark “MIP” (more in pantry) on top of containers of food/ ingredients that I have a back up of in the pantry. This way I don’t over purchase.

When I don’t feel like cleaning, I put on a watch me clean show on YouTube and somehow within 10 minutes I get up and start cleaning. I need to try that with exercising next.

I drink a glass of water while I wait for my morning coffee to brew. I am very not in the mood for water, I want coffee. But I'm surprised at how much better I feel with that minor amount of rehydration every day.

I'm a guy. I used to constantly lose keys, wallet, phone, whatever. Things seemed to disappear from my pockets, I swear. I got over myself and started everything in a bag. Friends call it a purse, I could give af. Now everything's together when I need it and nothing gets lost.

Go to the grocery store early in the morning. Less people and sometimes you can find some awesome clearance deals.

Pass / Fail Mondays

I’ve found over the years that Mondays seem to be challenging for me. I tend to be a little less motivated, a little less energetic, and a little less positive.

I now make Mondays Pass / Fail. There are no grades on Monday. I make no major life decisions on Mondays. If I find myself worrying or obsessing about something, I tell myself to set it aside and pick it up again on Tuesday.

In order to “Pass” a Monday, all I have to do is show up:
- Show up for my workout (it doesn’t have to be great…but I do have to show up)
- Show up for work (I don’t have to be great, but I do have to show up)
- Show up for my family (even if I feel tired or grumpy, just be there…maybe explain I’m tired and will feel better tomorrow)

It’s saved me lots of Monday anguish.

When I want to leave a party early, I book a ride without telling anyone. So when the ride comes I just go "my ride is here I have to go!" So I won't go through the entire hour of parting rituals like standing at the doorway chatting etc.

I never ever ever sleep in my bed in my “outside clothes”. As soon as I come home, I wash my hands, feet and face and instantly change into my “home clothes” and only then get into my bed or sit on the couch. Makes me feel cleaner, cozier and more in control of my routine and life in general.

Mel Robbins' 5 second rule has worked wonders for my ADHD: When I can't get myself to get started on something I need to do, I count down backwards from 5, like a NASA rocket launch (where she got the idea). It works like a charm! I think it breaks me out of my trance and helps me to switch gears.