When it comes to living a good and meaningful life, many of us have collected some nuggets of wisdom over the years. If you were to go up to a random stranger on the street, the odds are that they’d have at least a handful of advice they’d be happy to share with you. The sprawling r/LifeProTips community does the same thing, but more conveniently.
We’ve collected some of their members’ best tips from this month, from health and wealth to relationships, work, and DIY. Read on to check them out. Some of them are going to be completely new to you, so make sure you apply them instead of just taking notes. Meanwhile, others might sound familiar to you, so they serve as a reminder to keep doing what works!
We got in touch with Jodi Wellman, MAPP, to hear her thoughts on why some people don’t want to listen to well-intended advice and what someone should prioritize if they’re overwhelmed with everything they’re ‘supposed’ to do. You'll find Bored Panda's full interview with her below. Wellman is the author of 'You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets' and the founder of 'Four Thousand Mondays.'
#1 Be Open To Friendships With People Younger And Older Than You In Adulthood
I’m friends with someone 30 years older than me. He could be my dad. We have a genuine friendship though, it’s not a mentor/mentee type relationship. We just really get along and click.
Image credits: b1ackfyre
Even though some of us feel like we've got some quality nuggets of wisdom to share, the reality is that far from everyone wants to listen to what we have to say. Bored Panda asked Wellman why this happens and what we could all do to make those tips seem a tad more appealing.
"A funny thing happens when we offer advice—even if it's well intended. It creates a relationship dynamic of ‘I am above you, and you are beneath me,’ which is likely not what we want to project, right?! We want to help, not hold ourselves on high above 'the people who don't know any better!'" she shed some light on the issue in an email.
"People tend to receive advice if it's framed within a series of coaching questions. Asking how the person is feeling about the situation, what they've tried that has worked/not worked in the past, what outcomes they'd like to see happen... these questions show the other person you're truly curious and care about them," Wellman explained.
#2 If Someone Says They Don't Want To Do Anything For Their Birthday, It's Okay To Believe Them
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#3 Try Carwash Sponges Instead Of Waterballoons For Water Games
Image credits: Lucid4321
"You can then transition by commenting that you have a thought or two based on your own experience, and ask them if they're open to advice." She said that, for instance, we could ask the person if they'd like to just talk and vent or if they'd prefer to get an opinion in that particular situation.
"Leave room to simply be a listening friend, not an advice-giver. Giving advice to an unreceptive person is unproductive and risks damaging the relationship."
Meanwhile, Wellman pointed out that it's a "fabulous first step" to accept the fact that we won't have the time to do even a fraction of the things we want to. "Focusing on our diminishing time can be helpful, even if it seems to increase the pressure. Counting how many Mondays you have left, for example, can get us focused on the limited time we have. This heightens our sense of what matters and can help with prioritization," she told Bored Panda.
#4 Turn Shipping Bags Inside Out For Returns!
Image credits: atljar
#5 Let Your Spouse Know Your Passwords
#6 If A Company Is Forcing You To Speak To A Virtual Assistant Or Chatbot To Get Help, Tell It You Want To Cancel Your Services/Plan/Subscription/Etc And They Will Redirect You To A Human Assistant
"Listen to the things that resonate with you, and give them a go first. Like if meditation sounds interesting, try that. If green smoothies and gratitude journals make you nauseous, skip them. Release the pressure to adopt All The Things and pick one thing at a time that makes you feel alive.
We can only live one day at a time, so being intentional about TODAY tends to decrease long-term anxiety."
Feel free to calculate the number of Mondays you (probably) have left and check out Wellman's book 'You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets.'
#7 Never Tell People You Are Teaching That The Task You Are Showing Them How To Do Is Easy
#8 Enter The Recipient Of Your Emails Last So You Never Accidentally Press Send Early Again
Image credits: Y-Woo
#9 Always Carry A Whistle When Hiking Or Camping
Folks might have different thoughts on what matters the most in life. But the general trends are more or less the same. From our perspective, you should focus on two main things: your social life and your health. And, yes, we’re putting your relationships above your physical fitness! But get both right, and you’ll have plenty of energy and resilience to pursue whatever purpose in life that’s calling your name.
The longest-running study on human happiness, conducted by researchers at Harvard over more than eight decades, found that your relationships have the biggest impact on your well-being. In short, the more positive relationships you have, the deeper they are, and the more socially active you are, the more resilient you are to stress.
#10 When Adopting A Pet, Ask The Volunteers For Their Recommendations
Image credits: ButterflyGrand1269
#11 If You're Married And Have Children, Take Pto And Go On A Lunch Date
My wife and I have three young children. It's impossible to get away in the evening for a proper date without grandparent's texting saying my children are out of control, or the babysitter texting saying the kids want to talk to mom.
My wife's schedule and mine have aligned the last couple of weeks where we've gone out to lunch just the two of us. It's an amazing break in the workday, and my kids have no idea we're gone. 10/10 highly recommend.
Image credits: Strider985
#12 When Going On Vacation, Always Leave Your Dishwasher Door Open A Few Inches
Image credits: Bibblegead1412
Those meaningful relationships, in turn, makes you healthier and happier. On the flip side, bad relationships and loneliness are awful for our well-being. So if you can do one thing today to improve your life, take the time to intentionally connect with someone you care about and who makes you feel good.
In terms of exercise and diet, it’s hard to know what to do when everybody seems to have an opinion about everything. The key thing to remember is not to get hyped up over short-term trends. Listen to your body and what it needs.
Find a few forms of exercise that you genuinely enjoy and do them consistently. If you hate jogging but love hiking, do that! If you’re a swimmer and a tennis player rather than a footballer or power-lifter, embrace that. When you love what you do, it’s easier to stay consistent. Just make sure that you get some cardio and strength training in.
#13 When Buying One Greeting Card, Get A Second
Image credits: EmersonLucero
#14 If You're Leaving A Professional Voicemail, Say Your Name And Number Before Saying Anything Else
Image credits: marrymesheamus
#15 Instead Of Saying, 'Can I Have A Hug?' Say 'Do You Want A Hug?'
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week for adults. Or a combination of the two. Meanwhile, you also need to aim for at least two days of muscle-strengthening activity per week.
Diet-wise, avoid junk and processed foods, added sugar, and saturated fat, as well as alcohol and nicotine. Opt for more veggies, legumes, healthy fats, and protein. And consider getting tested to see if you have any food allergies or can’t tolerate certain ingredients: you’ll want to steer clear of those.
#16 If You Want A Fancy Cat Get A Ragdoll Not A Bengal
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#17 The Fastest Ways To Get Your Car Cooling Down This Summer
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#18 When Running Into An Old Acquaintance, Introduce Yourself By Name To Help Prevent Awkward Moments
Image credits: Tour_de_Med
People absolutely love reading and sharing life advice on the internet. The proof is in the pudding. The r/LifeProTips subreddit boasts 23 million members from all around the globe. Many of them actively share their best advice with everyone else, as well as comment on other people’s posts.
There’s a lot of wisdom to be found among the digital pages of their archives. The tips themselves are incredibly varied. You can find posts on topics both broad and incredibly niche. And in the rare case that you need even more personalized advice, you can always ask the community for help directly. They’re very friendly and often more than happy to lend a hand. Or, well, in this case, a digital quill.
#19 If You Are Tired Of The Windows "Let's Set Up Your Device" Nag Screen After Major Updates, You Can Turn It Off
#20 Your Friend Didn’t “Forget” They Borrowed Money
Image credits: ftnsss
#21 Consciously Get A Job At A Place Which Offers A Useful Discount
Image credits: Appropriate_Ad2342
Which of the tips in this list did you personally find the most useful? What’s the best life advice that you could give anyone right here, right now, dear Pandas? What wisdom would you share with your past self if you could go back in time?
We’re always happy to read what you have to say, so feel free to drop by the comments!
#22 If You Or Your Child Is Learning A New Instrument, Don’t Buy A “Beginner” Instrument
#23 When Someone Long-Winded Calls, Put Them On Speaker And Start Cooking Something. That Way You Have An Excuse To Hang Up When It's Ready
#24 Start Talking To Your Dogs Before An Important Phone Call
Image credits: yellowabcd
#25 Plan A Secondary Exit That's Not The Way You Came In
#26 “Siri Call Mom”
Image credits: PixiePower65
#27 You Can Become Reasonably Proficient In Just About Anything In Six Months
Image credits: seamustheseagull
#28 Your Local Public Library May Have Free Subscriptions To Paywall Sites
#29 At Some Point In Your Life, Try Living In A Place Where You Can Walk To Amenities (Entertainment, Restaurants, Coffee Shops, Bars, Etc.)
Image credits: b1ackfyre
#30 When Starting A New Job, Save A Copy/Screenshot Of The Job Description
#31 Plant Bamboo Wisely
#32 Requote Your Auto Insurance Every Renewal
#33 If You Only Do One Thing On Your Phone To Save Battery, Delete The Facebook App And Use The Browser For Facebook
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#34 If You Walk Into A Restaurant 30 Minutes Before The Kitchen Is Closing, Ask The Staff If It's Ok For You To Order Knowing They Are Closing Soon. You Will Get Better Service, Cleaner, Food, And Sometimes A Hook Up!
#35 When Buying Bigger Ticket Items Online, It Often Pays To Abandon The Check Out Process Right Before Payment
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#36 If You're Going To Quit A Full-Time Job In The USA, Quit At The Beginning Of The Month Not The End
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#37 Men’s Antiperspirant Will Very Quickly Remove Black Marks From Wood Floors
#38 Once You Catch Someone's Attention In A Negative Way--Even Just One Time--You Are Forever Watched More Closely
#39 If You Can't Get Yourself To Clean A Kitchen, Get A Remote Headset And Call A Friend You Haven't Talked To For A While
#40 Continuous Spray Sun Block Dissolves Temporary Tattoos
#41 When Buying A Car, Write Into Your Contract That You Want A Full Tank Of Fuel On Delivery
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#42 Using Empty Prepaid Cards For "14 Day Free Trial" Subscriptions Without The Worry Of Forgetting To Cancel
#43 When In Doubt, Throw It Out
#44 When Prompted To Accept Website Cookies
#45 If Your Power Goes Out While You're At Home, Unplug Your TV And Computer, And Wait About A Minute After The Power Comes On Before Plugging Them Back In
#46 Open Share Apps An Hour Before You Need Them
Image credits: ML_Buckeye
