There’s something satisfying about outsmarting life by accident. You didn’t Google, you didn’t ask… You just figured out something totally by chance. It’s almost like being rewarded for curiosity, or maybe even clumsiness.
It turns out some of the most brilliant and useful life hacks don’t come from skilled inventors or in-depth “how to” tutorials, but rather from ordinary people who somehow stumbled upon something unexpectedly, and made it part of their adulting arsenal. Call it accidental genius.
Someone recently asked, “What’s the best “life hack” you’ve learned completely by accident?” and some really surprising answers came pouring in. Like the person who swears by standing on their heels while brushing their teeth. Or another who learned how to cheat the system, and save money, by requesting to cancel subscriptions.
Bored Panda has put together a list of the best tips and tricks that could change the way you do everyday things. Some are so simple that you might wonder why you never thought of them before…
We also reveal some surprising inventions that came about purely by accident. You’ll find that info between the images.
#1
Walk around any neighborhood at night gently saying “here kitty, kitty, kitty”…they appear out of the shadows.
Image source: Longjumping-Salad484, Abby Chung/Pexels
#2
Treat your house like a desire path. If you find yourself always dumping your shoes in a certain place, put the shoe rack there, not where you think it makes sense. Let your environment mirror what you do naturally and it’ll be way easier to keep it cleen.
Image source: theduckopera, Dương Nhân/Pexels
#3
I feel much better about my life when I avoid social media.
Image source: Ditkokirby2020, Leah Newhouse/Pexels
#4
If you need to get something away from a toddler, just hold your hand out and say thank you. I think it tricks them into thinking they’re being helpful?
Image source: opelemmescoochbyya, Mikhail Nilov/Pexels
#5
Using an opened pistachio shell as a key for the tough to open pistachios.
Image source: anon, Abdulgafur Ögel/Pexels
#6
My maintenance guy took the front off my washer/dryer. At the bottom were about 20 mismatched socks. Apparently there is a small crack between the top of the washer and the tub area, where if you are just throwing in clothes, etc- socks can go through that crack. They end up in the bottom internally that you don’t see.
Not noticeable unless you knew about it. Solved my missing sock problem. Use a bag now or watch for the crack.
Image source: wwmjd73, cottonbro studio/Pexels
#7
Being LIKED at work is more valuable than being RIGHT at work.
Image source: Future_Usual_8698
#8
Putting a wet paper towel around warm beer and sticking it in the freezer, it will be cold in like 10-15 minutes.
Image source: CottonCandyEyesIm18, cottonbro studio/Pexels
#9
If you stand on your heels while brushing your teeth/tongue it suppresses your gag reflex.
Image source: Hooligans_, Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels
#10
My wellies got rainwater in them, but I really needed to wear them again. So I used plastic bags to line them. The plastic also made the wellies easier to slip on and off + added bonus, gave an extra layer of insulation. So if your wellies are a bit tough to get on and off, slip a plastic bag over your feet. Also, warm + cosy toesies:) .
Image source: Emergency-Nebula5005, Greta Hoffman/Pexels
#11
If you are dizzy drink a lot of water.
Image source: Johnys3x, Maurício Mascaro/Pexels
#12
If you are intending to read a storybook to a child or a group of children and you want them to focus on the book, begin by holding the book upside down and they will correct you, but turn the book 90% degrees clockwise and they’ll find it hilarious. Keep making this mistake a few more times before eventually getting it right. Then say if I make this mistake the children should shout “insert funny phrase”. They’ll pay attention to the story in order to catch you out later.
(Of course some children it won’t work with but it does with a majority).
Image source: Killybug
#13
Just hang wrinkly clothes in the bathroom while you shower so the steam will do the work.
Image source: Lingering_around
#14
Check the card reader of the ATM. If someone’s installed a skimmer, it would usually come off in your hand when moved.
Image source: beautybeastx68, Aren Nagulyan/Pexels
#15
Typing “.new” in your browser (like doc.new) opens a fresh Google Doc instantly.
Image source: Designer-Fan-5857, Mizuno K/Pexels
#16
If you setup an account like Stash, Acorns or Onepay and set them to take a percentage automatically out of your paycheck every 2 weeks or whenever you won’t notice it and can build up savings faster.
Image source: n0th1ng_r3al, Kaboompics.com/Pexels
#17
Repeating the same gibberish word over and over in your head will help you fall asleep.
This is transcendental meditation. You’re not meant to fall asleep, but I found that I certainly do. I now use it not to meditate, but to quickly get to sleep.
Image source: bigbagofbaldbabies, Ivan Oboleninov/Pexels
#18
If you pour your creamer into your mug first, and then pour your coffee, you don’t need to stir it with a spoon.
Image source: cantorgreen, Andrew Neel/Pexels
#19
If a jar is too hard to open, take the edge of a key and lift the lid a tiny amount to release some of the air from the seal. Should pop right off.
Image source: RWBYRain, Felipe Queiroz/Pexels
#20
Forgot to salt pasta water. Realized adding salt after cooking and tossing works just as well.
Image source: FreelyCurious_Guy, Lisa from Pexels/Pexels
#21
When you’re drilling holes in your walls to mount things but don’t want to make a mess, grab a roll of the widest blue painter’s tape you can find and rip off a decently long piece. Stick it to the wall, vertically, right under where you’re drilling, but leave the top unstuck and hanging underneath like a little tongue/shelf.
Dust and shavings get stuck to the adhesive, and then you can just pull a little more off the wall and seal it by folding it. Then move onto the next hole until you run out of tape.
Image source: ImALlamaAgain
#22
You want to take a photo of a group of children all looking at the same time with nice, genuine smiles? Say “don’t look at my camera! Uh oh I think you’re going to look! Don’t do it!” etc. Kids all look at the camera while laughing, great photos achieved.
Image source: TimedDelivery, Norma Mortenson/Pexels
#23
Am very light sensitive so I’m often squinting and shielding my eyes from regular light sources. But in darkness if you close your eyes and reopen them you’ll force your eyes to refocus and will usually immediately have better night vision. Found this out when I used to read during sunset. I’d just keep closing my eyes and reopening them until my mum found me reading in the dark hours later.
Tbh not sure if this is a normal thing or I made myself this way by doing it as a kid.
Image source: Zeruvi, Yaroslav Shuraev/Pexels
#24
If u try to go and cancel a subscription a lot of times they’ll offer you a discounted rate for the next few months.
Image source: Low_Wonder9271, Marta Klement/Pexels
#25
If you ask someone to do something and they say no, just stand there silently. You wouldn’t believe the amount of times they change their mind.
Image source: Active-Strawberry-37, Christina Morillo/Pexels
#26
If you’re nauseous to the point where everything disgusts you but you still need to drink, take a sip of water and chew it like a mouthful of solid food.
Image source: cipher1331, Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels
#27
How to stop hiccups instantly by mildly hitting your center rib cage 10 times with your closed fist palm inwards, it creates impact waves around the area that interrupt those contractions and stops them from coming back. like tapping a dropped can of soda with a pen to reduce the bubbles inside and stop the can from exploding on you when you open it.
Image source: sheerduckinghubris, Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels
#28
Ear plugs for sleeping if you live somewhere noisy or near a main road.
I’d get tired with my noise canceling headphones on but taking them off let the noises wake me back up. Got some ear plugs from work and tried them out.
They even have different noise reduction levels available. I can still hear my alarm with them in.
Image source: Drachen1065, Kampus Production/Pexels
#29
Put your single socks in the dirty laundry, no matter what. The other will turn up eventually. I haven’t lost a sock in years.
Image source: st_malachy
#30
Clean as you go. Always. No excuses.
Image source: QuokkaNerd
#31
I suck at cracking eggs so I crack them against a paper towel (placed on the counter) right next to the trash can. I throw the shells straight into the trash and then can simply grab the paper towel to clean up the rest of the mess.
It’s also right next to the sink so I can also wash all the goop off my hands once I’m done wiping the counter with my egg towel.
Image source: Snookers114, Los Muertos Crew/Pexels
#32
Using a chainsaw? Start it up and let it warm up a bit before hauling to the downed tree.
Image source: random-guy-here, Ron Lach/Pexels
#33
Maxing out 401k early….your future self will thank you!
Image source: Prize_Proof5332
#34
For a quick cold beer i’m adding salt to the ice bucket, it will take the water below freezing point.
Image source: poseitom
#35
You can make perfectly good rice in a microwave. 3dl rice, 6dl water, splash of oil and a pinch of salt. Add sesame oil (optional). 20 minutes and done.
Image source: infectedmushbroom
#36
If you have something you’re putting off (like doing dishes or writing a report), just promise yourself you’ll only do it for five minutes. Most of the time, once those five minutes are up, you’ve already broken the inertia and you end up finishing the whole thing or making serious progress**.**.
Image source: StateMountain2766
#37
Bananas work very well to help digestion. I was in a motorcycle accident and I was on a bunch of antibiotics. It really screwed up my insides. You can do stool softeners and probiotic yogurt and all kinds of stuff, but bananas do a great job and now I don’t need any medication.
Image source: Iffy50
#38
Break down problems into smaller fractions to solve them and thus solve the total problem.
Image source: Last-Veterinarian828
#39
If you turn off the lights, flies will land, and they will not see you or react to you. It should only be so dark that you yourself can navigate and see details – like the fly on the wall.
Image source: MaRtoff, Steve Johnson/Pexels
#40
If you shake a sealed soda can and then tap the top before opening, it sprays way less.
Image source: ZoraGra, Polina Tankilevitch/Pexels
#41
Use a screen reader for proofreading. (There’s probably one built in to your software or app or browser or operating system, with name along the lines of Read Aloud or Speak)
This catches all the errors that your eyes and brain autocorrect, and also keeps you moving through the document at a steady pace so you don’t have to do the labour of keeping yourself on task.
Image source: anonbcwork, Vlada Karpovich/Pexels
#42
Windows + V for clipboard history.
Image source: OutsiderAK
#43
If you get paid every other week you usually get two paychecks a month. So I accidentally budgeted for only two paychecks a month. Well guess what? Some months have three paychecks. That third paycheck a month was a wonderful accounting error.
Image source: mbbm109
#44
Regulate an anxiety attack through breathing.
Image source: Jurikazuya
#45
If you need to take a nap during the day but have difficulty falling asleep, try listening to a podcast or an audiobook while lying in bed. Obviously choose something that you don’t mind missing out on, due to falling asleep. My favourite is a scary stories podcast that is good enough to keep me actually listening rather than my thoughts running all over the place, but not so captivating that it keeps me awake. :).
Image source: J_Lavett
#46
When you want to move in to a new home, stalk the neighborhood, try to make conversation with some people. A bad neighbour can ruin all peace and comfort.
Image source: darkbellum
#47
When you’re changing a pillowcase, flip it inside out and put your hands inside it. Grab the bottom 2 corners, then grab the 2 on the short side of the pillow while still holding onto the pillowcase corners. Keep holding both while you grab the open ends of the pillowcase and pull them over the pillow. Guarantees a quick, easy process that doesn’t involve shimmying it around to line up the seams evenly.
Image source: thats_my_purse_idk_u
#48
Zero sugar iced tea is just as good as regular.
Image source: stunfisk-uzumaki
#49
Lose 15 lbs in 30 days by
1. Stop eating daily by 4pm and don’t eat again until 8 am (intermittent fasting) AND
2. Give up sweets (this includes all processed sugar plus honey, maple syrup, etc.) Low fructose fruits are okay.
During this time it’s helpful if you drink lots of water, get some sort of exercise every day, and avoid fast food.
Image source: HeloisePendergast
#50
If having a hard time sleeping, flipping to the opposite side of the bed is a true cure.
Image source: augcea-14
#51
You may get into a nightclub for free if you tell the bouncer you started working in the bar the night before.
Image source: HacksawJimDGN, Edoardo Tommasini/Pexels
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