17 Simple Yet Effective Life Hacks You Need To Try

Minor changes can have a substantial influence on our lives. Often, the little things make massive differences, improving our lives to such a great extent that we can’t believe we didn’t implement them sooner. 

Here are 17 easy life hacks that will simplify your life if you give them the chance. 

Print To PDF

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The print-to-PDF feature allows you to save anything you find online to your hard drive for easy reference. 

The trick is handy for online recipes. Clicking the print button will let you save just the recipe, so you don’t have to navigate through piles of backstory to get the ingredients. 

Habit Stacking

A woman struggles to complete a push up in an excersize class.
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Habit stacking helps you build new habits from your old, ingrained habits. Go to the gym on the way home from work. Have a glass of water while waiting for your coffee to brew. Meditate immediately after your shower. 

The idea is to form a new habit around the things you already do rather than trying to build it around something new. 

Label It

Hands putting away a storage bin while labeling it for organization.
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Invest in a cheap label maker to simplify your life. Label all your chargers, cords, and peripherals, so you know what they go with. 

You’ll never accidentally throw away a cord you need again. 

Take Notes

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Your memory probably isn’t as good as you think it is. Take notes during meetings, at school, and even when you develop fantastic ideas independently. 

How many times have you had an excellent idea but forgotten what it was when the time came to implement it? Taking notes means you’ll never have to worry about that again. 

Stop Arguing Online

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People say absurd things online, and often, they’re just doing it to bait you. Stop playing into their hands. 

The next time you see an outrageous comment online, ignore it. You’ll feel better knowing you didn’t waste your time. 

Read the Bad Reviews

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Most products have thousands of reviews, and reading them all is impossible. To get an authentic idea of whether it will meet your needs, skip to the bad reviews. 

Negative reviews will let you know if there’s an actual problem with the product (like it breaks within a week or doesn’t work as intended) or if the people leaving a review are just complaining to complain (shipping delays, have the product already, didn’t like the color). 

Let Them Vent

A man in a work shirt screams as he has his hands on his head as if he's about to pull his hair out.
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People need to express themselves. Give them space to do so without taking it personally. 

The tactic works well in customer service positions. People who call in with a complaint know you’re not the one who created the problem. If you let them scream and yell and get it out of their system without taking it personally, they’ll usually calm down, thank you, and work with you toward resolving their problem. 

Library Cards

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The library offers many public services you may only know about if you have a library card. 

Some library cards offer tool rentals, studio space, free classes, and community events. Most libraries have contracts with online resources like Libby, Hoopla, and Udemy, offering cardholders access to all the digital content they’d ever want. 

Think About Future You

A woman looks unsure with her hand on her chin and her eyes looking up as if she's thinking about something serious.
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Present you may want to splurge on that chocolate cake, but before you do, think about how it will affect you in the future. Will you wake up with heartburn? Have trouble sleeping from sugar overload? Could the ten bucks go to savings instead?

Instant gratification feels good at the moment, but taking a few seconds to consider the impacts of all decisions on your future will help you reap long-term benefits. 

Use a Planner

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Planners make life easy. You’ll never miss another appointment when you keep your trusty planner current. 

Modern planners offer so much more than appointment books. They give you space for task lists and notes, have full monthly calendar spreads, and provide extra goodies to keep you on track throughout the day, week, and year. 

Show Up

Silhouette of man climbing mountain with his shadow watching to represent motivation
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If you will attempt any of the life hacks on this list, try this one: Show Up. 

Showing up means making an effort to accomplish what you want in life. You can’t just sit back and wait for good things to happen; you must make them happen. Try that hobby, sign up for that class, or volunteer for an extra project at work. The more you show up, the more good things will happen in your life. 

Prioritize Sleep

Happy woman sleeping in a comfy bed.
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Most of us don’t get enough sleep. We’re constantly tired, trying to make it through the day with copious amounts of caffeine. 

Prioritize sleep by setting a bedtime and sticking to it. Create a relaxing evening routine that will prepare your body for slumber’s sweet embrace. Make sleep a priority; you’ll be amazed at how good you feel. 

Journaling

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Journaling has positive effects on both mental and physical well-being. It’s the simplest habit you can form to improve your life. 

Set aside five minutes a day for journaling. Write about your thoughts – even if that thought is about how silly journaling is. It will get easier over time, and you’ll be amazed at how much this simple act can improve your life. 

Say No

Two annoyed looking women saying no and walking away from someone.
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The next time someone asks you to attend an event that sounds tedious, don’t waver, and don’t worry about devising a flimsy excuse as to why you can’t make it. 

Say, “No, thank you.”

No is a complete sentence. It’s okay to decline something you don’t want to do. We need to change our entire culture around people pleasing and needing a reason to say no. Not wanting to go is reason enough. 

Simplify Investing

small money plants lined up in a row from small to large, showing that if you plant your money it will grow, to represent investing
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You must invest to build wealth. Many people shy away from investing because it seems complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. 

If your company offers a 401k, sign up for it. Invest enough to get the match. Outside of your 401K, invest in a simple, low-cost index fund like Vanguard’s Total Market fund. These funds offer instant diversification and allow you to invest a small amount with each paycheck, allowing you to take the slow and steady path to wealth. 

Practice Gratitude

A happy older woman expresses gratitude to her colleagues at work as they show their appreciation for her in return.
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A little gratitude goes a long way. Taking the time to acknowledge all the good you have in your life helps you realize that the bad isn’t so bad. 

There’s always something to be grateful for, even the little things. The love of a cat, indoor plumbing, food pantries, or the feeling of sunlight on your face are all things to be thankful for. Appreciate those little things, and you’ll find there’s far more to enjoy from life. 

Be Kind

A child's hands holding a small felt heart cupped by adult hands to represent kindness.
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Kindness is a gift you give both to yourself and others. It costs nothing and can lift someone’s spirits far higher than you ever imagined. 

It also makes you feel better about yourself. Practice random acts of kindness throughout your day. You’ll be surprised at how good it makes you feel. 

Learning What Really Matters and Letting the Rest Go

close up of smiling happy older woman
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Some things aren’t worth the effort, though unfortunately, sometimes we only learn that as we grow older. 

Here are the top things people learn to let go of as they age
 

A Happy Life Awaits

A woman dressed in fall colors holds a leaf up to her eye.
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More often than not, we’re our own biggest obstacles to a happy life. Embracing the hacks discussed here will improve your life. And the magic is that they’re all so simple and accessible. 

What are you waiting for? Choose one and start being happier today. 

Author: Melanie Allen

Title: Journalist

Expertise: Pursuing Your Passions, Travel, Wellness, Hobbies, Finance, Gaming, Happiness

Melanie Allen is an American journalist and happiness expert. She has bylines on MSN, the AP News Wire, Wealth of Geeks, Media Decision, and numerous media outlets across the nation and is a certified happiness life coach. She covers a wide range of topics centered around self-actualization and the quest for a fulfilling life.