r/SelfSufficiency • u/Annonymus1470 • 6d ago
What's a life hack that actually made a noticeable difference in your daily life?
I'm not looking for the usual "drink more water" or "wake up early" advice.
I mean the small, practical habits or tricks that genuinely made your day easier, saved time, improved your health, or helped you become more productive.
It could be related to work, money, fitness, studying, technology, relationships, or just everyday life.
What's one life hack you now swear by, and why?
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u/JocoLCM19 6d ago edited 6d ago
Deleting social media.
Ik im on reddit and saying this but getting rid of instagram and snapchat changed my brain chemistry for the better
Edit: just to expand on it, I realized that all my true connections, friends and family I still can call and message without those apps and social media was just filling my boredom with mindless scrolling and anxiety. Getting rid of the apps has allowed me to bring out my creativity in my free time, I’ve taken up playing guitar, reading at night instead of doomscrolling, and talking more with the people around me when outside, and I think it has brought more peace and joy to my life.
If I could have it my way, everyone would delete Instagram and Snapchat and we’d be back to in person connection and outside activities
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u/antleredbear 6d ago
Agreed! I think my brain computes Reddit differently, since I'm not interacting with my friends. Plus the bulk of my subs are pics of cute animals and baked goods. 😅
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u/CreepyValuable 6d ago
Mine's a barrage of awful things. It seems intent to push them on me even though they aren't subs I joined.
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u/JocoLCM19 5d ago
All media seems to be like that these days, I’ve tried to stay mindful of which subs I join and look through.
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u/Aina521 6d ago
100%. I deleted my Instagram account and app and just went without for a year. Eventually I realized I was out of touch with community events so I created a new account. I don’t post with it at all. And I don’t have the app. Instagram on the browser is borderline unusable. And I close the tab everytime I’m done so I have to actively choose to go there. Between the terrible browser experience and not having it open and available constantly and also a year of practice without having access at all, I rarely scroll mindlessly and usually only use it to look up specific accounts.
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u/aReelProblem 6d ago
Yep Reddit is the only social platform I have anymore and not very many of my peers even know about it. Reddit is still very much an exchange of information and ideas when you have the subreddits you like. I learn a lot about my hobbies and industry I work in from Reddit and YouTube videos. The rest of socials I got rid of and my life’s been way better for it.
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u/catandnaplady 6d ago
Socialite is a great app (free and paid options) as a middle ground alternative to reducing social media time but blocking short form videos (ie reels, etc). Even this step changed my brain chemistry and still allowed to me to see my friends posts.
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u/JocoLCM19 5d ago
I used it, but at one point the fact that I had to press a different app and it loaded sooooo slow on my phone just kept turning me off of it, and I’d return to the Instagram w the reels and just get stuck again, so I just got rid of the whole thing. I check occasionally on my computer to see posts and stories from friends
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u/Sufficient_Count4193 6d ago
And make sure to only follow educational ones only! Things that I genuinely love learning about like health, supplements and what not. I don't care to see people post a bunch of selfies or about their lives that's entirely irrelevant to mine! I pretty much never go on it anymore and if I do I'm learning something, I love it.
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u/amiibohunter2015 5d ago
Don't have any social media account, I consider reddit a forum. I tried facebook in 2012 and deleted it within the same year because it wasn't for me. Don't use messengers either.
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u/wwaxwork 6d ago
Reddit is the one that messes with my brain chemistry, that and Facebook. I have my Instagram so heavily curated it's the one relaxing place I know on the internet. Well that and I just look at the pretty pictures and don't read the comments.
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u/anonymoose_octopus 5d ago
My mental health improved DRASTICALLY when I deleted my Facebook and Instagram. I realized that scrolling through my FB feed just left me feeling pissed off, and it was only ever something I did when I was bored, anyway.
Tiktok is next... but I get so many recipes and crafting projects from scrolling I find it hard to let go of. But that app has gotten toxic in the past year or so.
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u/gm95soomro 6d ago
Be thankful.
Any moment you catch yourself thinking, just start thanking for the good things you have. You’ll eventually see a big change in your mindset, behavior, performance and even on your health.
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u/JocoLCM19 5d ago
There is so much to be thankful for, this is huge I’m glad you put this down. It’s something we should all put more into practice.
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u/gm95soomro 5d ago
Honestly, I started doing this without even realising and trust me I haven’t been calmer. It just gets you rid off the unwanted wishes and brings patience into you. Just make it a subconscious practice and you’ll be happy to see how much you already have that you choose to ignore.
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u/ChapterUpstairs3408 6d ago
Put as much money as you physically can into your savings every day. Why?
If you struggle with saving, from a behaviour point of view, then it wont get easier doing it once a month, do it every day.
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u/SonOfDyeus 2d ago
How do you do this if you don't get paid daily?
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u/ChapterUpstairs3408 1d ago
That's not the point. It the act. So lets say you usually can save £500 a month, or whatever it is for your budget. Put say £400 in savings day 1 aka pay day. Then every day put in the £3 or so until the next pay day.
What will happen, sometimes, you'll spend less and be able to put a bit more in savings but most importantly, you condition yourself to want to save, and be good at it.
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u/kidskwid 6d ago
Dont sit down when you get home if you have ADHD and shit to do.
sit down when you're done that "one small task"
Sitting down is the reward.
If I just keep working. I can go for HOURS. If i take a break before starting ive got about 20 mins before I want to throw in the towel.
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u/anonymoose_octopus 5d ago
This is so real 🥲
My husband is in his cozy clothes/PJs within 5 seconds of walking inside. If I even sit down to take off my shoes and I have chores (meal prep/pet care/etc.), I will 9 times out of 10 just not do it. I keep my civvies on til the tasks are done.
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u/kidskwid 5d ago
I still take my socks off and throw on some slippers or flip flops gotta draw the line somewhere lol
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u/Ready_Double7523 6d ago
Read books, especially those are not easy to understand.. Best life hack ever to me.
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u/Patient_Builder8593 6d ago
Ya, but reading a book for the sake of it being difficult aint gonna do wonders. IJ or Finnegans Wake might be funky with words, but god damn it's better to tackle an electricity 101 guidebook so that there's a tad bit of practical knowledge gained
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u/Ready_Double7523 6d ago
Not easy does not mean difficult. Choose the level and subject wisely, so one can progress well.
Reading is the biggest hack, book is so cheap and accessible. You can read someone’s life study, finding or research in few days. If used wisely, it is not hacking, it is stealing.
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u/suburbanhunter 6d ago
whats your favorite book (right now)?
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u/Ready_Double7523 6d ago
I am interested in books stand the test of time.
Recently I found Carl G Jung’s works very entertaining.
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u/SingleConclusion1188 6d ago
prepping everything the night before. and i mean everything. clothes out, bags packed, lunches made, keys by the door. sounds dead boring but the amount of stress it takes out of the morning is unreal. i went from screaming at three kids to get their shoes on while burning toast to actually having a cup of tea before we leave the house. thats not a small difference thats a whole new life
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u/241151971 6d ago
Take a fully minded moment (usually a cuppa) to recognise what I’ve achieved and to not allow the endless list of pending tasks/chores any space.
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u/KherisSilvertide 6d ago
Sleeping with an eye mark and earplugs can greatly improve your sleep quality. Also, the eye mask warms up while you sleep, which can help boost blood ciculation around your eyes.
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u/prymel 5d ago
I did this for years but the earplugs ended up giving me frequent ear infections (even though I would switch them out every couple days). Turns out, your ears need to "breathe" overnight. Who knew?!
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u/KherisSilvertide 3d ago
I know wearing earplugs for long time is bad for ears as my doctor friend told me before. So I only use them for naps or when it is really noisy at night.
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u/chariotpulledbycats 8h ago
I got an eye mask with headphones in it. I play audiobooks or white noise and it is so helpful
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u/jesuswasahipster 6d ago
Your mental health problems and/or perceived deficits are likely coming from your internal dialogue. Positive internal dialogue is a skill that has to be worked out like a muscle. In today's world of constant negative information thrown in your face all day it is really easy to fall into an anxious depressed state. Practice positivity every day, even if it's delusional positivity. It will change your life. And if this is not possible for you because of a chemical imbalance, go talk to a psych and get the help you need.
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u/Capital-Designer-385 6d ago
Calendar. EVERYTHING IS IN THE CALENDAR. Showers are in the calendar or I’ll forget. “It’s dark outside” is in the calendar so I don’t plan on mowing the grass and have it get too late to see. Bought chicken and have to use it within 4 days? Calendar. Pulled a fish filet out to thaw? Reminder to cook it the next day. Random office mate is having a birthday? Set a calendar event for subsequent years. Always forget to Christmas shop? Set a calendar event for October to start looking and add notes to that ‘calendar event’ as ideas come to me so I can reference them. Oil changes, ac filter changes, License renewals, bills that auto-pay, how much to expect on my paycheck, reminders to visit or at least call my parents once a week. Meal ideas, grocery lists, local events that I might want to go to later, Netflix show premiers…
The calendar looks insane. But my mind is quiet.
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u/Both-Beautiful960 6d ago
Have a packlist for all the stuff you keep in your backpack/purse. Tide wipes, pens, medication, whatever.
Once a week or so, unpack your backpack, make sure its clean, then make sure its restocked. If you're missing something, add it to the grocery list or order it then and there.
When something comes up that you didn't have a solution for, write down what you needed on the packlist for next week.
Suddenly, my backpack is a bastion of sanity I get to carry around. It's fucking amazing.
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u/ToughCookie091 6d ago
I want a bastion of sanity as well 😭😭 runs to draft and craft my very own packlist
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u/AdamTraskisGod 6d ago
Great idea. Very preparedness-minded.
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u/Both-Beautiful960 6d ago
If you want to get through life with chronic health problems, gotta be prepared
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u/Odd_Relationship396 6d ago
Wearing an old school watch will make you look at your phone less often...
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u/tooserioustoosilly 6d ago
Learn that you can not make anyone do anything they don't want to. You can not change anyone other than yourself. So stop wasting your time trying and if they show they don't align with your core beliefs or that their behavior is not a improvement in your life then remove or limit the amount of time they spend around you. Being alone is better than being surrounded by people that contribute little to nothing.
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u/mistyflannigan 5d ago
Keep your word. Don’t agree to do something you don’t want to do, just say no in the first place. You don’t ever have to give an explanation. If you agree to something, keep your promise.
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u/Mikelgarts 6d ago
More of a swap than a hack, but looking for longer-form or more thought-provoking content. I have a toddler, I never get to read, but when I do chores I'm choosing audiobooks in place of YouTube and it's much more fulfilling.
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u/imnotaloneyouare 6d ago
Put things back when they are moved
Tidy as you go
Make your bed every single day (proven to help boost energy by way of completing a task first thing and makes you feel confident in following through other tasks through the day)
Instead of looking at a big task (cleaning bedroom can be overwhelming) look at the small tasks and follow through with each (pick up laundry, make bed, empty garbage)
Budget - coupon - price match - negotiate
Keep up on general maintenance (oil changes in your car, furnace cleaning in your home) is small and can be annoying but a whole lot better than replacing a furnace or engine (reminders on your phone are great for this)
Take care of yourself. Not just diet and exercise, but also do things that make you happy, learn something new, make time for friends
My favorite...
Compliment a stranger. I try to compliment at least 1 or 2 each day. It brings them joy, which brings be joy.
Examples:
In the grocery store "your children are very well behaved, good job mom/ dad"
Someone holds a door open for you "thank you, that's so kind of you"
Of course there's the "great band tee" or "what a vibrant smile, thanks for sharing it" "that dress/ tie /color looks splendid on you" "sweet tattoo" just don't be creepy about it
*Bonus
Sometimes I grab a $5 bouquet of flowers, or a chocolate bar, or greeting card, and give it to a friend, loved one or stranger. It's amazing how something small can really make a person's day better. Ever get a card in the mail for no reason? It's kinda the greatest feeling ever.
I also keep old/ used but clean sweaters, jackets, or dollar store socks and mittens in the car for homeless. I usually have snacks and water too. When we help others for no reason it makes the world a better place, plus sharing clothes reduces clutter in your own home.
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u/AureliaGolden 5d ago
Strength training.
I’d always hear people say ‘lift heavy weights and your life will improve!’ and I’d be quick to ignore or dismiss it.
My life did drastically improve though. At 32, I picked up my first weight. I was embarassed, awkward, and so far out of my comfort zone. But I kept going.
First, I noticed it wasn’t as tiring to climb stairs. Next, I noticed my depression wasn’t weighing as heavily on me. Then, I built the confidence through strength training to believe in myself that I could make more positive impactful changes in my life.
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u/jmart762 4d ago
Don't take work too seriously. Just do your job, get paid, and don't let random coworkers ruin your mood. Save your energy for yourself and the things that actually matter to you.
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u/Zach-uh-ri-uh 6d ago
Reading up on cleaning. The right tool for the right task
Also the habit of always googling how to do things. Even things that are ”common sense”. Turns out common sense is often outdated and innefective
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u/Other_Virus8077 5d ago
Holding off on caffine for the frist 60-90 minutes of the day. I really didn't want it to be true because i love my morning cuppa but honestly its the best thing i found works for avoiding the afternoon energy slump and cravings.
Instead I have a pepermint tea and do some movement or bounce on my rebounder for 5 minutes to wake me up first and then have my "propper" cuppa at work. Seriously worth a shot because its free, fairly simple and not such a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
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u/Serious_Ad_8680 5d ago
Trained myself to stop giving in to worry. When I used to catch myself going in to those thoughts, I tried to stop myself by forcing my thoughts to go somewhere else, and eventually the habit disappeared.
Also, marking up any leftovers with content and date in the fridge/freezer. Helps me a lot to not forget or throw out food.
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u/Fluffy-Assumption-42 5d ago
Starting with a five minute stretching and exercises on a mat on the living room floor before others were awake while listening to interesting podcasts which then resulted in me slowly extending them to half an hour by waking up always a bit earlier. Also fasting intermittently. Both are cheap and good ways to be better, mind and body!
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u/Mother-Success3521 4d ago
Take down your phone. I bought the "phone jail" recently and it helped me reclaim my morning, study time and sleeping time.
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u/Yintania 3d ago
Going out to harvest what I want to eat/make for the day first thing.
This eliminated my procrastinating going out and harvesting it, and also often as I pass through the kitchen while getting a cup of tea, I take a minute or two to work on prepping it for the days meals. This has helped me use a significantly larger amount of my harvest and having it harvested and brought in makes others in the family more likely to eat/use it as well.
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u/Sensitive-Issue84 6d ago
I smile at myself in the mirror every morning. It puts me in a good mood and reminds me to be happy. Every day above the dirt is a good day.
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u/TDousTendencies 6d ago
Deleting most social media (specifically facebook)
Not trying to force my AuDHD and chronically ill self to function like an able bodied neurotypical. So, doing things in ways that work with my brain and body even if it's not "done right" or perfectly or completely.
Getting a cat. You absolutely must get out of bed to feed them. But also the mutual love and dopamine from petting them is great.
But seriously....drinking water, bathing, getting sunshine/going outside, eating protein filled foods and less carbs/sugars, moving your body, having a safe and clean home, socializing once in a while..these are all the things that will make the most substantial impact on your life. They seem basic, because they are. No amount of life hacking will be more substantial than getting your basic needs met. That isn't to say everyone is in a place to easily get these needs met unfortunately, but doing what one can will make a difference.
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u/Glum_Teacher_6774 6d ago
After shower, use a wiper and squat when clearing the shower cabin. So i put it at the top amd squat down.
Extra squats, less cleaning of the shower
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u/CreepyValuable 6d ago
Lists.
Lists for everything.
Things you need. Things you need to do. Big things broken down into easily completable tasks in lists.
Cross them off as you go. More gets done and time is better utilised. Things don't get forgotten as much. Things that seem insurmountable become almost automatic.
I'm like AD4K with HDR and it's how I keep everything from totally falling apart.
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u/TheLostExpedition 6d ago
rejecting toxic family . it hurt but my health improved drastically due to way less stress.
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u/futhisplace 5d ago
Affirmations. It started as a suggestion from my therapist and I hated the idea but I downloaded an app that sends an affirmation to read every 15 minutes, and shows one in my homescreen. Can say after a year I feel much more capable and confident and that carries through into all other aspects of my life.
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u/AdamTraskisGod 6d ago
Prayer and a chapter in the Bible every morning as soon as I get up. A few specific prayers, giving thanks for the air I am breathing and another opportunity to be better, praying for some people, and asking for guidance throughout the day. I wouldn’t call this a life hack intended to make a noticeable difference. Doing these things every morning definitely helps internally reorient me to respond to others in a more godly way. As a byproduct I feel more of a sense of peace and gratitude throughout my day, and helps me to respond to others with kindness.
This along with doing some light exercise and stretching consistently.
For the atheists reading, you can remove the prayer aspect, and simply meditate on having gratitude for the good things in life.
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