23 Life Tips And Tricks That Are So, So, So, Soooo Simple, Yet So, So, So, Soooo Effective
Not to state the obvious, but life is exhausting. And although it doesn't come with a manual, these days, it does come with (mostly) unfettered internet access. So when redditor Apart-Location-804 asked the r/AskReddit community, "What's a life hack so good you almost don't want to share it?" I figured we could all benefit from a roundup of useful tips and tricks to make our daily lives run *just* a bit smoother. Here's the advice people had to offer:
1."Gift-buying tip. Do you ever struggle with what to get people for Christmas, birthdays, or other occasions? I keep a running list in the Notes app on my phone throughout the year. Anytime my friends or family members mention something they want, we share an inside joke, or I get inspired, I jot it down under their name. When it's time to buy them a gift, I just check the list."
2."If you need the toilet in a city, just go to a nice hotel. They're easily accessible from most lobbies and have very clean toilets. Some even have scented moisturizer, etc."
3."I work as a receptionist, and my supervisor always asks me how our guests like me even if they are rude to other staff. My trick is when someone checking in looks like a typical Karen, I always compliment them, like, 'Where did you get your nails done? They are so pretty!' It usually works."
4."Tie a balloon to your car when going to a state fair or somewhere with a bunch of cars where it's easy to get lost! This has helped me a lot."
5."When you can't find your phone but know it's somewhere in your house, turn off all the lights and call it. Instead of just listening for the ring, look for the screen glow. The light is way easier to spot than the sound, especially if it's on vibrate or low volume. I've found my phone behind the couch cushions so many times this way. Watching the room light up like a mini phone lighthouse is way more effective than playing the hot-and-cold game with ringtones."
6."Find a pair of socks you like and buy 40 pairs. Throw out your other socks. Now you can just grab any two socks and have a pair. Get a hole in one of them? Throw it out. You still have tons of others of the same."
7."If you don't want to watch the Super Bowl but want to go to a restaurant or theater that is usually too crowded, Super Bowl Sunday is often a good day to go. Since it isn't an official holiday, everything is open during the usual hours."
8."My wife turns all her hangers backward at the start of the year (hooks facing forward). When she wears something and puts it back, she puts the hanger back the normal way. Any hangers still backward by the end of the year are unworn and, therefore, unnecessary clothing. They get donated (or sold on Poshmark if they have value and we're not too lazy)."
9."Typing an email? Put the recipient's email address in last. This helps avoid sending it too early or sending an incomplete email."
10."Put your perfume on your wrists right after applying lotion. The moisturizer helps the scent last way longer. I went from having to reapply midday to my perfume lasting the entire workday."
11."I was thinking about what I need to be happy and concluded that I need three hobbies: creative, physical, and social. For social, I do board game nights weekly. This ensures I have something planned for the week to look forward to. For physical, I go to the gym, which, to be honest, I hate and have always hated, so I took up bouldering, too. This is a great hobby because it can also be very social, and it's also just fun. And for creative, I dabble in things like drawing, knitting, and other needlework. I also include reading here because it can make you think and imagine. If you play D&D, this can also be combined with social. I've been extremely happy since figuring this out for myself. I've always had a list of hobbies I want to try, but this helps me organize them."
12."Always keep a $20 in your phone case for emergencies. It has saved me more times than I can count."
13."I turned off the Mail app badge, which indicates how many unread mail I have. It lowers stress, and I check it occasionally anyway."
—m3kw
14."Duct tape opens tough jars."
15."I started buying Nintendo Switch chargers to charge anything with a USB-C port. They all come attached to an outlet plug, so you don't have to worry about having a brick for every cable, and they are usually fast chargers."
16."When staying at hotels, ask for a corner room. They're usually the same price but are significantly bigger because of the building's structure. Plus, you only have one neighbor instead of two. I've been doing this for years, and about 80% of the time, they just give it to you without any upcharge."
17."Freeze grapes to chill wine without diluting it. Cheers."
18."We have a designated spot for things like glasses, sunglasses, keys, and phones. If anyone in the house comes across any of these items, they get put back in their 'spot.' For instance, if I see my S.O.'s sunglasses lying about, I'll take them to the window ledge, as that's where all our glasses/sunglasses go. We both know where to look for stuff that way."
19."I buy my Christmas cards on Boxing Day when they're half off, so when the following Christmas comes around, I can give every friend/family member a card."
20."Lawyer trick: When arguing about something, ask the other person their interests ('why' they want/don't want something ) rather than their position. Usually, it's easier to come to an agreement when you approach a conflict from this angle. Also, conceding a minor point during the argument by saying, 'You're right about X,' and, 'I don't disagree with Y,' tends to lessen the guard of your opposition, thus making it easier to get what you want out of them. Active listening is key as well."
21."Use the drafts folder in your email to store frequently used information you might need on the go."
22."For cooking: The idea of 'mise en place.' It's a French phrase that means 'put in place.' Before you start cooking, set up and put all your ingredients aside: spices, sauces, and veggies (cut and ready to put in the bowl or pan) before you cook. It makes cooking 100% less stressful when you have everything ready and on hand."
23.And: "If you look for something and it's not in the first place you look, THAT IS THE PLACE WHERE IT GOES. So when you do find it, put it in the first place you looked for it."
Well, there ya have it. Maybe you're doing some of these things already, or maybe you have some new ideas to try out. Or, maybe you have some tips and tricks of your own you'd like to share! Tell us your "life hacks" in the comments below!
Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
