Try typing “best life hacks” in Google’s search bar. You’ll find a laundry list of results about must-tries. What isn’t often highlighted are the ones that you may need to think twice before following. Some may even do more harm than good.
Thankfully, we have the people of Reddit to bring these to light by answering the question, “What are some commonly recommended life hacks which are actually wrong or bad?”
You’ll find some of the usual tips about sleeping less to achieve more, going on detox diets, and drinking coffee to sober up. Now that you think about it, these supposedly clever methods may be questionable at best and potentially harmful at worst.
Scroll through this list and see if you’ve tried any of these hacks. Were they as helpful as advertised? Or were they all hype?
#1
When people suggest going for a walk or working out to combat depression because “you don’t NEED medication, you just need to clear your head. Depression and anxiety are all in your head.”
B***h, no s**t it’s in my head. That’s why I take brain medicine.
B***h, no s**t it’s in my head. That’s why I take brain medicine.
176points
#2
Don’t quit, keep pushing no matter what.
Sometimes in life you need to understand when to throw in the towel and walk away.
Sometimes in life you need to understand when to throw in the towel and walk away.
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155points
#3
I always see people on reddit say that coworkers are not friends and to not develop friendships with them. Why? That's literally the worst advice I've seen parrotted here. Like don't be a degenerate in front of them but developing friendly relationships with the people you see for a 1/4 of your life is normal and not problematic.
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140points
#4
Any kind of "cleanse" diet or item. Your body already does that. Colonics, shakes, fasts, etc don't "cleanse" anything better than what your actual biology can do.
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134points
#5
That b******t one about how we've all been "opening bananas wrong" because we don't do it upside down like chimps. It literally doesn't f*****g matter. The banana opens easily the way I do it and I'm going to keep doing it that way.
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124points
#6
No Pain - No Gain.
Pain is the body's way of telling you that you are damaged.
Pain is the body's way of telling you that you are damaged.
111points
#7
Sleeping less for success. Sleeping less and hustle more can lead into burnout, health issues, cognitive function. Sleep in essential for mental health and well being of a person.
Conscious_Permit_703:
The 'just sleep less' advice to be more productive is terrible. Lack of sleep affects health and focus, making you less efficient in the long run.
Conscious_Permit_703:
The 'just sleep less' advice to be more productive is terrible. Lack of sleep affects health and focus, making you less efficient in the long run.
108points
#8
"Just wake up at 5 AM and your life will be fixed!" Nah, I’ve tried it, and all I got was more tired and cranky 😂
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99points
#9
Repeating constantly "Leave out of your comfort zone". Not everyone wants to leave it and some people work very hard to have a safe space and confort.
Some people just want to settle and it's fair.
Some people just want to settle and it's fair.
95points
#10
Do not put your toaster sideways to make cheese toast as some lifehacks suggest. It is a fire hazard.
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91points
#11
**"Multitasking makes you more productive."**
Actually, multitasking tends to make you worse at everything you’re trying to do. You end up scattered, doing a mediocre job on each thing instead of really focusing and excelling at one task. If you need to get stuff done, block out distractions and tackle things one at a time.
Actually, multitasking tends to make you worse at everything you’re trying to do. You end up scattered, doing a mediocre job on each thing instead of really focusing and excelling at one task. If you need to get stuff done, block out distractions and tackle things one at a time.
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86points
#12
"Always carry a small balance on your credit card to build credit"
No. Paying off your debts consistently builds credit.
No. Paying off your debts consistently builds credit.
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80points
#13
I saw one the other day that said if you are lost in an unfamiliar location needing rescue and your battery is about to die, change your voicemail to include your approximate location. Then people who call will be able to determine where you are after listening to the voicemail.
Things that are very wrong with this advice:
* Many people can go days without getting a phone call.
* It you don’t answer the phone, most people probably won’t listen to the voicemail greeting.
What you should do, if possible, is send one of your contacts your approximate location. GPS coordinates work. And always call 911.
Things that are very wrong with this advice:
* Many people can go days without getting a phone call.
* It you don’t answer the phone, most people probably won’t listen to the voicemail greeting.
What you should do, if possible, is send one of your contacts your approximate location. GPS coordinates work. And always call 911.
67points
#14
Drinking Lemon Water for Detox. While lemon water can be refreshing, the body already has efficient detoxification systems (like the liver).
60points
#15
Any food hack that wants you to get sugar boiling hot and then spin it with a whisk in the air to make strings or says it'll turn into fairy floss or some such.
You will burn yourself, and getting it off your skin is difficult because it's sugar. And they always aim it at gd teenagers.
Howtocookthat on youtube has a lot of the food related ones and explains why they're dangerous or don't work.
You will burn yourself, and getting it off your skin is difficult because it's sugar. And they always aim it at gd teenagers.
Howtocookthat on youtube has a lot of the food related ones and explains why they're dangerous or don't work.
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56points
#16
That putting bicarb soda down your drain will unblock it. It doesn't do s**t.
Source: I'm a plumber and I'll charge you more as it makes it harder to clear the waste or drain.
Source: I'm a plumber and I'll charge you more as it makes it harder to clear the waste or drain.
54points
#17
Dressing like security or maintenance to gain access to restricted areas of events and venues. this could endanger the safety of others if an actual emergency occurred.
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53points
#18
To "do it anyway" or "do it scared".
Sometimes you do need to get yourself together/calm down before you do something. Like driving.
Sometimes you do need to get yourself together/calm down before you do something. Like driving.
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53points
#19
The advice I see on Reddit about asking for an itemized receipt is incomplete.
Asking for an itemized receipt does not automatically drop the total cost. Instead, asking for an itemized receipt allows you to identify line items that don't make sense, don't apply to you, or weren't rendered.
For instance, I was charged a materials delivery fee as part of a home renovation project, even though I transported all the materials to my home myself. Since the service was not rendered, I got that cost stricken from my total, but I had to first identify it manually and draw attention to it--it didn't just automatically go away when I asked for the itemized receipt.
Asking for an itemized receipt does not automatically drop the total cost. Instead, asking for an itemized receipt allows you to identify line items that don't make sense, don't apply to you, or weren't rendered.
For instance, I was charged a materials delivery fee as part of a home renovation project, even though I transported all the materials to my home myself. Since the service was not rendered, I got that cost stricken from my total, but I had to first identify it manually and draw attention to it--it didn't just automatically go away when I asked for the itemized receipt.
51points
