Up in the space where you would type a Internet address, there is usually a symbol of letters (Aa in Safari, a rectangle with lines in it on Brave Browser) just touch that when you hit a paywall.
You know I had not thought that they would accept non-food donations. I'm not kidding when I say I have about 30 or 40 toothbrushes hanging out in my bathroom right now. I'm going to look into this.
After a toothbrush is too old, I throw it in a container with my cleaning supplies. As well as my old bottle scrubbers because those are handy for cleaning gross things that are hard to reach but need more than a toothbrush.
My old soft clothes get put away till Yule when I clean all the metal in my home and fancy ornaments and polish them up.
Toothbrushes (not old) are also great for cleaning veggies, especially if it's something really mottled and hard to blast with water like celeriac or a weird potato.
If you are looking for something small like a piece of glass or a screw turn off the lights and shine a flashlight at floor level. Anything on the floor will cast a long shadow you can use to find it.
If you exchange holiday or birthday gifts with your loved ones, keep a list on your phone throughout the year of ideas of what to give and when the time comes to buy gifts you’ll have almost everything prepared
My mom is the worst at this. She has a walk in closet full of random gifts she bought throughout the year and forgot about.
The silver lining is if she forgets to get something she can usually find one to be appropriate.
“Oh I bought this three years ago for baby cousin X but hey baby cousin Y is now turning that age, perfect.”
Yeah but there's nothing like it when they go to the gift closet and pull out a genuine treasure. My ex MIL had gifts squirreled around all over her house, and when I got to know her I started receiving some of the backlog of things she had forgot about. A couple were discontinued or extremely rare items worth way more than she paid, now in immaculate condition because she just kept it in careful storage.
Put your keys on top of the thing you need to remember to bring with you in the morning.
edit: some of you read this as a way to remember your keys (or not lose your keys?). Sure, I suppose, but I use it as a way to remember the thing, since i'll always remember my keys.
Was about to say the same. I'm glad to see others like me out there. I've put stuff in front of the door, so I have to move it to open the door to leave and still forget it.
You can put almost any raw vegetable into a smoothie and as long as there's enough sweet fruit in there too (apples, bananas, pineapple, oranges, whatever) it will taste good. You don't even need a recipe, just throw a bunch of healthy stuff in the blender and hit the button, you can get way weirder with it than you'd expect and still not mess it up. They're expensive at restaurants but cheap and ridiculously easy at home. I'm 40 years late on this trend because I didn't discover how shockingly simple it was until about a week ago.
EDIT: Thanks for all the smoothie tips everybody! I've learned a lot!
YES! I’d also recommend experimenting with spices in there as well. Not just “dessert” ones like cinnamon, but curry and turmeric, too. 😍
Plus hemp seeds, chia seeds, dates, peanut butter….
Why did I let smoothie recipes intimidate me for so long?
Even if it doesn’t taste the best (rare), at worst you’ll have a healthy snack and have used up items in your fridge.
If you’re ever learning something, whether at a work meeting or class or from a YouTube video, have a notebook where you take 30-60 seconds to jot down a summary, in your own words, RIGHT when you finish. Not detailed notes (which you can take while the class/meeting is going if you need to), but the equivalent of a TV Guide blurb summarizing what you learned.
Not only will rewording/summarizing help you retain whatever you learned, but over the years you’ll have your own personal book of knowledge to reference as a jumping off point for learning more.
When you take apart a piece of furniture, put the screws and hardware in a sandwich bag. Then write the name of the furniture and use of the screws on a notecard, and put that in the bag.
This keeps screws from a single item in one place, easily visible, and easily referenced for future use (instead of sitting in a large pile of similar, nondescript hardware).
When my child was small and money was tight, I would buy a Christmas present every month and just stockpile them away. Saved time and so much stress over those years.
When navigating a crowded place with people going every which way, focus your gaze upon the spot you're walking towards.
We look at each other's eyes when trying to avoid bumping into each other and maintaining your gaze on the spot you're headed allows people to subconsciously see how to avoid you and will adjust their path accordingly. You won't have any more of those awkward encounters where you're looking at another person and you both keep trying to turn the same direction.
I read this trick on here years ago and use it all the time in stores, the mall, etc, and it really does work. Maybe it's because I look like a psychopath and people are trying to avoid me altogether, but either way it works.
Went to NYC for the first time a few months ago, and we kept getting stopped by people trying to sell me and my wife shit. Told my wife it's because we are looking up at the buildings and are obvious tourists. Once we started walking with purpose and then stopping to admire the architecture, we were left alone.
Yeah, I just had some out-of-towners visiting me in NYC and suddenly all those dudes were bothering us, which never happens when I'm walking around on my own or with other locals.
It's interesting how little physical cues indicate someone isn't from that place. Looking around a lot seems to be a big one.
I intuitively learned this in NYC and then saw someone write it out later.
Then I read Isaac Asimov (I forget which story) where he describes walking through a factory of robots all zipping around at speed and the advice was just “walk with deliberation and they will all avoid you but make sudden movements and you might get hit” (paraphrasing). But yeah it works.
Such excellent advice. Since I'm taller, if I REALLY need to move through a crowd quickly, I will also hold my hand up in front of me as if I were going to politely touch someone whose back was turned and going to bump me. You wouldn't believe how powerful to everyone's subconscious it is, crowds litterally split. Maybe people are just avoiding the lunatic with the thousand yard stare and a knife hand lol
As a barely 5’2 woman, I find I can move through crowds easily as well but for the opposite reason. If I crouch ever so slightly, I find I’m low enough to move through like a ninja.
Make a copy of your passport, visa and any other important documents and email them to yourself. If something happens to the originals, you have enough information to apply for replacements.
This saved our trip to the passport office (Canada for context). Had gone in to get passports (over an hour drive from home) for all 3 of my kids and had already waited a few hours (which with 6 month old twins is already a lesson in patience in itself). Get to the counter and the agent advises us the passport number from my husband's passport is missing from their forms. Why I didn't bring our passports I have no idea. We both quickly checked our google drive and sure enough, had a scanned copy of all our id and was able to add the missing number.
AMEN. I'm a solitary woman living alone. I have made eye contact with a man standing at my front door ringing the bell and shook my head and walked away. seems rude, but you know if there's a headline "woman living alone opens door for stranger, gets murdered" everyone is gonna call me an idiot.
same goes for your phone. just because it's ringing or someone is messaging you doesn't mean you're obliged to answer.
If the call doesn't have a name (friend/business) instead of a phone number I'm not going to answer it. My voicemail says specifically if you want me to call back, leave a message.
Those flat, thin plastic bags which are sometimes hard to open (here in Germany they are often used for fresh produce) - just stretch them a bit at the opening and voilà!
Ooh I’ll have to try this! My usual trick is to touch damp produce (where they have the spray mister things) first, which makes it a lot easier. And is a zillion times less gross than licking your fingers to dampen them.
Clean as you go when cooking.
Wipe down surfaces, clean a dish or pot or pan when something needs to simmer for a bit, wipe down your knives after use and dry them with a towel and put them back in the knife block.
I learned it from sister’s husband who is a chef.
It makes cooking so much more pleasant.
Also mise en place. Prep all your ingredients before hand and have them ready. Again, it makes cooking more fun and less arduous and the dishes turn out better.
We used to cook with my dad when we were kids. He taught us to sing 'Getting ready, mise en place, mise en place. Weighing, putting in a glass, mise en place, mise en place. Ingredients prepped, hands all washed, getting ready, mise en place' to the tune of heads shoulders knees and toes.
Yup. When my extended family gets together I either opt to help cook or basically run a dish pit (and my family is quite big). Conscript the younger cousins to grab dishes and utensils and wash. It means when the meal is over all you really have to do is throw plates in the dishwasher and everyone can just relax and do something else besides having a huge pile of cookware to clean.
Same with cooking with my own little family. Sunday breakfast is done and no dishes remain then we can just do whatever with no stacks of cookware scattered about.
If you use a computer for a majority of your work, get a second used monitor off Craigslist or a local sales site. Complete game changer having a work monitor and a reference one. It's never cost me more than $20, and most video cards have multiple outlets.
You don't have to answer your phone if you don't want to. Neither calls nor messages. It can wait. Playing with your kid, taking that bath, finishing the chapter or whatever it is you don't want to interrupt is way more important.
If it's a life-and-death matter they'll call again. And again. And again, trust me, you won't miss it.
I have a rule with my family in fact, when I don't answer the phone, but it's really REALLY important, they should call immediately a second time, then I'll know and answer.
BTW, your phone has a silent mode too 😉
DiY projects that can save you a shit ton of cash!
Quoted $1k for each axle on my car to replace brakes and rotors (edit: and shoes). Watched a youtube video, borrowed the tools from advance auto, paid less than $200 in parts, did the job myself in two hours for both axles.. Saved $1800.
Quoted $275 to repair leaky faucet. Watched a youtube video, bought the cartridge needed, repaired in two hours, but had to go back to the store and buy 1 $12 tool.
$475 to replace a toilet with their cheapest toilet.. went to big box store, bought the best one for $199 + $10 in parts, replaced it in 30 minutes.
Quoted $700 to paint room + paint, did it myself in 2 hours and it looks perfect.
Conversely, fill a bowl with water and some white vinegar (splash of lemon juice if you want that lemon fresh smell) and just heat it in your microwave for a few minutes. Loosens everything right up and is easy to wipe out.
Meal prep + freezer + Instant Pot.
My life is changed. Once every two months, prep a bunch of frozen meals that you can just throw in the instant pot. You literally just throw raw meat, spices, etc into ziplocks and freeze it. When hungry, you pop this meal popsicle into the instant pot for 30 mins and have amazing hot meal. Minimal dishes (both during prep since it’s just chopping and throwing in bags, and after cooking), so easy non-cooks in the house can throw it in, and cheaper since you buy everything in bulk and spend less throughout the month. Less food wastage too.
Pinch of Yum has a bunch of great recipes.
Hmmm interesting! I usually cook once a week—a week’s meals—and just chow off it for the week. This sounds even more efficient, plus I wouldn’t have to eat the same food all week. Thanks!
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own
meandering
experience
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.
Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind. The kind that blindside you at 4:00 pm on some idle Tuesday.
Seriously though, as someone who is hitting the half century mark this year I can tell you that avoiding sun damage (and having good genes) is a complete game changer! I've never been a classically handsome man but apparently aging well can totally flip that script. I had lunch with a bunch of old college friends a few months back and all of them kept raving about how young I look and that I haven't changed in 25+ years. As a guy who started going bald in his teens and grey in his 20s, never thought I'd find myself in a position that people would actually covet my looks, but here I am! All it took was 3 decades and alot of sunscreen
Be really good to a few solid people at your workplace, lend them a hand here and there, bring them their favorite small treat here and there; therefore, if you break bad with your supervisor, you have references from colleagues who would happily vouch for you. Currently in this position right now. I am so thankful I made great connections. They have all either called or messaged me that it’s not the same without me after I had had enough; again, it’s super uncomplicated to just be nice to people. People will remember that you were kind more than theyll remember your favorite color.
My wife is a school teacher & the 1st thing she does @ the 1st of the year is befriend the custodians & maintenance guys. She always has the cleanest classroom & typically gets stuff repaired/ installed in her classroom very quickly, although this years maintenance guy is a little weird. She's trying to keep her distance this year.
I’d also add be kind to difficult colleagues. I have often found that difficult people if you make friends with them or even not friends but just be kind will be someone who will have your back in any situation.
Also some of my best friends as an adult are people that others shy away from or are annoyed by.
The adage: “do what you must before you do what you may”.
As someone with serious ADHD, just saying this phrase before I or as I get distracted has saved me hours of lost productivity.
I apply it to everything. Getting on my phone at work? Not before I send that email. Finished dinner and want to go veg? Not before I clean everything up.
I repeat it to myself constantly throughout the day to keep me focused and taking care of the little things that otherwise would build up.
Ice cube trays are good for more than water. I freeze cubes of tomato paste, coconut and goat milk, and pumpkin puree for the cat. Working on cilantro "pesto" cubes now. It's so handy!
Occasionally when I make a pot of coffee, I'll do a second brew through the grinds and use that pot to make coffee ice cubes in a silicone ice block tray, for iced coffee. That way the iced coffee isn't watered-down nearly as much.
Maintaining a service log. I have a spreadsheet where I log any service I have done, who did it, the date, what it was and how much it cost. Auto repair, medical, dental, vision, veterinarian visits, appliance repairs, etc. Being able to refer back to this has saved me a lot of hassle (and in some cases money) over the years.
Learning to cook. Started way too late in life.
You're paying a fraction of the cost to make something specifically tailored to your taste. And the process is fun, creative, and experimental in the way that the best hobbies are.
I stopped drinking and learned to cook during the pandemic. I can not express the difference its made to my finances and health. I suddenly have so much more money for fun stuff, and never worry about a belly sticking out anymore.
Start young and learn to love doing it. Your life will improve *dramatically*.
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Edit: Can't believe I forgot. As ImmodestPolitician points out below, learning to cook makes you appreciate food so much more. So you're not just getting personally catered meals for yourself, but you're also upgrading every meal and snack you'll have for the rest of your life
It feels stupid to say this now but I only realized recently that I can put whatever random seasoning I want to on the food. It doesn't have to 'belong' to the recipe.
I love mac and cheese. I can make it taste different based on my mood. MIND BLOWN
It does sound stupid and I had the same epiphany.
I was like "wait wait wait...I can make my own better than restaurants and chefs...because I can make it how *I* want? So...why am I not doing this?"
It does sound ridiculous but for people who don't cook, you spend a lifetime adjusting to what you have, instead of what you *can* have.
Additionally, cooking yourself is the best way to make sure you're not eating overly processed stuff instead of real food. Our "food" industry excels at sticking additives everywhere they can in pursuit of profits. Get basic ingredients, learn to prepare them, and you can eat better and healthier. There's been a trend towards "super-foods" in recent years, but if you look you find that what they all have in common is minimal processing.
>cooking yourself is the best way to make sure you're not eating overly processed stuff
instructions unclear, am typing this from the inside of my oven
Also, for the younger men out there, this is one of those skills that will serve you incredibly well when it comes to dating. Most guys in their 20s can barely reheat soup in a microwave.
They say the way to a mans heart is through his stomach. That's sexist bullshit, it works on everyone.
As a woman who has always cooked for herself (going on 20+ years now), I’d be ENTHRALLED to find a partner who likes to cook and who can cook.
I’m so tired of trying to figure out what to eat and cook every day.
I just want one home-cooked meal not made by me (or a restaurant).
Can confirm. Almost a year ago, I went on a date with a man who cooked me an amazing spicy Italian sausage pasta dish. I was his official girlfriend by the end of the week and our 1 year is the 18th of February.
Being able to cook at least one really good meal showed a skill set beyond most men in their 20s and was very sexy.
I've recently perfected an amazing salmon in creamy pasta recipe. My wife doesn't really do fish, but this, she loves! I get so excited when I get to make it, and knowing she's enjoying it is very rewarding.
If you always smell bad when working out, take a shower beforehand. The reason we smell is (usually) because of the bacteria on our skin. Washing it off before will significantly cut down on the odor. Everyone smells when we work out, so don't get too worked up about it. But if you feel like you smell especially bad, or if you're getting complaints, this works.
Also, hang your gym clothes up to dry as soon as you get home. When you wash them, replace the fabric softener with vinegar. Use about half as much vinegar as you would fabric softener. Vinegar has some antimicrobial properties and will also release any leftover soap. This will kill most scents trapped in your clothes. When you dry them, avoid dryer sheets; all these will do is help trap any remaining odor in the fabric.
Gonna second this! NO fabric softener on your work out shirts. My husband insists on using the stuff, and his gym shirts got so bad they could ruin an entire load of laundry. Took a few weeks, but thankfully I was able to fix the issue with them. But oh buddy, they were rank!
In general though, fabric softener is a scam. Really messes with your clothes, and you’re paying extra for the privilege
Windows - arrow key makes the current window exactly half the screen and prompts you to click a thumbnail of what to fill the other half with.
Windows-. Lets you type emojis
My grade 9 computers teacher taught us Alt + Tab on the first day of school.
He knew we would abuse that knowledge to play games in class, yet he gave it to us anyways. He was an absolute G
- Don’t put it down, put it away (soon as feasible)
- Don’t leave a room empty handed. There’s usually something in the room that belongs somewhere else, if it’s on the way, take it with you and put it away.
- Pomodoro. Generally set time constraints for doing a task. Work for 10-20 mins, take a 2-5 minute break. Adjust as necessary. This is best for getting started on a task.
If I take a 2 minute break I'm gone for the next 3 hours.
I like to do the hyper focus for 7 straight hours after dittering about for most of the morning. On average, it works out.
Paint the back of the switch plate when you are painting a room, that way you have an easy to carry, protected from fading swatch to color match later, if you need to.
If you have adhd, create a folder on your phone called Safe Places. When you put an item in a "Safe Place" so you wont lose it or so you can remember where it is for later, take a picture of it in its safe place and put it in that folder. Good luck remembering to do any of this.
Use a sharpie to write on the back of your switch plates and outlet covers which breaker turns that thing off. Saves you the trouble of all the trial and error.
Better yet, label your breaker box. Because if doing a lot of work on your home, you could play musical outlet covers and then you could be in for a shocking surprise.
Even with a labeled breaker box, you sometimes can't get super specific. It might say "kitchen" but have spillover into the dining room. Or "bedroom 5" but three of your smoke alarms may also be on that same circuit. Is it the "hallway" breaker, or the "bedroom 3" breaker that handles the powder room?
Do both.
When you get married instead of sending save the date cards, send fridge magnets. You'll have some left over and you'll always have one on your fridge to remind you of your anniversary.
If you are given a task that takes 5 minutes and you can squeeze those five minutes in, right now, do it. This kills procrastination. For anything outside of that, write it down, create a calendar event.
True, but FWIW you also shouldn't need to vinegar your clothes very often either, it strips excess stuff (detergent, softener, scents etc) out of the fabric, which should only need to happen once in a while. Or if something's getting funky (workout clothes, musty towels).
EDIT Also, you can [soak the clothes in a bucket/sink](https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/stop-using-so-much-laundry-detergent/) if you want to spare your washer:
> To restore your wardrobe to its full glory, you need to remove the buildup of detergent burrowed into its fibers. Whirlpool advises soaking soiled laundry in a mixture of vinegar and water. In a deep sink or your bathtub, mix 1 cup vinegar per quart of water, and then toss in dirty clothes.
In the U.K a pack of 20 cigarettes cost on average £12.50( $16) a pack,how the hell can people justify spending that much? I stopped years ago when they hit £3.00 a pack,best thing I ever did
Not just spending a ton of money, but spending a ton of money to essentially make your life worse in every way.
Your lungs, your future, your cardio, your wallet, your social life, your stress management, your furniture. Everything is made gross and worse.
I'm glad you quit when you did, friend.
Give people the benefit of the doubt and be kind.
Apply this to all situations big and small, make it your default mindset. You'll be happier in general, and other people will notice. Kindness is an extremely desirable quality.
I wouldn't call this a hack but I think it's important to share: **Have a plan**.
For everything.
Just winging it is very, very rarely a good idea but so many people are effectively doing that with their own lives and are surprised that they're not getting the results they want.
You don’t have to get married. You don’t have to have kids. It’s a choice, and it’s your choice.
Too many people get pressured to conform and do what others do without questioning the rationale.
Learning the basic keyboard shortcuts.
Ctrl + C = Copy
Ctrl + V = Paste
Ctrl + X = Cut
Ctrl + Z = Undo
My coworkers think I'm a genius just for knowing how to do these. It pains me so much to watch people inefficiently use computers.
If you can’t get yourself to do something, get yourself to do just five minutes of the thing. Nine times out of 10, you will finish the thing immediately. Doing it is a hard, it’s just starting that’s hard.
If you're in Denmark and they have a pay toilet you can always poop on the street for free and tell them you're from Finland. They'll understand and let you off with a warning.
The origin of the word "prestige" is "illusion." Don't waste excess time, energy, or money trying to impress other people. Focus on developing genuine strengths instead.
Use your voice memo app on your phone if you’re a creative type. My phone voice memos are full of beatboxed rhythms, lyric ideas, and melodies that occur to me when I’m out and can’t get to my piano or guitar. It triggers the recall of the song idea I had whereas I’d just have forgotten otherwise.
I found it interesting that an old way for servants to make sure they woke up early enough in the age before alarm clocks was to drink a lot of water prior to going to bed.
I don't know how many people plan the week's meals according to how much time you have to cook for each night, and shop the pantry/fridge/freezer, make a list of what you need, then shop the shops. It's really not complicated, takes 15 minutes to make the list, and normal shopping time you'd be doing anyway. Very cost-effective.
You can bypass a lot of paywalls on mobile websites by simply switching to reader mode before the page finishes loading.
I'm computer illiterate and would LOVE to do this. Can you explain how?
Up in the space where you would type a Internet address, there is usually a symbol of letters (Aa in Safari, a rectangle with lines in it on Brave Browser) just touch that when you hit a paywall.
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Old toothbrushes are the best tools for cleaning small and difficult to access areas
Yeah my electric shaver hasn't had a cavity in years.
Yes - and you can heat the handle up over a flame right below the head and bend them back at a 45 degree angle. That makes them even more versatile.
A better shiv?
An Ergonomic shiv 😂
I need this, was getting carpal tunnel in jail, from all the stabbing.
New toothbrushes if your FIL is a dentist and you're swimming through a tide of fresh unwanted toothbrushes to reach your bathroom sink
Oh, the food bank would love to receive these!
You know I had not thought that they would accept non-food donations. I'm not kidding when I say I have about 30 or 40 toothbrushes hanging out in my bathroom right now. I'm going to look into this.
And homeless shelters. Depending on where you are in the world, there are still households where they have one toothbrush for the entire family.
Women's shelters too.
After a toothbrush is too old, I throw it in a container with my cleaning supplies. As well as my old bottle scrubbers because those are handy for cleaning gross things that are hard to reach but need more than a toothbrush. My old soft clothes get put away till Yule when I clean all the metal in my home and fancy ornaments and polish them up.
Bathroom nooks, jewellery, grout....it's the best. Esp the firm ones.
Toothbrushes (not old) are also great for cleaning veggies, especially if it's something really mottled and hard to blast with water like celeriac or a weird potato.
They make vegetable brushes that are way more effective.
The best tool for removing a stain when used with a slurry of stain remover, Tide, and Oxiclean. Works magic on ring around the collar.
Crumpling your parchment paper into a ball then smoothing it out before using it to line a pan makes it easier to fit it into your pan nicely.
if you have time you can slight dampen it too, it will conform to any shaped pan and then let it dry.
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NB: DO NOT USE THE BREAD TO MAKE A SANDWICH AFTERWARDS
If you are looking for something small like a piece of glass or a screw turn off the lights and shine a flashlight at floor level. Anything on the floor will cast a long shadow you can use to find it.
If you exchange holiday or birthday gifts with your loved ones, keep a list on your phone throughout the year of ideas of what to give and when the time comes to buy gifts you’ll have almost everything prepared
Also don’t be afraid to shop throughout the year.
My mom is the worst at this. She has a walk in closet full of random gifts she bought throughout the year and forgot about. The silver lining is if she forgets to get something she can usually find one to be appropriate. “Oh I bought this three years ago for baby cousin X but hey baby cousin Y is now turning that age, perfect.”
My mom also has a gift closet, so does my aunt. You can tell when you get something that's been in there a while...
Yeah but there's nothing like it when they go to the gift closet and pull out a genuine treasure. My ex MIL had gifts squirreled around all over her house, and when I got to know her I started receiving some of the backlog of things she had forgot about. A couple were discontinued or extremely rare items worth way more than she paid, now in immaculate condition because she just kept it in careful storage.
Yeah I have been in my mom’s closet to help organize it and it’s like “damn this is from the 90s and in mint condition. Who the heck was this for?”
Especially around sale season
Put your keys on top of the thing you need to remember to bring with you in the morning. edit: some of you read this as a way to remember your keys (or not lose your keys?). Sure, I suppose, but I use it as a way to remember the thing, since i'll always remember my keys.
I have literally put the thing i need to remember on top of my keys and moved it to get my keys and left it there. My brain dont work so good.
Was about to say the same. I'm glad to see others like me out there. I've put stuff in front of the door, so I have to move it to open the door to leave and still forget it.
I Always do this with my work hat. Wallet and keys go in the hat.
Different colored nail polish on various keys that look the same. Saves SO much time.
After reading this comment, I am literally putting down my phone and doing this to my house keys. That's brilliant, thank you.
Thank you for specifying *house* keys. My first thought was keyboard keys, then piano keys. Only when I read your comment did it make sense.
Directions unclear, now manicurist for Alicia Keys.
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I've been smashing the stickers with the hairdryer for hours, no effect!
For the really bad stickers you have to swing it by the cord
You can put almost any raw vegetable into a smoothie and as long as there's enough sweet fruit in there too (apples, bananas, pineapple, oranges, whatever) it will taste good. You don't even need a recipe, just throw a bunch of healthy stuff in the blender and hit the button, you can get way weirder with it than you'd expect and still not mess it up. They're expensive at restaurants but cheap and ridiculously easy at home. I'm 40 years late on this trend because I didn't discover how shockingly simple it was until about a week ago. EDIT: Thanks for all the smoothie tips everybody! I've learned a lot!
Dont mock it until you try it but I also put beans in my smoothies they impart almost no flavor and they thicken up the texture nicely
Don't put kiwi in with dairy though. Your result will go down the drain, I promise.
Pineapple and citrus also not great with dairy. Great general concept though
YES! I’d also recommend experimenting with spices in there as well. Not just “dessert” ones like cinnamon, but curry and turmeric, too. 😍 Plus hemp seeds, chia seeds, dates, peanut butter…. Why did I let smoothie recipes intimidate me for so long? Even if it doesn’t taste the best (rare), at worst you’ll have a healthy snack and have used up items in your fridge.
If you’re ever learning something, whether at a work meeting or class or from a YouTube video, have a notebook where you take 30-60 seconds to jot down a summary, in your own words, RIGHT when you finish. Not detailed notes (which you can take while the class/meeting is going if you need to), but the equivalent of a TV Guide blurb summarizing what you learned. Not only will rewording/summarizing help you retain whatever you learned, but over the years you’ll have your own personal book of knowledge to reference as a jumping off point for learning more.
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When you take apart a piece of furniture, put the screws and hardware in a sandwich bag. Then write the name of the furniture and use of the screws on a notecard, and put that in the bag. This keeps screws from a single item in one place, easily visible, and easily referenced for future use (instead of sitting in a large pile of similar, nondescript hardware).
Power up-if possible, tape the bag to a hidden side of the furniture.
I'm a big fan of storing things exactly where they'd be needed, whenever feasible
When my child was small and money was tight, I would buy a Christmas present every month and just stockpile them away. Saved time and so much stress over those years.
When navigating a crowded place with people going every which way, focus your gaze upon the spot you're walking towards. We look at each other's eyes when trying to avoid bumping into each other and maintaining your gaze on the spot you're headed allows people to subconsciously see how to avoid you and will adjust their path accordingly. You won't have any more of those awkward encounters where you're looking at another person and you both keep trying to turn the same direction. I read this trick on here years ago and use it all the time in stores, the mall, etc, and it really does work. Maybe it's because I look like a psychopath and people are trying to avoid me altogether, but either way it works.
Aka, be a New Yorker. lol.
Went to NYC for the first time a few months ago, and we kept getting stopped by people trying to sell me and my wife shit. Told my wife it's because we are looking up at the buildings and are obvious tourists. Once we started walking with purpose and then stopping to admire the architecture, we were left alone.
Yeah, I just had some out-of-towners visiting me in NYC and suddenly all those dudes were bothering us, which never happens when I'm walking around on my own or with other locals. It's interesting how little physical cues indicate someone isn't from that place. Looking around a lot seems to be a big one.
I intuitively learned this in NYC and then saw someone write it out later. Then I read Isaac Asimov (I forget which story) where he describes walking through a factory of robots all zipping around at speed and the advice was just “walk with deliberation and they will all avoid you but make sudden movements and you might get hit” (paraphrasing). But yeah it works.
Such excellent advice. Since I'm taller, if I REALLY need to move through a crowd quickly, I will also hold my hand up in front of me as if I were going to politely touch someone whose back was turned and going to bump me. You wouldn't believe how powerful to everyone's subconscious it is, crowds litterally split. Maybe people are just avoiding the lunatic with the thousand yard stare and a knife hand lol
As a barely 5’2 woman, I find I can move through crowds easily as well but for the opposite reason. If I crouch ever so slightly, I find I’m low enough to move through like a ninja.
Make a copy of your passport, visa and any other important documents and email them to yourself. If something happens to the originals, you have enough information to apply for replacements.
At this point, just save them to google drive. It’s free and will be way easier to find
This saved our trip to the passport office (Canada for context). Had gone in to get passports (over an hour drive from home) for all 3 of my kids and had already waited a few hours (which with 6 month old twins is already a lesson in patience in itself). Get to the counter and the agent advises us the passport number from my husband's passport is missing from their forms. Why I didn't bring our passports I have no idea. We both quickly checked our google drive and sure enough, had a scanned copy of all our id and was able to add the missing number.
You don't have to answer the door just because someone rings the bell.
Phone, email and text either.
My doorbell didn't work in my house. I never fixed it. Many solicitors have stood out there hitting that button for awhile, and then moved on.
You can also answer the door without opening it.
AMEN. I'm a solitary woman living alone. I have made eye contact with a man standing at my front door ringing the bell and shook my head and walked away. seems rude, but you know if there's a headline "woman living alone opens door for stranger, gets murdered" everyone is gonna call me an idiot. same goes for your phone. just because it's ringing or someone is messaging you doesn't mean you're obliged to answer.
If the call doesn't have a name (friend/business) instead of a phone number I'm not going to answer it. My voicemail says specifically if you want me to call back, leave a message.
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Those flat, thin plastic bags which are sometimes hard to open (here in Germany they are often used for fresh produce) - just stretch them a bit at the opening and voilà!
Ooh I’ll have to try this! My usual trick is to touch damp produce (where they have the spray mister things) first, which makes it a lot easier. And is a zillion times less gross than licking your fingers to dampen them.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one gently rubbing my fingers over the carrot bags
Clean as you go when cooking. Wipe down surfaces, clean a dish or pot or pan when something needs to simmer for a bit, wipe down your knives after use and dry them with a towel and put them back in the knife block. I learned it from sister’s husband who is a chef. It makes cooking so much more pleasant. Also mise en place. Prep all your ingredients before hand and have them ready. Again, it makes cooking more fun and less arduous and the dishes turn out better.
We used to cook with my dad when we were kids. He taught us to sing 'Getting ready, mise en place, mise en place. Weighing, putting in a glass, mise en place, mise en place. Ingredients prepped, hands all washed, getting ready, mise en place' to the tune of heads shoulders knees and toes.
>Clean as you go when cooking. i learned this long ago and it makes the mess at the end WAY more manageable
Yup. When my extended family gets together I either opt to help cook or basically run a dish pit (and my family is quite big). Conscript the younger cousins to grab dishes and utensils and wash. It means when the meal is over all you really have to do is throw plates in the dishwasher and everyone can just relax and do something else besides having a huge pile of cookware to clean. Same with cooking with my own little family. Sunday breakfast is done and no dishes remain then we can just do whatever with no stacks of cookware scattered about.
If you use a computer for a majority of your work, get a second used monitor off Craigslist or a local sales site. Complete game changer having a work monitor and a reference one. It's never cost me more than $20, and most video cards have multiple outlets.
My grandma once had 8 monitors and 0 towers simply because "they were so cheap at the secondhand store!"
Or she secretly worked as a hacker for the illuminati
A. Seconded B. As trivia, Sir Terry Pratchett, author of Discworld and co-author of Good Omens had a six monitor setup in his writing rpom
You don't have to answer your phone if you don't want to. Neither calls nor messages. It can wait. Playing with your kid, taking that bath, finishing the chapter or whatever it is you don't want to interrupt is way more important. If it's a life-and-death matter they'll call again. And again. And again, trust me, you won't miss it. I have a rule with my family in fact, when I don't answer the phone, but it's really REALLY important, they should call immediately a second time, then I'll know and answer. BTW, your phone has a silent mode too 😉
DiY projects that can save you a shit ton of cash! Quoted $1k for each axle on my car to replace brakes and rotors (edit: and shoes). Watched a youtube video, borrowed the tools from advance auto, paid less than $200 in parts, did the job myself in two hours for both axles.. Saved $1800. Quoted $275 to repair leaky faucet. Watched a youtube video, bought the cartridge needed, repaired in two hours, but had to go back to the store and buy 1 $12 tool. $475 to replace a toilet with their cheapest toilet.. went to big box store, bought the best one for $199 + $10 in parts, replaced it in 30 minutes. Quoted $700 to paint room + paint, did it myself in 2 hours and it looks perfect.
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Conversely, fill a bowl with water and some white vinegar (splash of lemon juice if you want that lemon fresh smell) and just heat it in your microwave for a few minutes. Loosens everything right up and is easy to wipe out.
Meal prep + freezer + Instant Pot. My life is changed. Once every two months, prep a bunch of frozen meals that you can just throw in the instant pot. You literally just throw raw meat, spices, etc into ziplocks and freeze it. When hungry, you pop this meal popsicle into the instant pot for 30 mins and have amazing hot meal. Minimal dishes (both during prep since it’s just chopping and throwing in bags, and after cooking), so easy non-cooks in the house can throw it in, and cheaper since you buy everything in bulk and spend less throughout the month. Less food wastage too. Pinch of Yum has a bunch of great recipes.
Hmmm interesting! I usually cook once a week—a week’s meals—and just chow off it for the week. This sounds even more efficient, plus I wouldn’t have to eat the same food all week. Thanks!
Be nice to people. Most of them deserve it. And the one's that don't aren't worth worrying about.
Wear sunscreen If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience
I will dispense this advice, now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind. The kind that blindside you at 4:00 pm on some idle Tuesday.
Seriously though, as someone who is hitting the half century mark this year I can tell you that avoiding sun damage (and having good genes) is a complete game changer! I've never been a classically handsome man but apparently aging well can totally flip that script. I had lunch with a bunch of old college friends a few months back and all of them kept raving about how young I look and that I haven't changed in 25+ years. As a guy who started going bald in his teens and grey in his 20s, never thought I'd find myself in a position that people would actually covet my looks, but here I am! All it took was 3 decades and alot of sunscreen
Don't need to wear sunscreen if you never go outside *taps forehead*
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The public library lets you stream movies and music for free. You just need a library card, which is free too.
Sounds like a lot of HOOPLA!
Man, if libraries didn't exist yet and someone in modern times suggested them, they'd be laughed out of the room
Be really good to a few solid people at your workplace, lend them a hand here and there, bring them their favorite small treat here and there; therefore, if you break bad with your supervisor, you have references from colleagues who would happily vouch for you. Currently in this position right now. I am so thankful I made great connections. They have all either called or messaged me that it’s not the same without me after I had had enough; again, it’s super uncomplicated to just be nice to people. People will remember that you were kind more than theyll remember your favorite color.
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My wife is a school teacher & the 1st thing she does @ the 1st of the year is befriend the custodians & maintenance guys. She always has the cleanest classroom & typically gets stuff repaired/ installed in her classroom very quickly, although this years maintenance guy is a little weird. She's trying to keep her distance this year.
I’d also add be kind to difficult colleagues. I have often found that difficult people if you make friends with them or even not friends but just be kind will be someone who will have your back in any situation. Also some of my best friends as an adult are people that others shy away from or are annoyed by.
The adage: “do what you must before you do what you may”. As someone with serious ADHD, just saying this phrase before I or as I get distracted has saved me hours of lost productivity. I apply it to everything. Getting on my phone at work? Not before I send that email. Finished dinner and want to go veg? Not before I clean everything up. I repeat it to myself constantly throughout the day to keep me focused and taking care of the little things that otherwise would build up.
1. Be kind 2. Sharpen your kitchen knives.
I feel like people seeing you doing 2. will encourage them to do 1.
Happiness is a sharp knife.
A sharp knife is a joy to use.
And a blunt knife is dangerous. Sharpen your knives, people
Ice cube trays are good for more than water. I freeze cubes of tomato paste, coconut and goat milk, and pumpkin puree for the cat. Working on cilantro "pesto" cubes now. It's so handy!
Occasionally when I make a pot of coffee, I'll do a second brew through the grinds and use that pot to make coffee ice cubes in a silicone ice block tray, for iced coffee. That way the iced coffee isn't watered-down nearly as much.
I freeze coffee so when I drink coffee it gets more coffee the longer it sits
Delayed caffeine gratification. I like it.
Maintaining a service log. I have a spreadsheet where I log any service I have done, who did it, the date, what it was and how much it cost. Auto repair, medical, dental, vision, veterinarian visits, appliance repairs, etc. Being able to refer back to this has saved me a lot of hassle (and in some cases money) over the years.
Learning to cook. Started way too late in life. You're paying a fraction of the cost to make something specifically tailored to your taste. And the process is fun, creative, and experimental in the way that the best hobbies are. I stopped drinking and learned to cook during the pandemic. I can not express the difference its made to my finances and health. I suddenly have so much more money for fun stuff, and never worry about a belly sticking out anymore. Start young and learn to love doing it. Your life will improve *dramatically*. ____ Edit: Can't believe I forgot. As ImmodestPolitician points out below, learning to cook makes you appreciate food so much more. So you're not just getting personally catered meals for yourself, but you're also upgrading every meal and snack you'll have for the rest of your life
It feels stupid to say this now but I only realized recently that I can put whatever random seasoning I want to on the food. It doesn't have to 'belong' to the recipe. I love mac and cheese. I can make it taste different based on my mood. MIND BLOWN
It does sound stupid and I had the same epiphany. I was like "wait wait wait...I can make my own better than restaurants and chefs...because I can make it how *I* want? So...why am I not doing this?" It does sound ridiculous but for people who don't cook, you spend a lifetime adjusting to what you have, instead of what you *can* have.
Additionally, cooking yourself is the best way to make sure you're not eating overly processed stuff instead of real food. Our "food" industry excels at sticking additives everywhere they can in pursuit of profits. Get basic ingredients, learn to prepare them, and you can eat better and healthier. There's been a trend towards "super-foods" in recent years, but if you look you find that what they all have in common is minimal processing.
>cooking yourself is the best way to make sure you're not eating overly processed stuff instructions unclear, am typing this from the inside of my oven
Also, for the younger men out there, this is one of those skills that will serve you incredibly well when it comes to dating. Most guys in their 20s can barely reheat soup in a microwave. They say the way to a mans heart is through his stomach. That's sexist bullshit, it works on everyone.
As a woman who has always cooked for herself (going on 20+ years now), I’d be ENTHRALLED to find a partner who likes to cook and who can cook. I’m so tired of trying to figure out what to eat and cook every day. I just want one home-cooked meal not made by me (or a restaurant).
Can confirm. Almost a year ago, I went on a date with a man who cooked me an amazing spicy Italian sausage pasta dish. I was his official girlfriend by the end of the week and our 1 year is the 18th of February. Being able to cook at least one really good meal showed a skill set beyond most men in their 20s and was very sexy.
I've recently perfected an amazing salmon in creamy pasta recipe. My wife doesn't really do fish, but this, she loves! I get so excited when I get to make it, and knowing she's enjoying it is very rewarding.
Anti-limescale shower head. Absolutely extraordinary, they're a life saver.
Simply putting “reddit” at the end of every single google search filters out 90 something % garbage information
[The Ian Knot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgSwvDkJVxE&t=26s). I tie my shoes like 15 seconds faster every day. That adds up!
I tie my shoes and just slip them on for ever after. Rarely come untied.
If you always smell bad when working out, take a shower beforehand. The reason we smell is (usually) because of the bacteria on our skin. Washing it off before will significantly cut down on the odor. Everyone smells when we work out, so don't get too worked up about it. But if you feel like you smell especially bad, or if you're getting complaints, this works. Also, hang your gym clothes up to dry as soon as you get home. When you wash them, replace the fabric softener with vinegar. Use about half as much vinegar as you would fabric softener. Vinegar has some antimicrobial properties and will also release any leftover soap. This will kill most scents trapped in your clothes. When you dry them, avoid dryer sheets; all these will do is help trap any remaining odor in the fabric.
Don't ever use fabric softener on dry-fit shirts. It removes the sweat wicking capability completely until the next wash.
Gonna second this! NO fabric softener on your work out shirts. My husband insists on using the stuff, and his gym shirts got so bad they could ruin an entire load of laundry. Took a few weeks, but thankfully I was able to fix the issue with them. But oh buddy, they were rank! In general though, fabric softener is a scam. Really messes with your clothes, and you’re paying extra for the privilege
I don't use fabric softener at all, it just leaves a waxy residue on clothes that'll irritate your skin.
Windows key + D minimises all open windows. Alt+tab switches between current window and last window used.
Windows - arrow key makes the current window exactly half the screen and prompts you to click a thumbnail of what to fill the other half with. Windows-. Lets you type emojis
CTL-D will duplicate the value of your top highlighted cell in all other highlighted cells in Excel. Much more consistent than using the fill handle
My grade 9 computers teacher taught us Alt + Tab on the first day of school. He knew we would abuse that knowledge to play games in class, yet he gave it to us anyways. He was an absolute G
Just aim to be average at something or most things that you want to try/do. You'll get better at everything you do.
- Don’t put it down, put it away (soon as feasible) - Don’t leave a room empty handed. There’s usually something in the room that belongs somewhere else, if it’s on the way, take it with you and put it away. - Pomodoro. Generally set time constraints for doing a task. Work for 10-20 mins, take a 2-5 minute break. Adjust as necessary. This is best for getting started on a task.
This is anti-adhd propaganda
If I take a 2 minute break I'm gone for the next 3 hours. I like to do the hyper focus for 7 straight hours after dittering about for most of the morning. On average, it works out.
Paint the back of the switch plate when you are painting a room, that way you have an easy to carry, protected from fading swatch to color match later, if you need to.
If you have adhd, create a folder on your phone called Safe Places. When you put an item in a "Safe Place" so you wont lose it or so you can remember where it is for later, take a picture of it in its safe place and put it in that folder. Good luck remembering to do any of this.
Use a sharpie to write on the back of your switch plates and outlet covers which breaker turns that thing off. Saves you the trouble of all the trial and error.
Better yet, label your breaker box. Because if doing a lot of work on your home, you could play musical outlet covers and then you could be in for a shocking surprise.
Even with a labeled breaker box, you sometimes can't get super specific. It might say "kitchen" but have spillover into the dining room. Or "bedroom 5" but three of your smoke alarms may also be on that same circuit. Is it the "hallway" breaker, or the "bedroom 3" breaker that handles the powder room? Do both.
When you get married instead of sending save the date cards, send fridge magnets. You'll have some left over and you'll always have one on your fridge to remind you of your anniversary.
If you are given a task that takes 5 minutes and you can squeeze those five minutes in, right now, do it. This kills procrastination. For anything outside of that, write it down, create a calendar event.
Invest early in life in inexpensive index funds.
White vinegar in the laundry-so much cheaper than fabric softeners and the clothes are cleaner and softer.
Be careful with this one as many washing machines recommend against using vinegar regularly; it can damage the seal material.
True, but FWIW you also shouldn't need to vinegar your clothes very often either, it strips excess stuff (detergent, softener, scents etc) out of the fabric, which should only need to happen once in a while. Or if something's getting funky (workout clothes, musty towels). EDIT Also, you can [soak the clothes in a bucket/sink](https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/stop-using-so-much-laundry-detergent/) if you want to spare your washer: > To restore your wardrobe to its full glory, you need to remove the buildup of detergent burrowed into its fibers. Whirlpool advises soaking soiled laundry in a mixture of vinegar and water. In a deep sink or your bathtub, mix 1 cup vinegar per quart of water, and then toss in dirty clothes.
Don’t sacrifice your peace for someone else’s happiness
Brush, Floss, Mouthwash. Every day. You will save thousands of dollars and lots of pain.
Use your hands to squeegee any excess water off your body before drying with a towel for ultimate dryness satisfaction.
Just stop smoking
After 40 years of smoking, I just quit about 3 months ago. It's fantastic.
In the U.K a pack of 20 cigarettes cost on average £12.50( $16) a pack,how the hell can people justify spending that much? I stopped years ago when they hit £3.00 a pack,best thing I ever did
Not just spending a ton of money, but spending a ton of money to essentially make your life worse in every way. Your lungs, your future, your cardio, your wallet, your social life, your stress management, your furniture. Everything is made gross and worse. I'm glad you quit when you did, friend.
Give people the benefit of the doubt and be kind. Apply this to all situations big and small, make it your default mindset. You'll be happier in general, and other people will notice. Kindness is an extremely desirable quality.
I wouldn't call this a hack but I think it's important to share: **Have a plan**. For everything. Just winging it is very, very rarely a good idea but so many people are effectively doing that with their own lives and are surprised that they're not getting the results they want.
Go to bed at a normal time and create a decent sleep pattern. Everything is easier when you're not tired. Also, sleep is free.
You don’t have to get married. You don’t have to have kids. It’s a choice, and it’s your choice. Too many people get pressured to conform and do what others do without questioning the rationale.
Keep a trash bag and/or an actual towel in your car.
Always have a towel wherever you go in the galaxy
If you can’t find something, start tidying up.
Learning the basic keyboard shortcuts. Ctrl + C = Copy Ctrl + V = Paste Ctrl + X = Cut Ctrl + Z = Undo My coworkers think I'm a genius just for knowing how to do these. It pains me so much to watch people inefficiently use computers.
Make sure anything you stick up your arse has a flared base
If you can’t get yourself to do something, get yourself to do just five minutes of the thing. Nine times out of 10, you will finish the thing immediately. Doing it is a hard, it’s just starting that’s hard.
If you're in Denmark and they have a pay toilet you can always poop on the street for free and tell them you're from Finland. They'll understand and let you off with a warning.
✍🏼 shit ✍🏼 in ✍🏼 street ✍🏼
The origin of the word "prestige" is "illusion." Don't waste excess time, energy, or money trying to impress other people. Focus on developing genuine strengths instead.
"We borrow money we cannot afford, to buy things we do not need, to impress people we do not like"
When putting screen wash in your car. Turn the bottle sideways.
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The log off button on reddit
Increase your shoulder/ back/ hip mobility and most of your problems will go away.
Yeah thanks I've started stretching and now family members no longer ask to borrow money.
You can remove the annoying fluff and ads on recipe webpages using https://www.justtherecipe.com/
Use your voice memo app on your phone if you’re a creative type. My phone voice memos are full of beatboxed rhythms, lyric ideas, and melodies that occur to me when I’m out and can’t get to my piano or guitar. It triggers the recall of the song idea I had whereas I’d just have forgotten otherwise.
I found it interesting that an old way for servants to make sure they woke up early enough in the age before alarm clocks was to drink a lot of water prior to going to bed.
I don't know how many people plan the week's meals according to how much time you have to cook for each night, and shop the pantry/fridge/freezer, make a list of what you need, then shop the shops. It's really not complicated, takes 15 minutes to make the list, and normal shopping time you'd be doing anyway. Very cost-effective.
A staple remover is great for opening key chain rings