We humans have developed unconscious decision-making systems to automate our routine tasks. They help protect our motor from overheating. But the "software" can still benefit from system updates.
A recent discussion on r/AskReddit invited people to share life hacks they stand behind even when skeptics doubt their usefulness, and thousands have disclosed their favorite "upgrades" to everyday living.
To cut through the noise, we dissected the thread and hand-picked the most comprehensive ones. From mental health tips to cooking advice, continue scrolling to check them out.
#1
Being kind to others will actually improve your own life significantly.
57points
#2
Slow down to speed up. 'Slow is accurate, and accurate is fast'. Rushing through everything causes stress, anxiety, mistakes, and costs money.
Report
55points
Research suggests that these little tips and tricks save Americans almost four hours of effort each week.
According to a survey of more than 2,000 people, 71% of respondents are using them more now than they did before the start of the pandemic, so maybe the extra time at home allowed people to take a better look at how they organize their day-to-day lives.
Six in ten respondents said they watch life hack videos on the internet all the way to the end, and 42% reported having shared a life hack online at some point themselves.
#3
If you're nice to retail and hospitality workers, you get better service and/or free stuff. Also works with other jobs too.
54points
#4
Always write down momentarily good ideas. Don’t lean on your memory.
49points
#5
Avoid having kids. It’ll save you so much money and time.
48points
However, clickbait-style headlines don’t always work on Americans, with 67% saying they won’t try a life hack if the article leads with a phrase that reads something like: "'You've been doing X wrong!" or, "I was today years old when I learned Y."
41% also admitted to having tried a life hack that failed spectacularly. So, I guess you should test every "upgrade" before fully "installing" it.
#6
House dirty and can't be f****d to clean? Set a timer for five minutes and just get to it. Once the timer is done, go back to messing around. (even if it is just cleaning a side table/ dusting some shelves/ect..) Do this at least once a day. Once you start realizing you may want to do more, do a 10 min timer.
Also, whenever you leave a room, take something that doesn't belong in there with you to put in its proper place (a cup, dirty clothes, a bag...)
If you do this, your house will get surprisingly clean, surprisingly fast.
Also, whenever you leave a room, take something that doesn't belong in there with you to put in its proper place (a cup, dirty clothes, a bag...)
If you do this, your house will get surprisingly clean, surprisingly fast.
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46points
#7
Spend an hour finding something in your house? When you are done with it put it in the first place you looked.
42points
#8
If you spill salt, flick a little over your left shoulder. I’ve done that all my life and have never yet been got by a demon.
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40points
#9
I keep a “gifts list” on my phone notes throughout the year and jot down any time I hear someone mention something looks neat or something they want.
It makes holiday / other gift-giving occasions much easier come year end.
It makes holiday / other gift-giving occasions much easier come year end.
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37points
#10
Looking away from the loading screen and saying that you don't care how much time it takes, makes it load faster. Trust me.
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33points
#11
Store baked bean cans upside down to make it easier to pour them out without scraping the bottom when you open them.
31points
#12
If you lack self esteem or are very critical of yourself, try the following:
Every night before you go to sleep, take a journal and write down three things you didn’t f**k up that day. Don’t try to only go for things you did exceptionally well, though ofc they can be included. Just three things you didn’t suck at that day. They can be as simple as „cooked a healthy meal“, „did the laundry“, „called 3 customers and no one got angry at me“, „was on time for work“ or even „Didn’t want to get up but did it anyway.“
The key is to learn that most of what you’re doing every day is absolutely ok. We often put a spotlight on the one time we were late but don’t see the 99 times we weren’t, because „that’s normal“ and not doing anything wrong should be the bare minimum right? Wrong! Not screwing up and „just doing your job/managing your day“ is worth being happy about. If you did a maths test and didn’t make a mistake, you got the highest possible score. You didn’t need to go beyond that and prove a new theorem to get an A.
If you called 40 clients, screwed up 3 calls and did 2 exceptionally well, while the other were „just normal“, you didn’t „lose 3-2“ that day.
You won 37-3.
Learn to adjust your focus. And writing down 3 things you didn’t do wrong will help you on that path.
You’re ok.
Every night before you go to sleep, take a journal and write down three things you didn’t f**k up that day. Don’t try to only go for things you did exceptionally well, though ofc they can be included. Just three things you didn’t suck at that day. They can be as simple as „cooked a healthy meal“, „did the laundry“, „called 3 customers and no one got angry at me“, „was on time for work“ or even „Didn’t want to get up but did it anyway.“
The key is to learn that most of what you’re doing every day is absolutely ok. We often put a spotlight on the one time we were late but don’t see the 99 times we weren’t, because „that’s normal“ and not doing anything wrong should be the bare minimum right? Wrong! Not screwing up and „just doing your job/managing your day“ is worth being happy about. If you did a maths test and didn’t make a mistake, you got the highest possible score. You didn’t need to go beyond that and prove a new theorem to get an A.
If you called 40 clients, screwed up 3 calls and did 2 exceptionally well, while the other were „just normal“, you didn’t „lose 3-2“ that day.
You won 37-3.
Learn to adjust your focus. And writing down 3 things you didn’t do wrong will help you on that path.
You’re ok.
Report
30points
#13
If you have s**t to do after work don't go home and sit down in-between. Get home, have a shower and go straight to doing whatever needs to be done. Taking a moment to have a break will k**l all your momentum.
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28points
#14
Use the Banana Peel method for important things or objects.
This refers to placing something somewhere you HAVE to "step on" it, referring to the slapstick comedy trope of people slipping on a banana peel.
For example- If you have a USB drive you need to take to work, put it on top of your keys by the door. If you have some earrings a friend left at your house and you're going to see them later, put them in your shoes. Need to take a textbook to class- Put your keys on top of it.
At night I put my glasses beside my medication in the kitchen before bed. When I wake up, first thing I want is to put on my glasses. I walk out of my room, grab them, then grab my meds because they're right there. Haven't missed a dose in years. Works like a charm.
This refers to placing something somewhere you HAVE to "step on" it, referring to the slapstick comedy trope of people slipping on a banana peel.
For example- If you have a USB drive you need to take to work, put it on top of your keys by the door. If you have some earrings a friend left at your house and you're going to see them later, put them in your shoes. Need to take a textbook to class- Put your keys on top of it.
At night I put my glasses beside my medication in the kitchen before bed. When I wake up, first thing I want is to put on my glasses. I walk out of my room, grab them, then grab my meds because they're right there. Haven't missed a dose in years. Works like a charm.
25points
#15
Microwave twice as long at 1/2 the power and get a much better and even heated result. It's still massively faster than heating up a pan on the stove.
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23points
#16
Get into the habit of tackling the least appealing things first. Put the more fun things last.
When I eat dinner, I always eat the things I dislike first. When I work, I always do the tedious boring stuff first. When I get paid, I pay the bills and allocate the money to various savings and investments first. On weekends, I do my chores before I get to do any of the fun stuff.
Once it becomes a habit, you'll notice that you'll procrastinate less and less because whatever comes next is better than what you're doing right now. The only thing you need to overcome is starting; and I tell myself "do 5 minutes of the thing, and you can stop if you're really not enjoying it". By the time I focus on the task, it's usually at least 25% done, and I just tell myself to plug my nose and finish it.
When I eat dinner, I always eat the things I dislike first. When I work, I always do the tedious boring stuff first. When I get paid, I pay the bills and allocate the money to various savings and investments first. On weekends, I do my chores before I get to do any of the fun stuff.
Once it becomes a habit, you'll notice that you'll procrastinate less and less because whatever comes next is better than what you're doing right now. The only thing you need to overcome is starting; and I tell myself "do 5 minutes of the thing, and you can stop if you're really not enjoying it". By the time I focus on the task, it's usually at least 25% done, and I just tell myself to plug my nose and finish it.
22points
#17
If you're lonely or want to date in a serious way,
don't look for someone. Look for things you like to do, where you're likely to meet others who like it. That way, all your dates are with the type of people who do interesting things that give you the chance to connect.
don't look for someone. Look for things you like to do, where you're likely to meet others who like it. That way, all your dates are with the type of people who do interesting things that give you the chance to connect.
20points
#18
Find a way to give someone a compliment every day. Something simple.
19points
#19
Talk to yourself. It can help you develop your ideas & process emotional things & also will help you remember how you got to this point in life and why you're like this now.
18points
#20
I raised my children to be friendly and chummy to service workers. Rapport helps everything. It never helps to get s****y with them and mistreat them. But even if you are a d****e that mistreats working people it does you well to be friendly and polite as **if they can do something to help you or fix a problem they will.**
Sad treating people with decency is a lifehack, but here we are.
Sad treating people with decency is a lifehack, but here we are.
18points