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Life Hacks

Life Hacks

Any Procedure or Action That Solves a Problem, Simplifies a Task, Reduces Frustration, Etc. in One's Everyday Life
by Keith Bradford 2014 304 pages
3.75
1k+ ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. Master Technology for Everyday Efficiency

"Running low on battery? Put your phone on airplane mode and it'll charge much faster."

Maximize device performance. This simple trick can significantly reduce charging time, allowing you to get back to using your phone sooner. Similarly, other tech hacks can improve your daily digital experience:

  • Extend battery life: Store batteries in the freezer to double their lifespan
  • Recover deleted content: Use "Ctrl + Shift + T" to reopen accidentally closed browser tabs
  • Improve photo quality: Take pictures first, then zoom in on the saved version for better results

Enhance online privacy and accessibility. Use incognito mode to access blocked sites, and add "ss" between "www." and "YouTube" in the URL to easily download videos. These techniques can help you navigate the digital world more freely and efficiently.

2. Optimize Food and Drink for Health and Flavor

"When making tacos, put the cheese on first. It will melt and form a protective layer that keeps the taco shell from breaking apart."

Elevate your culinary skills. This simple tip can transform your taco experience, preventing messy breakages. Other food hacks can similarly enhance your cooking and eating:

  • Peel fruits easily: Gently press and roll citrus fruits on a table before peeling
  • Perfectly separate eggs: Use an empty plastic bottle to suck up the yolk
  • Keep produce fresh: Wrap banana stems in plastic wrap to slow ripening

Boost nutrition and flavor. Microwaving lemons for 15 seconds can double their juice yield. When boiling eggs, add baking soda to the water for easy shell removal. These tricks not only make cooking more convenient but also help you get the most out of your ingredients.

3. Boost Health and Fitness with Simple Techniques

"Exhale when your left foot hits the ground to avoid cramps while running."

Optimize your workout. This breathing technique can significantly improve your running performance by preventing painful side stitches. Other health and fitness hacks include:

  • Increase metabolism: Drink 16 ounces of water to boost metabolism by up to 30%
  • Enhance workout results: Drink coffee before exercising to speed up fat burning
  • Improve sleep quality: Sleep on your right side to fall asleep faster

Natural remedies for common ailments. Eating celery can be considered exercise, as you burn more calories digesting it than consuming it. Drinking two cups of water before meals can help you lose weight. These simple strategies can contribute to overall health improvement without significant lifestyle changes.

4. Quick Fixes and Home Remedies for Common Problems

"Mosquito bite? Apply a hot spoon onto the spot. The heat will destroy the reaction and the itching will stop almost instantly."

Instant relief for minor irritations. This heat application method can provide quick relief from mosquito bites. Other practical solutions for common problems include:

  • Remove splinters: Apply a paste of baking soda and water to draw out splinters
  • Cure hiccups: Hold your breath and swallow three times
  • Relieve headaches: Drink two glasses of Gatorade for quick pain relief

Natural solutions for everyday issues. Use white vinegar to kill weeds, corn starch to untangle knots, and dryer sheets to repel insects. These simple, often household items can effectively solve a variety of problems without the need for expensive products or professional help.

5. Smart Money-Saving Strategies for Daily Life

"When grocery shopping, the cheapest items will be on the top and bottom shelves, not at eye level."

Shop smarter. Understanding this supermarket strategy can help you find better deals and save money on groceries. Other money-saving tips include:

  • Price matching: Target will price match Amazon, allowing you to get online prices in-store
  • Free refills: Use a Starbucks membership card for free coffee and tea refills
  • Discount travel: Book Delta Airlines vacation packages during your birthday month for $100 off

Maximize value in everyday transactions. Always ask for a discount when buying jewelry, and remember that gift cards with less than $10 can be redeemed for cash. These strategies can help you stretch your budget and get more value for your money in various situations.

6. Essential Life Tips for Personal Growth and Success

"Never base your life decisions on advice from people who don't have to deal with the results of your decision."

Make informed decisions. This advice emphasizes the importance of considering the source and relevance of advice you receive. Other life tips for personal growth include:

  • Build valuable relationships: Make friends with a law student, a police officer, and a bartender
  • Improve decision-making: When faced with a tough choice, flip a coin - you'll realize what you truly want when it's in the air
  • Enhance social interactions: Ask people what they like to do rather than what they do for better conversations

Cultivate a growth mindset. Try going 24 hours without complaining to change your life perspective. Always go out in public dressed like you're about to meet the love of your life. These practices can help you maintain a positive outlook and be prepared for opportunities.

7. Survival Skills for Emergency Situations

"If you get buried under snow by an avalanche, spit and saliva will follow gravity. Dig the opposite way."

Navigate life-threatening situations. This advice could be crucial in a snow emergency. Other survival skills for various scenarios include:

  • Escape a sinking car: Use the car seat headrest to break the window
  • Survive a bear attack: Play dead for brown bears, fight back against black bears
  • Find water in the wild: Create a solar still using a container, plastic sheet, and drinking tube

Prepare for emergencies. Always carry pepper spray in bear-infested woods, and remember that any working cell phone can call 911, even without service. These skills and knowledge can be life-saving in unexpected and dangerous situations.

8. Enhance Social Gatherings with Clever Party Hacks

"Mixing alcohol with Diet Coke will get you drunker than if you mix it with regular Coke."

Optimize your party experience. This tip can help you achieve your desired effect more efficiently. Other party hacks include:

  • Improve cheap vodka: Run it through a Brita water filter pitcher
  • Create a floating cooler: Tape pool noodles to the edge of a container filled with ice
  • Amplify phone speakers: Place your smartphone in a plastic Solo cup for louder music

Manage alcohol consumption. Eat a big, greasy meal before drinking to line your stomach. Drink one glass of water for every alcoholic drink to prevent hangovers. These strategies can help you enjoy social gatherings while minimizing negative effects.

9. Ingenious Household Tips for a Better Home

"The best way to clean a microwave: Put a cup of hot water and vinegar inside, turn it on for three to five minutes, and wipe clean with ease."

Effortless cleaning solutions. This microwave cleaning hack can save time and effort. Other household tips include:

  • Eliminate odors: Put dryer sheets on the back of a fan to freshen a room
  • Organize cords: Use old toilet paper rolls to keep cords tangle-free
  • Remove carpet indentations: Place ice cubes on dents and let them melt

Maximize space and efficiency. Use a tension rod in the cabinet under the sink for hanging spray bottles. Stack clothes vertically in drawers for better visibility. These simple adjustments can significantly improve your home organization and daily life convenience.

Last updated:

Review Summary

3.75 out of 5
Average of 1k+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Life Hacks receives mixed reviews, with an average rating of 3.75 out of 5. Some readers find useful tips and enjoy the book's humor, while others criticize its lack of sources, outdated information, and inclusion of questionable or obvious advice. Critics note that many hacks are US-centric or tech-focused, limiting international relevance. Some praise the book's quick readability and entertaining content, but warn that not all tips are practical or safe. Overall, readers suggest approaching the book with skepticism and fact-checking before applying the hacks.

About the Author

Keith Bradford is the author of Life Hacks, a collection of 1,000 tips and tricks for everyday problems. Bradford compiled these hacks from various sources, including user submissions on his website. His approach focuses on providing quick, easy-to-read solutions across a wide range of topics, from technology to home economics. While some readers appreciate Bradford's effort to gather diverse life hacks, others criticize his lack of fact-checking and inclusion of potentially outdated or inaccurate information. Despite mixed reviews, Bradford's work has garnered attention for its accessible format and attempt to simplify various aspects of daily life.

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