/r/LifeProTips

Photograph via snooOG

Tips that improve your life in one way or another.

What is a Life Pro Tip?

A Life Pro Tip (or an LPT) is a specific action with definitive results that improves life for you and those around you in a specific and significant way.

Keep in mind that giving someone advice is not the same as giving someone a LPT. Advice is offering someone guidance or offering someone a recommendation.

Examples of advice:

“Always be prepared to leave your employer because they are prepared to leave you.”

“A marriage proposal should not come as a big surprise, despite what you may have seen in the movies.”

Keep in mind that an aphorism is not a LPT.

An aphorism is a a short clever saying that is intended to express a general truth or a concise statement of a principle.

Examples of aphorisms:

"A barking dog never bites."

"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible."

"All stones are broken stones."


RULES:

  1. No rude, offensive, racist, homophobic, sexist, aggressive or hateful, or Autism shaming posts/comments.
  2. Posts must begin with "LPT" or "LPT Request” and be flaired. Titles must be descriptive. The tip and the problem it solves must be explained thoroughly. Request posts are Friday's only.
  3. Tag tips for adult audiences as NSFW.
  4. Do not post tips that could be considered common sense, common courtesy, unethical, or illegal.
  5. Do not post tips that are based on spurious, unsubstantiated, or anecdotal claims.
  6. Posts concerning the following are not allowed: religion, politics, relationships, law and legislation, parenting, driving, medicine or hygiene (including mental health).
  7. Do not post tips in reaction to other posts. Reposts may be removed.
  8. Do not post tips that are advertisements or recommendations of products or services.
  9. Posts or comments that troll and/or do not substantially contribute to the discussion may be removed.

Note that moderators will use their own discretion to remove any post that they believe is low-quality or not considered a LPT.


BANNING POLICY:

Bans are given out immediately and serve as a warning.

You may appeal this initial ban by messaging the moderators and agreeing not to break the rules again. You must acknowledge the rule you broke!

Note: Bans will not be reversed if the post/comment in question has been deleted from your history.


/r/LifeProTips

22,576,829 Subscribers

1

LPT: Occasionally, instead of telling your gf/wife/partner “I love you,” tell them “you’re my favorite” — and then when they react, give them a surprise letter that tells them why

Occasionally, instead of telling your partner “I love you,” tell them “you’re my favorite.” And then let them know why.

Unless you’re a psychopath (or Don Draper) or one out of the two of you is a horrible person, they’ve probably heard “I love you” a thousand times, but there’s a possibility they’ve never heard “you’re my favorite” before — which actually goes past even the romantic / sexy partner tenet of human nature to the much more fundamental best friend / human tenet.

Bonus points if you say this, and then they ask you “wait what? why?” and then you whip out a letter that you’ve written and prepared in advance with 1000 words describing all the ways that they’re your favorite. Make it incredibly specific.

Fold up the letter after you handwrite it and put it in a cute funny card within an envelope (or just the envelope, don’t let “buy a cute funny card” get in the way of you doing this) and write “reasons why you’re my favorite” as the title on the envelope.

Honestly, guys, if your wife or gf or partner ever goes out of town and you’re on your own, buy yourself a new video game and a nice bottle of whiskey (and/or eighth and/or fried chicken combo platter) and come up with a list of favorite reasons and write the letter. Just fucking write it. Just do it. It’ll take you 20 minutes and there’s a chance that it will be a core memory in your girl’s life.

(this shit may seem stupid to some guys reading it but man, give your girl something like this, they really love this stuff)

posting in home + garden bc there’s no “relationship” flair and this is technically a home issue

2 Comments
2024/03/26
05:59 UTC

4

LPT: Dimming iPhone Screen Brightness

You can dim iPhones past their “dimmest setting” by searching in your settings for Reduce White Point.

Go to AccessibilityDisplay & Text SizeReduce White Point.

Hope this helps. Maybe this is already something people do or don’t have the need for, but I find myself using it at night.

Take care!

2 Comments
2024/03/26
05:47 UTC

339

LPT: If you sit at a desk a lot, get in the routine of tightening your office chair's bolts every month. It will save your back.

My chair was squeaking like crazy so I tightened the screws for the first time in forever. I kinda noticed that my chair was losing some support but didnt realize how bad it had gotten. Kinda felt like it was slanting forward which made it pretty uncomfortable by the time I got off work. Thought it was just time for a new chair but nope, 5 minutes to tighten some bolts and its a night and day difference.

27 Comments
2024/03/25
23:16 UTC

119

LPT: Use chat (and save transcripts) instead of calling companies when possible.

I'm currently arguing with a phone company AbouT Their S24 Ultra trade in. As I've saved their chats, I can correct them when their stories don't match up. Wish me $1,000 worth of luck.

Hope that helps you in your endeavors.

12 Comments
2024/03/25
18:23 UTC

0

LPT: If you spend lots of time sorting and looking for lost socks, then throw out all your old socks and buy pairs of matching ones. This will save you lots of time and energy that you can use to do important things.

64 Comments
2024/03/25
16:44 UTC

328

LPT: Keep emergency numbers on a card in your wallet and car

In the age of cell phones it's next to impossible to remember phone numbers.

Don't rely on always having your phone. It could break, run out of charge, be stolen, etc.

15 Comments
2024/03/25
15:17 UTC

2,777

LPT: When traveling in a tourist area, never eat restaurants where a waiter/greeter is standing outside trying to draw you in.

These restaurants are almost always not authentic, they are always overpriced, and they are geared towards tourists who don't know any better.

Spend a few minutes researching authentic local restaurants before you travel. They will be cheaper, better, more authentic, and your money with more likely be going to a local family who needs it.

From what l've experienced, this is most common in European countries, though not exclusive.

Edit* The food at the touristy spots won’t necessarily be bad, it will simply be less authentic and more expensive.

Another thing I’ve found really helpful if I’m going to be in a place for a week or two is to do a food tour that takes you to all of the best local spots. If you don’t know what a food tour is, it’s when a guide walks you around the city, gives you some history and background of the food in the area, then takes you to good local spots to try a small dish or two there. This is good because you then have a great list of local places to eat while you’re there.

Edit 2* I guess some people are anti-food tour? I’ve only had good experiences with them, but I research them a lot beforehand.

299 Comments
2024/03/25
10:58 UTC

8,079

LPT: When you're getting married, both buy a totally new aftershave/perfume for the wedding and ONLY use it in the future for special occasions.

So my wife and I are from the UK and we booked a Vegas wedding/honeymoon. Whilst we were in the airport 4 hours before the flight (hold tight my early arriver fam) we were in Duty Free and decided that it would be nice to have a scent each to wear on our wedding day that was specific to that day and that we could then wear only for date nights/anniversaries.

Every time now I spray my aftershave, I'm transported back in my mind to the best moment of my life, in a limo down The Strip with the love of my life. And Cheesecake Factory for our wedding meal.

233 Comments
2024/03/24
21:37 UTC

4,090

LPT: when it is time to help your babies cross the rainbow bridge, call a mobile vet to come do it at your house.

I had a 21 year old cat that let me know she was too tired to keep going. The vet told me all the signs to look for and I 100% knew that she was ready. The vet came to my house and was able to help make it happen with my baby in my arms in the comfort of her own home. It was a positive and healing experience. I get that not everyone has the money to do this, but if you do, I totally recommend it.

EDIT TO ADD: Yes, this is not available for everyone and is a very personal choice. I just think everyone should know it might be an option. It cost us about $250 for the mobile vet to come to our house, which included the vet taking the body away for cremation after we had ample alone time with her afterwards.

To everyone saying they couldn't do it because they didn't want to be reminded all the time- again, it's a very personal choice, but it was more important to put the comfort of my pet who had been with me for almost 22 years ahead of my own. However, honestly, the whole experience brings me comfort when I think about it.

Now to all the people that hate the way I worded "babies" or "rainbow bridge"- well, you can't make everyone happy, but thanks for the tips of how I should have written my post. I suppose if I wanted to be more clinical I could have used the words "pets" and "euthanasia"...

279 Comments
2024/03/24
18:24 UTC

775

LPT If you have photo gray lenses, don't leave them in a hot car in the sun

It ruins the lenses, they permanently fog and the glasses become garbage. Ask me how I know.

88 Comments
2024/03/24
13:45 UTC

1,269

LPT: Notes in Shared Folder During Family Member’s Hospitalization Very Helpful

An elderly relative is hospitalized with a family members taking shifts and staying 24/7. We always keep notes (been down this road before), but this time we created a shared folder in Google docs. It has been so helpful!

The key is a document with running notes, separated by day. (The one person not comfortable adding notes using their iPhone writes on paper, and we add them later.)

If we get a business card or therapy brochure, it’s scanned with our phone and added to the folder. We even scanned the TV channel list - which for some strange reason is very hard to come by in this hospital.

We aren’t trying to duplicate her chart, but having our own notes accessible from anywhere has been amazing. So many doctors, staff, sometimes conflicting info. The hours and days run together. When did she last have therapy? Who promised what? Which doctor said imperative we do Y.

The shared document has been great for tracking important details and coordinating. So much easier to search than a paper doc. Google docs is easy, but you could also use other cloud apps.

(All medical records at the hospital are digital, but patient/family can’t really see them. Plus, family notes are different.)

49 Comments
2024/03/23
14:48 UTC

637

LPT: Learn SOS in Morse Code

It's very easy: three short signals, three long, three short.

These signals can be taps (3 fast taps, 3 slower taps, 3 fast taps), flashes of light (3 fast, 3 slow, 3 fast), or any other medium where you can distinguish a short signal from a long one. This tiny piece of knowledge could save your life or allow you to save someone else's life some day and it's incredibly easy to remember.

How short is a short signal and how long is a long signal? According to the Wikipedia page for Morse Code a long signal (also known as a dash or a dah) should be three times longer than a short signal (also known as a dot or a dit). The length of the short signal doesn't matter too much, just as long as it's about 3x faster than the long signal.

Written in International Morse Code SOS looks like this: ... - - - ... although it's common for SOS to be repeated until help arrives so it might look more like this ... - - - ... - - - ... - - - ... etc. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need help and other forms of communication are blocked for whatever reason, find a way to broadcast SOS in Morse Code and keep sending it on repeat until help comes.

Another way to think of Morse Code is phonetically (how it sounds). The Wikipedia page describes short signals as "dits" and long signals as "dahs", so as you're trying to commit SOS to memory try speaking it to yourself as you tap it out. Three fast dits, three slow dahs, three fast dits. Ditditdit dah, dah, dah, ditditdit.

It might seem kind of dumb or impractical, but the amount of time it takes to learn how to say SOS in Morse Code compared to its lifesaving potential makes it a no-brainer for me. Emergencies can happen at any time and without warning. It's much better to do a little prep work now and never need it than it is to be unprepared in an emergency.

NOTE: There are many better ways to get help in an emergency, I'm not suggesting that trying to broadcast SOS in Morse Code is the best thing to do in every situation. I'm merely trying to add a tool to your survival toolbelt should the need arise (stranded on a mountain and have to flash down a plane or on the phone with police in a situation where you can't speak, for example). Take a few minutes over the next week or so to practice and next thing you know you'll be noticing SOS in songs, TV shows, and movies where you never heard it before. Stay safe!

58 Comments
2024/03/23
12:23 UTC

2,813

LPT Request: my commute is about to change to 1:15 one way everyday. What is the best way to pass the time driving?

Title says it all. Going to take a job about 1:15 away from my home. Can’t move given kids in school, all my extended family lives beside me, etc. Any good ideas on productive activities to make the drive go by quickly?

1173 Comments
2024/03/23
01:33 UTC

1,251

LPT: If someone lends you a container to bring home food after sharing a meal, consider returning it with something homemade in exchange.

Helps if it's something they'd like!

56 Comments
2024/03/23
00:58 UTC

29

LPT: Frustrated by not being able to scan forward/backward on YouTube shorts? There's a fix for that.

Simply replace "shorts/" in the URL with "watch?v=".

Example, this:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vvta4bqVK7E

...becomes this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvta4bqVK7E

EDIT - Even easier methods suggested below:

  • Replace 'shorts' with 'watch'
  • Replace 'shorts' with 'v'
19 Comments
2024/03/23
00:16 UTC

48

LPT Request How do I change my routine to meet new people?

I wfh. What activities can I introduce to meet new people. Bonus points if it benefits my career. I feel like I’m stuck in a rut where I’m stagnating. I want new experiences, new thoughts and different world views

30 Comments
2024/03/22
21:38 UTC

9

LPT Request: What to look for when renting in a shared spaced?

I had a kitchen fire a week and a half ago, was told it would take 4-6 months for repairs to be complete due to extensive smoke damage. Found boarding for my two dogs and two of my cats and now I'm looking for a place to live for myself and my two remaining cats.

My biggest setback when apartment searching is the lease length. So I'm going to start looking at places where I rent out a basement or a section of a shared house. I've seen a few places that look decent on Facebook, I just haven't rented anything in over a decade. Any tips on what to look for or stay away from would be appreciated. I just don't want my cats or myself to be murdered in our sleep because I didn't know what red flags to look for.

3 Comments
2024/03/22
18:57 UTC

147

LPT Request: Can’t stand current good paying job. How did you find a new calling in life?

Change of career. How did you do it?

I’ve been at a job for almost 5 years at a smaller company in commercial HVAC sales . I thought it was my goal to make it my career but has actually over time made me depressed. I’m lost as what to do because it is good pay but I cannot stand being there to the point it gives me daily headaches and depression…

How did you find a new calling in life after finding out you didn’t actually want to continue at a good job?

40 Comments
2024/03/22
16:39 UTC

2,653

LPT: Managers planning "happy hours" for the team: Make sure you choose a place that offers non-alcoholic drinks and/or food as well! And start them right before the last business hour of the day.

At the small company I work for, its been a traditional practice to hold a team "happy hour" after we successfully onboard a new employee or have just accomplished a major goal.

Our turnouts have been much higher when everyone knows there's an option for them if they don't feel like drinking that day (or dont drink alcohol at all).

Nobody wants to feel pressured to drink, plus its great for the team to be able to just either discuss life in general, or share corporate news/gossip that they might be "out-of-the-loop" on (we are technically owned by a larger F-100 company)

And finally, we have set our happy hours to start at 3:45, not 5:00. Nobody wants to stay out past office hours, we all have lives (including management!). Everyone's happier when they have options and it all takes place during regular work hours. Our employee turnover is also very low

142 Comments
2024/03/22
16:14 UTC

59

LPT request. Meeting people in real life

I have recently left a job I have been at for many, many years. After leaving, I have realized that most of my friendships were based at work. How do you meet people irl? I am friendly and open when I go out, but everyone seems to be in a hurry or have thier own agenda. It has been a very long time since I have tried socializing. Any suggestions.

24 Comments
2024/03/22
14:30 UTC

3,306

LPT request I currently work at a Domino's. I love it, however, in order to get there I need to walk 3.3mi. how can I take care of my body?

I currently work at a Domino's. I love it, however, in order to get there I need to walk 3.3 miles. I will be doing this everyday 5/6 days a week and then working 8-10 hours shifts. How can I take care of my body? What are some ways I can avoid permanently hurting or just straight up do some self care?

1292 Comments
2024/03/22
12:58 UTC

77

LPT: Hazardous mixing/combinations of cleaning products

Asking around most people know about bleach/ammonia, but many are not aware of other mixes that they should not be using.

Hazardous Cleaning Product Combinations

When using cleaning products, it is best to use them as designed and not mix them with other products.

The solutions below are good cleaning products when used alone, but can produce toxic and lethal substances when combined.

But you can use them individually in sequence. For instance, you can wipe your countertop with Bleach, then afterwards after it dries, wipe it down with Vinegar. But do not mix these proucts together.

NO! NO! NO!
Bleach + Alcohol = Chloroform (powerful anesthetic)
Bleach + Ammonia = Chloramine gas (severely toxic)
Bleach + Vinegar = Chlorine gas (lethal)
Vinegar + Hydrogen peroxide = Peracetic acid (highly corrosive; irritant; can be lethal)
Ammonia + Hydrogen peroxide = can become explosive
Okay: Vinegar + Ammonia = Neutral (they cancel each other but obnoxious odor)
Vinegar + Baking soda = Carbon dioxide (safe, but a relatively weak cleaner)

10 Comments
2024/03/22
11:05 UTC

6

LPT request: how to stay focused and avoid making big mistakes

I am a very conscientious and meticulous person, but on reflection in my life I have a tendency to make lots of little mistakes, and sometimes very big mistakes. Things like: forgetting to pay bills, leaving taps on and causing flooding, overlooking simple and obvious stuff causing major equipment damage at work.

This is confusing as I am generally detail orientated, love to make lists, etc. But I have a tendency to daydream or get distracted, or get super tunnel vision (especially when stressed) and focus on a few things, but ignore others.

So, how can I stay focused and present in the moment all the time, and avoid making these errors?

(Before anyone says ADHD I don't think I have this as I've always done well in school etc.)

9 Comments
2024/03/22
11:04 UTC

153

LPT When traveling, keep track of funny anecdotes by writing them down in your phone. When you tell friends and family about your trip, you will easily be able to remember fun highlights.

25 Comments
2024/03/22
02:40 UTC

213

LPT Request: What is the best way to organize tupperware lids?

I have lot of tupperware and it all gets messed up. Does anyone have a useful system you might be willing to share?

102 Comments
2024/03/22
02:15 UTC

7

LPT - how to clean portion of clothing that had color Bleeding

My wife has a jump suit with a white collar and white belt loop area. The rest of the clothing is black. The black color blend into the white. Any tips on how to spot clean?

Thanks!

5 Comments
2024/03/21
22:32 UTC

4,716

LPT: Google has a free tool that will remove your personal info from searches

After seeing that horrifying post in r/texts yesterday (IYKYK, 😵) I remembered there is a great feature Google has called "Results about you" that you can access with an active Google account. This will search for your full name, address, phone number, and email and if results are found, share them with you so you can request to remove them. All of my requests have been approved within a day or two. Definitely recommend people to look into this, as it's honestly horrifying how easily it is to find out people's personal information.

EDIT: here's a guide from Google on how to do this.

EDIT 2: As some people in the post are pointing out, this may only work in the U.S currently.

149 Comments
2024/03/21
20:43 UTC

1,667

LPT: Avoid saying how people are naturally good at things. Praise them for their hard work because all skills take time and patience to master.

I have a few artist friends and I can tell how annoyed they are whenever they hear someone saying that they must've been blessed with a natural talent or that they wish they could draw as well as they could. That really makes things slightly awkward and makes the artist feel somewhat like they didn't work hard enough for their mastery. Instead, point out how you respect someone's dedication to a craft. This applies for any skill, really.

133 Comments
2024/03/21
05:32 UTC

0

LPT: instead of roll paper towels, use the pack kind that dispense like facial tissues, for one-handed ease.

Especially good with a dispenser that looks like a tissue box, but the top is a free-floating piece of wood or plastic with a slot in it. This keeps the same weight on top of the stack of paper towels, so they dispense perfectly every time, right down to the last one. Super convenient in the kitchen.

(These are the same towels that you might find in a gas-station restroom, but that dispense-at-the-bottom kind of dispenser makes for a horrible experience.)

21 Comments
2024/03/21
04:37 UTC

967

LPT: Substitute a portion of your rice with millet for an easy whole grain boost to your rice that fully cooks all together

Our family loves white rice, but I want to incorporate some whole grains. I've tried mixing in some 7 grain rice from the Korean market and the whole grains are always unevenly cooked. I've been throwing in millet into my rice and it is small enough to cook together with the rice and doesn't disturb the flavor and texture of the rice too much.

59 Comments
2024/03/21
01:55 UTC

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