Unfortunately, you might not be able to wave a wand and make the world change according to your desires, but there are a ton of “life hacks” that can help you save money, become more efficient, build confidence, and so much more. So Redditor bellaicecake asked, “What’s a life hack you swear by that most people don’t know?” Here’s what people said.
1.
“For remembering passwords: Pick something you absolutely hate typing, like an ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend’s name. It’s been working for me for years.”
2.
“Be kind to the ‘invisible’ people around you. Compliment the mail carrier, the lawn mowing crew, the custodians at work, and the person who cleans the bathrooms. It not only makes their day, but it also gives them the impetus to do their jobs better, and they remember what a kind, generous person you are. I always compliment the lady cleaning the stalls in the ladies room and I let them know I appreciate their hard work!”
3.
“I prep dinner in the morning, every morning. All recipes go on a sheet pan, into a casserole dish, or in the slow cooker. Then I just toss it in the oven when I get home from work.”
4.
“This is going to sound really weird, but I keep character sheets of my friends and family. I keep track of their favorite things, write notes down about their hobbies, and generally just log whatever seems important (birthdays, etc). I’m autistic, and can’t remember things that aren’t math-related. I struggle with relationships, and this tactic helps me a lot.”
5.
“When you go to the grocery store and you have a purse, use the belt used to strap in a child to secure your purse. If you aren’t paying attention and someone tries to swipe your purse, the belt strap will keep them from taking it.”
6.
“My life hack was taking advantage of ‘in between minutes.’ This worked great for me as a student at a college prep high school and all throughout college. When waiting for a class to start, a bus ride, or any wait where there are a few minutes to spare, do one or more homework problems. That way, when you get home, you’ll find your homework load is less or even already done, which leaves time for fun, exercise, art, or any personal activity you enjoy.”
—Anonymous
7.
“I started bringing my gym clothes to work with me and leaving them in my car so I could go straight to the gym from work. This has significantly increased my gym visits weekly. Before, I would come home, unload all my work crap, change…and then I’d notice how cozy the cats looked, or I’d stop for a snack, which would be the end of it, I’d never make it to the gym. Now, I just don’t give myself that opportunity. I drive right by my house to the gym from work. It’s simple, but it totally tricked my brain.”
8.
“My best customer service cheat code when dealing with an angry or upset customer is to listen to their grievances and then ask what you can do for them to solve their problem. Their response is usually well below the solution you were ready to offer.”
—Gary, Maine
9.
“I touch my toes once each and every morning. This two-second routine preserves (even gradually improves) my flexibility and mobility as I age, and helps prevent low back pain.
10.
“Using a degreaser instead of regular cleaning products cuts your shower cleaning time in half. All the grime that builds is just dirt and body oils, and degreaser practically melts it off.”
—JJ, 32, CA
11.
“When dealing with customer service, I always ask for the person’s name again before ending the call. This way, if I have to call back, I can say who I spoke to and tie any information to them directly. I’ve had reps suddenly able to help solve an issue once they realized they might be identified should I speak to a higher-up.”
12.
“You can schedule text messages on Android or IOS phones. For example, if you have an important message for your employer that you don’t feel like bothering with on Sunday night, schedule it to be sent Monday morning when he or she usually arrives at work. Been incredibly useful as I tend to forget about things.”
13.
“Lazy person here with terrible procrastination tendencies. You don’t have to do a daunting task all at once. Just start it. Maybe tell yourself you only have to do it for five minutes. Usually, by the end of five minutes, you’re far enough along that you just finish it. And if you don’t finish it, you can pat yourself on the back for however much you accomplished.”
14.
“You can flip percentages the other way around. If you need to find 6% of 33, you can just find 33% of 6, and it’s the same thing.”
15.
“Put your alarm clock across the room from where you sleep so you can’t press snooze and you won’t sleep in.”
16.
“Remember to unclench your jaw. Your teeth should only touch when chewing. Sently separate them, soften your tongue, and take a deep breath. This provides instant relief, anytime.”
17.
“I have a note in my phone for all momentary ideas. If I don’t write them down, I’ll forget them. So I’m always writing down thoughts.”
18.
“Don’t keep your phone next to your bed. Charge it in another room overnight. Didn’t look at it for a while after you woke up, at least half an hour. This starts my day in a better mental state. It’s best to let your mind wake up without the dopamine microdoses and anxiety-provoking news flashes. Spend time just with yourself.”
19.
“If you need to remember something for later (an activity or an item) put something out of place in a strange spot, or put the item with something you know you will take with you. For example, if you’re already in bed and remember you need to do something the next morning, throw something from your nightstand into the middle of the room. When you wake up and think, ‘Why is this tissue box in the middle of the floor?’ you will remember that thing you need to do. Or if you have to take an item with you when you leave the house, put it next to your keys or purse (something you won’t forget to grab).”
20.
“Engage in wholesome gossip (aka say nice things about people behind their back). A few months after I started working at my job, I learned from other people that my coworker was telling them how happy she was with me, and it felt SO nice! I try to remember to do the same as much as possible.”
—aliceinautieland
21.
“If you want to get better grades in school, visit your teachers after class, before class, or whenever they have free time. Have them read over your work, or if you get a bad grade, ask them how you can do better, and then ask for help. The big thing is showing the teachers you care about that class. This always helped me get better grades.”
Do you have one to add? Tell us about a life hack that is so useful, you’re shocked more people don’t use it. Add it to the comments or in this anonymous form.