When breaking up with someone, make a list of the reasons that made you break up with that person. If you’re thinking of getting back together, read that list
We tend to idealize our partners after a while. We forget their defects and the reasons that made us get away in the first place. This list is really helpful in those moments when we feel lonely and tempted to call again.
When you buy a house, change out the water hoses for the washing machine because you never know when they were replaced last and are one of the most common causes of catastrophic water damage in homes.
You will never “feel like” doing something that you should do. You just have to do it
Something I’ve learned over time is that when you have something you need to do, there’s a moment where you’re like “man, I need to do that,” but think: “I’ll just do it later when I’m in the mood.” So far as I know, that mood never comes. So the moment you think “man, I need to do that,” is the moment you have to do it. It isn’t easy, but it’s the only way to get it done. Plus you’ll feel good afterwards.
Replace “but” with “however”, “although”, or even just a pause so your listener avoids negating the first part of your sentence
When people hear “but” they automatically negate the first part of your sentence. This is why many people say “I’m sorry,but…” Isn’t a real apology — because whatever the second part of the sentence is trumps the sorry.
I’ve found its especially useful when you’re trying to avoid being accusatory or when you’re trying to bring up an issue without putting the other person on the defense because the pause required to replace the “but” will also make you consider how to phrase the rest of your thought better.
Person: You handled that customer well, but you can’t be so blunt.
Other person: you handled that customer well. However, next time you can try telling them in a kinder way.
If you want to divide something among two people (usually kids), you get one person to divide, and the other person gets first pick on which piece they want. Everyone wins and it ensures the person who divides is fair.
If someone is getting worked up and overexcited and frustrated about a topic, they’re probably just venting and not asking for advice. Be there to listen, not to lecture.
Taking pictures with your phone at a large event? Turn off your flash! Your flash is only good up to 12 feet, the stage lights are a thousand times brighter and you are just draining your battery. No flash = better pictures!
If you like one song by an artist, but don’t dig the rest of their stuff. find out who the producer is and see what other work they’ve done. The producer can play a big role in how the final song turns out.
If you want to learn a new language, figure out the 100 most frequently used words and start with them. Those words make up about 50% of everyday speech, and should be a very solid basis.
Don’t ask people if they’re free on a certain date without specifying why you’re asking. Simply asking “are you free on Friday?” comes across like you’re tricking the other person into doing whatever it is you want them to do.
Take photos of your parents doing things they do every day. When you get older, they will bring back memories more than any posed pic ever could.
As a leader, give praise in public and give discipline in private.
In an old job in “Corporate America” I had a manager who would always share with employees encouragement and kind words of praise within earshot of other employees, and would offer words of critisicm and suggestions for improvement in private (in his office or a conference room). This set up an environment of positive reinforcement and gave employees respect and honesty they needed to perform at a higher level.
Those viral posts asking things like “Your stripper name is your first pet and your mother’s maiden name” are amazingly effective ways to reveal answers to common security questions you may be using elsewhere.
The next time you see a mass post or “share this on” message asking for information like this, remember you’re sharing important personal information which may be dangerous to share openly with others. There’s a good reason why so many of them rely on your funny answer being made up of your mother’s maiden name, first pet, favourite teacher or street you grew up on…Always be careful where you’re sharing information, consider whether it’s really necessary to share it, or consider using incorrect answers – either to the post, or to the security questions themselves (as long as you can remember what you set them to).
If you have an Android phone, go to the developer options and set Animation Time to x0.5! Your phone will feel like it’s gotten a huge processor update.
Unlock Developer Options:
Settings > About Phone > 7x tap on Build Number
Decrease animation time:
Settings > System > Developer Options > Set all Options with Animation Scale to x0.5 or less
In most cases, it will cost your employer far more to replace you than it would to give you a raise. So ask firmly
The cost of recruiting, onboarding/training, etc often exceeds the cost of paying an already established employee more. Just remember that next time you talk yourself out of asking for a raise.
Your parents took decades to furnish their house
If you’re just starting out, remember that it took your parents decades to collect all the furniture, decorations, appliances, etc you are used to having around. It’s easy to forget this because you started remembering things a long while after they started out together, so it feels like that’s how a house should always be.
It’s impossible for most people starting out to get to that level of settled in without burying themselves in debt. So relax, take your time, and embrace the emptiness! You’ll enjoy the house much more if you’re not worried about how to pay for everything all the time.
You will get calls about your taxes, there is a 100% chance they are scams
I just received a voicemail today that said there was a “tax fraud pending against me” and that I should call back immediately before “I get arrested”. Please be cautious as these are scams. If you ever have questions regarding your taxes, go to the place you filed them and start there, then go to the IRS directly. The IRS never calls, you’ll get letters.
If you ever forget your WiFi password or you want to get your school WiFi password etc. Just type this command into the command line of a computer already connected to that WiFi: netsh wlan show profile WiFi-name key=clear
Also when youre at a hotel that charges for wifi (or for faster wifi), get the password from the business center computer which is probably connected to the employee wifi
If you think someone has forgotten your name, skip the awkwardness and mention it in third person.
Last night someone I’ve volunteered with on-and-off for 2 years, I’m pretty sure forgot my name, so I worked into conversation said something like “I have a tendency to leave things till the last minute, and my roommate is like ‘Alybank! Why are you like this?” I could see the relief on the other persons face when I said it.
Inflation is currently ~2% per year. If you are not getting more than that per year as a raise, you are getting a pay cut. Make sure to take inflation into account when you get a raise.
If you’re someone that always listens to music in your car make it a habit at least once a month to turn it off and listen to your car for a couple minutes. There may be an issue you’re not aware of which could be caught before it turns into a major problem
Be skeptical of products that say “Clinically proven”. That is a marketing term and only says they’ve done their own private study that is designed to show the result the company wants. It is not the same as a “Scientifically proven” study which is published and open for peer review.
If you need somewhere to work/relax with friendly staff, nice AC, plenty of seating, free WiFi, and available all across the US, you’re in luck! There are more public libraries in the US than there are Starbucks or McDonalds! And you’re under no obligation to buy anything to sit there
16,568 – Public Libraries in the US. There are over 116,000 if you include academic, school, military, government, corporate, etc
14,606 – Starbucks stores in the U.S. in 2018
13,905 – McDonald’s restaurants in the United States in 2018
If you have illegal drugs in your system and find yourself in the hospital PLEASE be honest and disclose exactly what you’ve taken or what you believe you’ve taken. Care providers are not the police; the quality of your outcome might depend on such information.