“Work smarter, not harder” is a fantastic motto. Anything that will help you save time and energy will make your life a little easier (or even a lot easier). Whether that’s finding a shortcut in your day-to-day routine or solving a problem in a way you’d never thought of, it’s always a joy finding a hidden productivity secret like this.
Humans have always shared their smart solutions with each other, but nowadays, these have been rebranded as “life hacks”. Not everything filed under this moniker is useful, however. But thankfully, Bored Panda is here to help.
We’ve picked out some of the best life hacks that will help you out today. Check them out below and vote for your favorites—it’ll help others find them too! We’ve shared our favorite life hacks before (here, here and here) but there’s always something new to learn. Bored Panda also spoke with Graham Allcott from Think Productive and he’s given us some fantastic advice on how to do exactly that. If you’re interested in beating procrastination and getting things done, read on for our full interview!
#1
I used to do this when my daughter was little, “just in case.” When going on a crowded outing with your kid, snap a photo of them on your cell phone camera when you arrive. That way, if something happens and you get separated, you have a photo of them that is recent, in the clothes they’re wearing that day. Also, stick one of your business cards in your kid’s pockets.
Image source: anonymous, pxhere
#2
Do the dishes whilst cooking instead of waiting around. Leaves the majority of the dishes done by the time your food is cooked.
Image source: synthesezia, Aaron Harmon
#3
Never go grocery shopping when you’re hungry.
Image source: anonymous, Atoms
#4
Measure your hand from your fingertips to palm and memorize it. Now you can judge the size of anything without a ruler. I’ve used this my whole life to estimate distances of all kinds of things. Also pick a finger that is pretty close to 1cm or a joint close to 1 inch and remember which is which. You will never need a ruler to estimate again.
#5
Back when I was 18-26, I always had one full bag packed in my car. It generally had clean underwear, a t-shirt or two, jeans, shorts, flops, and toothbrush/deodorant. I can’t tell you how many times I’d just meet up with some friends and next thing you know it was 2AM and I needed a place to sleep. Having everything with me was awesome.
Image source: ChrisF79, MIKI Yoshihito
#6
Always be ten minutes early to everything, no matter what; once it’s a habit, you’ll never stress about being late again. If something unexpected happens in transit, you’re on time. Bam!
Image source: anonymous, Meruyert Gonullu
#7
Putting my clothes in my closet with the hangers reversed once a year. As I pull clothes out, I reverse the hanger. Every year I give away any clothes that I never took out.
Image source: elblanco, Liza Summer
#8
Here is a lifehack for all of the students out there. If you are charged with writing a lengthy research paper, find one very solid source that directly pertains to your thesis, and then you can use that source’s bibliography to back into locating new sources.
Image source: Fonix79, Yan Krukov
#9
When you need to remember to bring something with you, put your car keys on it the night before.
Image source: drewlb, Marco Verch
#10
Make lunch for work the night before.
Groceries are way cheaper than eating out every day – f**k anyone who thinks you’re lame because you don’t have a Timmyho bagel or BK for lunch everyday. I’m saving 4-5$ per meal.
Not making lunch the morning makes the morning that much smoother.
Image source: flatlander30, Elaine
#11
Invest in a good bed, you use the thing a third of your life! All the good stuff happens there. Sleep after a long day’s work, snu-snu with the missus, and if you’re like me, 90% of Sunday.
Image source: anonymous
#12
Never go to bed with a messy kitchen/dirty dishes. Waking up to a clean kitchen feels good and it makes making breakfast a lot easier in the morning when you’re 1/2 asleep.
Image source: anonymous
#13
Take notes during meetings, even if it seems like something simple you will remember later. After 10 more simple things get mentioned, you start forgetting them.
Image source: anonymous, John Diez
#14
Cut negative people out of your life.
Cut people out of your life who only contact you when they want you to do something for them.
Image source: deephair
#15
To talk to people all you have to do is just ask questions. just let them talk.
Image source: capt_0bvious, Canva Studio
#16
I used to have my computer set up to start playing a specific iTunes playlist on the stereo at a certain time. The playlist was exactly as long as I had in the morning and went from chill songs to more energetic. Throughout my morning routine, I could always tell how I was doing on time by the currently playing song.
Image source: munificent
#17
Putting socks on before pants. Socks are like pant lubricants. Believe it.
Image source: flatlander30, Lukas Horak
#18
If I spend time looking for something, as soon as I find it and finish using it I put it back the FIRST place I looked for it.
Image source: snarfit, Andrea Piacquadio
#19
If there’s something I need to do but am procrastinating, I find something else I also need to do that’s even more of a chore. I can then put off doing the second thing by doing the first.
Image source: munificent, cottonbro
#20
I use my refrigerator as a giant dry erase board. Rubbing alcohol can be used to remove permanent marker if you use the wrong pen.
Image source: Renovatio_, CivilEngineerThrow
#21
When you park at a huge parking lot, take a photo of the nearest parking location sign with your cellphone camera. That way, you won’t forget that you parked at H43 near the East exit and waste 30 minutes trying to find your car.
Image source: GeorgePB
#22
If there’s something big I want to get done, I tell all my friends I’m going to do it. The fear of looking like an ass helps keep me motivated.
Image source: munificent, Alexander Suhorucov
#23
Try to put yourself in as many socially awkward situations as possible. You will be desensitized to it which makes you more outgoing.
Image source: capt_0bvious, Jess Cadorette
#24
Place alarm clock across the room, so you have to get up to turn it off. Especially if you know you’re going to have trouble getting up in the morning.
Image source: anonymous, Aaron Yoo
#25
I’m naturally lazy, so I work out first thing in the morning. It wakes me up and then it’s over and done with and I don’t have to care about it for the rest of the day. I can be lazy during/after work and not feel guilty.
Image source: anonymous
#26
When you wake up in the middle of the night to do something, cover one eye with your hand and leave it there until you return to darkness. The eye that was covered will have retained its ability to see well in the dark so you will not run into the dresser on your way back to bed.
Image source: mellowmedium, cottonbro
#27
While pre-gaming or preparing for a night out, ensure that there is at least a pint of fresh water next your bed. You are unlikely to think of this when you get in and it will help you immensely in the night/morning
Image source: sumthinwitty, Daria Shevtsova
#28
Here’s a little trick that helped me learn 10-finger-typing really well:
When you read an article in your browser, activate the search function (ctrl+f) and just start typing the text you are reading. With firefox or chrome, the text you are typing will simultaneously get highlighted.
Just read the highlighted text. You’ll want to know what comes next so you’ll type as fast as possible. You want to read the text fluently, so you’ll type blindly and so on. Worked 100 times better than all these boring training programs.
Image source: bowmhoust
#29
Don’t use the dryer on anything you don’t want worn out prematurely, use a clothes rack.
Image source: eredhuin
#30
Applying an ice cube to a zit will reduce swelling and redness.
Image source: Syms, Michael Himbeault
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