Yes, we have had a little fun with the life hacks and pro tips concept in the past, chuckling along with glee while people shared their gloriously goofy ‘shitty life advice’ a few months back. But this time we are serious.
Now we have sourced some genuinely practical hints, tips, and the best advice that really can make your busy life a little easier. Some of them are just good old common sense; other life tips are valuable insider knowledge about things like IT and airlines. A few of them are just so damn staring you in the face, that you take them for granted and forget to take advantage! All of these lifetime hacks, however, are wise, smart and extremely useful.
Scroll down to check out the list compiled by Bored Panda, and let us know in the comments if you found anything that could come in handy for yourself! (Facebook cover image: Björn Láczay)
#1
Never give an animal to someone as a gift, especially if they do not ask for one.
Thrusting an animal on someone forces them to take care of another life but not everyone can afford to give it the life it deserves.
Image source: Cyanide915, Petful
#2
If you’re trying to learn a new language try watching children’s shows dubbed in that language. Children’s shows tend to go over things like shapes, colors, animals, etc. and can help you learn basic words and sentences.
Image source: SonofaTimeLord, Peppa Pig
#3
When you sign up for anything online, put the websites name as your middle name. That way when you receive spam/advert emails, you will know who sold your info.
Image source: mc1nc4, Marco Gomes
#4
If you have a friend or family member that provides a professional service (legal, medical, accounting, etc), always offer to pay for their service. Don’t assume that they will help you for free.
Image source: doubleflusher, The Pentecostals of OC
#5
If you know someone who cares about everyone around them a lot, please, ask them if they are okay from time to time.
I have seen, with time, that people that care a lot about other people, it’s sometimes because they have trouble taking care of themselves.
Image source: ivanol55
#6
As a manager, give praise in public and give discipline in private.
In an old job in “Corporate America” I had a manager who would always share with employees encouragement and kind words of praise within earshot of other employees, and would offer words of critisicm and suggestions for improvement in private (in his office or a conference room). This set up an environment of positive reinforcement and gave employees respect and honesty they needed to perform at a higher level.
Image source: yardsandyards, sugree
#7
When someone says no to a piece of cake, don’t try to convince them saying “it’s just one piece”. It’s not just one piece. It’s a mentally lost battle that will affect the coming battles, possibly resulting in a lost war against an unhealthy lifestyle for a person actively trying to improve.
Image source: nomansskydrive, star5112
#8
After college, once you get the first job, start looking for a better job after a year or two. Don’t stay out of loyalty.
Because trust me, no company is loyal to their employees. Be respectful and professional, but loyalty in a company is rarely noticed and appreciated.
As a person who has worked for a same company for 6 years after graduating, i found out i didn’t get a single raise within it unless i ask for it every f*cking year, never got much other benefit than initially signed while studying at school.
So i started applying for 5 months and finally got a job, it pays me almost 5 (edit: 4 is more accurate+ benefits such as health care, lunch, gym etc…) times as much as i used to. My friend from same school, with same seniority was getting 4 times my salary for the last 2 years already.
My mistake was thinking that being loyal to this company was gonna in return make the company loyal to me, the company only wants lower costs, loyalty has no place here.
Image source: cowardthe6th
#9
If you are buying headphones/speakers, test them with Bohemian Rhapsody. It has the complete set of highs and lows in instruments and vocals.
Image source: Willwalt, Freddie Mercury Biography
#10
If someone tells you they don’t drink alcohol, don’t ask them why.
It’s probably for a personal reason, and may be because they’re an alcoholic. In any case, it isn’t any of your business.
Image source: tereddits
#11
If you like one song by an artist, but don’t dig the rest of their stuff. Find out who the producer is and see what other work they’ve done. The producer can play a big role in how the final song turns out.
Image source: jade_monkey07
#12
If your fire alarm goes off, call your pets and give them a treat. Eventually they will come when the alarm goes off, saving you from wasting time looking for pets during an evacuation.
Image source: Jajaninetynine
#13
Whenever you make eye contact with someone randomly, just smile! They’ll most likely smile back and that just makes the world a little bit happier.
Image source: MikeEagle_
#14
Always be the person who tells someone they have something in their teeth, shoes untied, fly is down, etc.
I have done this my entire life and people are almost always extremely grateful. It can be a bit awkward but if someone walks into a meeting or starts a conversation with me and I notice something like that, I will immediately interrupt them to let them know.
Image source: thehoodthebadtheugly, Travis Grathwell
#15
Stop comparing yourself to others. Instead, compare yourself to where you were 1-2 years ago. Whether it’s fitness or finance, use that as motivation for your own goals.
Image source: Henniferlopez87
#16
If somebody comes to your door selling a home security system and asks if you have one, always say yes.
If they ask which company, tell them it’s none of their business.
Many people looking for homes to rob will come to your door asking about security systems. It gives them a chance to case the home and look for weaknesses like if you don’t have a dog or if the house is homed by women or the elderly.
Image source: CleanFlow
#17
Always say goodnight to your SO, even if you’re upset with them.
Taught to me by my parents, I do this in my relationship. Telling your SO goodnight especially after a fight tells them that you value your relationship more than you are upset about whatever thing is making you upset.
Image source: iambookfort
#18
Dont worry about something embarresing you said or did in the past. Nobody thinks about it as much as you do until you mention it.
Image source: neutrns13
#19
If you accidentally press the spacebar and scroll down the page, you can press Shift+Space and go back to where you were.
Image source: Prodigy510, Maik Meid
#20
Pay Attention to the smell of your home when you come back from a trip – that’s what it smells like to guests all the time, you just get used to it.
Image source: ProfessorLiftoff, Corey Balazowich
#21
Follow the 2-minute rule. If it only takes 2 minutes to do, just do it.
If you’re a big procrastinator, this is a great and easy way to start fixing that problem. If it’s something like taking out the trash, folding some clothes, or putting the dishes away, do them right there and then and don’t put it off. If it only takes 2 minutes, get it out of the way!
Image source: pertater0
#22
Want a good dog? Take them with you everywhere you go. There is a reason that dogs of street people are amazing, and cooped-up condo dogs are hyperactive spaz dogs.
Ever notice how homeless people who have dogs – their dogs are amazingly calm, follow their owners everywhere? They have life experience. They’ve been out, seen the world a lot, socialized a lot, and just want to follow and hang out with their owners.
If you were kept in a room your whole life, you’d freak and spaz and mis-behave the couple of times a day you were let out too.
Image source: stinkerb
#23
Did you buy a 6-pack of cans with the plastic tie holding them together? Do a bird, turtle, or fish a favor and snip the circular loops before throwing it out so they don’t get caught up in it.
Image source: napkin-grabber
#24
When someone compliments you, it’s okay to just say “thank you.” You don’t have to give them the same compliment right back.
Image source: LordFarquaad44, the Italian voice
#25
Before checking in at the airport. take a photograph of your luggage. A picture is worth a thousand words if your bag gets lost!
Image source: FrenchJello
#26
When buying a blanket, always buy at least one size larger than your bed. It’s at least a hundred times more comfy.
Image source: malcolmcc, MissMessie
#27
Complete a simple task like making up your bed or preparing an actual breakfast when you wake up in the morning. The feeling of even the smallest accomplishment has been proven to make you more productive during the day.
Image source: ScubaStomp, srgpicker
#28
When somebody is going through a hard time, it’s better to ask questions than to give advice. If you ask questions, you will help him/her talk through the problem. If you give advice, s/he will politely nod along, but s/he will feel kind of empty inside bc what s/he really needs is to talk.
Image source: TheJuggernautReturns
#29
If ever you need a program you want for free (for example a video/photo editor) don’t search for “free”, search for “open source” to avoid limited trial versions, adverts and malware.
Image source: TheGentGaming
#30
If you want to divide something among two people (usually kids), you get one person to divide, and the other person gets first pick on which piece they want. Everyone wins and it ensures the person who divides is fair.
Image source: Nazzapple201
#31
When walking your dogs, make them sit and wait before crossing streets. This will make them hesitate about running into roads if they ever get loose.
Image source: MaxwellVador
#32
Bring a healthy snack to work. If you’re looking for a snack but don’t feel like eating the one you brought, you’re not hungry you’re bored.
Image source: jumamillion
#33
Think of money in terms of hours. You make $10/hour and wanna buy that $150 coat? Is that coat really worth 15 hours of work?
Image source: ThanksIObama
#34
Don’t recommend a friend for a job unless you’ve seen them work or you are willing to risk both relationships. A good friend isn’t always a good worker.
Recommending them only for them to mess up reflects badly on you and could ruin the friendship and your relationship with the employer.
Image source: cool_wifey
#35
When petting a dog that is overly submissive, pet/rub their chests not their heads. This will boost their confidence.
Image source: schacmatt
#36
Find 3 hobbies, 1 to make you money, 1 to keep you in shape, and 1 that let you be creative.
Image source: YellowMehMeh
#37
If you get a kitten, DO use your hands for play so you can teach restraint when they are too rough. Restraint is naturally learned in play with hands and littermates because the fun stops when a bite or scratch is too much. Adult cats who didn’t play this way are more likely to scratch or bite.
Obviously this only works if you shout loudly (“OWW!”) and stop playing if a bite or scratch is too hard.
Image source: brentonstrine
#38
Next time you have an easily googleable question about food, clothes, or general life stuff, text your Mom and ask her instead. She probably loves seeing that you still want her advice.
Image source: Albert_Caboose
#39
If you accidentally type something in all caps, highlight it and hit Shift+F3.
The same also works if you need to change lowercase to caps.
Image source: Lady_Tech_Support
#40
Before buying a house check it out on a very rainy day to see how effectively water drains.
You might discover some issues with drainage especially in the yard.
Image source: Chinpokomonnnn
#41
If you go clubbing or to concerts a lot buy yourself acoustic earplugs. They don’t muffle the sound, just get rid of the harmful frequencies. Tinnitus is something very easy to get and very hard/impossible to get rid of.
Image source: ding3
#42
When you have an item you changed your mind on at the grocery store (especially perishables) just give it to the cashier. We really don’t mind and you don’t have to be sorry about it. It makes everyone’s lives easier and we won’t have to go through the store looking for misplaced items.
Image source: Unknown
#43
When you have a goal, don’t tell people about it.
When you tell people about it, especially in detail, you get a sense of accomplishment that should only be yours when you’ve completed the task.
So keep it under wraps and tell people when it’s done so you can enjoy actually having achieved something and not just the sense of being so noble/motivated for having goals.
Image source: frustratedfem
#44
If you realize your fridge is getting empty, take 30 minutes to clean the inside before you go grocery shopping again.
Image source: Wthermans
#45
If you are given a prepaid debit card as a gift, save it after you spend the money. You can use it to sign up for free trials online without worry of being scammed.
Image source: 41sa
#46
When putting in time for vacation, always take the day after you get back off. This will give you a safety net in case your flight is cancelled. Otherwise you get a day to unpack and relax.
Image source: NoMoreSyntaxErrors
#47
When lending a pen or marker hand it over without the cap, you are much more likely to get it back.
Image source: I_Am_RunninGunnin
#48
Saying cheese in a photo makes people have lame smiles, words that end in “a” works way better, and give natural smiles.
A trick I use for group photos is to loudly announce this before taking a photo and then use the example word “vagina” everyone laughs. click.
Image source: sub-hunter, David Mello
#49
Trying to learn a new language? Watch a movie you know by heart that’s dubbed and/or subtitled in that language. It will aid in word association and comprehension and speed up the process of become proficient.
Image source: Recon718
#50
If you are involuntarily bumped off a flight, airlines are required to pay you. If you ask.
2x ticket price, up to $675, for 1-1:59 min hold over, and 4x ticket price, up to $1300, for anything over 2 hours hold over. DO NOT take their free meal or flight vouchers. They must pay upfront in cash if you ask for it.
Image source: MasterMichael
Follow Us
