LPT: When you scan important docs, email them to yourself with clear, searchable titles
Stuff like “2025TaxW2” or “HealthInsuranceCardJuly2025” makes it SO much easier to find them later.
I used to name everything “scan0003.jpg” or whatever my scanner defaulted to… then I’d waste time digging.
Now I just send it to my email, and boom — it’s archived, backed up, and easy to search.
https://redd.it/1m8pjyq
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Adopt a “Memento Mori”mindset to stop wasting your damn life!
Warning! It’s not for the faint hearted.
I started saying “Memento Mori” to myself every morning. It’s a latin phrase for “Remember you must die” meaning remember you’ll die! Sounds intense, I know. But honestly…it snapped me out of autopilot. Suddenly I’m not doom-scrolling as much. I’m not making excuses for work. I’m making moves on things I used to procrastinate for weeks.
It’s not about being morbid. It’s about not sleepwalking through life. What helped me was visualising myself on my death bed (yeah pretty intense, that’s why the warning…but once you get into the practice, it doesn’t feel that way) reflecting on life and asking myself a few questions and feeling the emotions deeply. Try this visualisation for 2-3 minutes and come back to present and start acting on the insights. This will give you insane clarity!
Try it for a week. See what changes…then come back and tell me.
Bonus tip: You can try doing it at night as well before you sleep - most powerful time to rewire your subconscious.
https://redd.it/1m847gb
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: When meeting someone new, silently repeat their name in your head 3 times and use it once in conversation—helps you remember it and builds better rapport instantly.
Food & Drink
https://redd.it/1m8051i
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: To get more from museum visits, learn a bit about the exhibits before you go
I used to just wander through museums and glance at things without really connecting, but then I started reading up on the main exhibits or watching short videos about the museum beforehand. It made a huge difference in how much I enjoyed the visit. Knowing the background stories and context gave me a deeper appreciation and helped me notice details I would’ve missed otherwise. If you want to get more out of your next museum trip, spend a few minutes preparing—it really pays off.
https://redd.it/1m7xgup
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Want to remember someone’s name? Use it within the first 10 seconds of hearing it.
Someone taught me this and works like magic. When someone says "Hi, I'm Sarah," don't just say "Nice to meet you." Instead say "Nice to meet you, Sarah." Then ask a question like "So Sarah, what brings you here today?"
This activates your brain with repetition + relevance, and makes the name stick.
Another good one to add to this: Associate their name with something visual or personal (eg. Sarah with the red scarf)
You only get one shot when someone tells you their name. So use it immediately and you'll almost never forget it again.
Thank me later.
https://redd.it/1m7t8oc
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Your insurance company may have a patient advocate that can be surprisingly helpful
Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure this is only necessary for people in the US with private health insurance. Apologies to foreigners that don't have to worry about such things. :)
Back story: we moved to semi-rural Maine a few years ago. Getting a doctor, dentist, therapist, or vet here is borderline impossible because there's a shortage of all of them. We ended up getting on 6-8 month waiting lists for most, but that's really tough when a family member needs a new therapist yesterday. I called around and all of them either weren't taking new patients, didn't handle older teens, or had a waiting list of over 10 months.
So we kind of gave up and just relied on school counselors as best we could. Until I got a call from our insurance company based on an inquiry I had made about a completely different topic. The woman helped me out with that, and then asked if I had anything else she could help with, including finding providers that were closer or better fit our needs.
Turns out she was a patient advocate, who handles doing all the stuff I absolutely hate when dealing with insurance: making repetitive calls, coordinating between multiple providers, etc. I explained the therapy situation, and she collected info from me for about 5 minutes. She said I'd hear back from her in a few days. When she called back, she had not only found a selection of therapists that would work for us, but had found one that could fit us in within 2 weeks. After confirming we'd like to do that, she established us as a patient with the therapist's office, set up the appointment, gave them our insurance info, and all we had to do was show up and do the onboarding in their portal. She then followed up twice over the next few weeks to confirm everything had gone smoothly.
When I asked her more about what she does, she said that many people that rely on her are those that struggle making phone calls on their own. They'll email her info and she handles the calls for them. Working with the insurance company, they can also sometimes pressure doctors to fit in patients more easily than if the patient called themselves. She said it's also common for people to try finding doctors for kids as they age out of pediatrics or for adults that want to find a general practitioner that has more experience in specific issues they're facing.
For all of the issues with insurance in the US, this is one thing that a couple of the companies have gotten right.
Not every insurance company has patient advocates. For some, they only deal with billing issues. I'm with one of the biggest insurance companies, but I'm aware of a couple of smaller companies that have full service advocates available. To find if your insurance company does, do a search for "[your insurance company\] patient advocate".
https://redd.it/1m7rs5b
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Check the air inlet of every hair dryer you're about to use
Hair driers basically work like big electric space heaters. There are heating elements inside with current going through them. They heat up, air is forced through the hair dryer by its blower, which cools the heating elements down and prevents them from melting. The air gets hot and blown out the front and you're able to use it to dry your hair and other parts. The air inlet often has a screen that prevents hair and dust from entering the heating elements. Sadly, those screens don't get cleaned as often as it is needed, if they even get cleaned at all, and are often caked in dust or even fully clogged. This prevents adequate airflow through the hair dryer and so cooling for the heating elements which then overheat. They should have a temperature switch inside which should cut power if the heating elements get too hot, but they don't work more often than not, resulting in a flaming hot experience.
https://redd.it/1m7m9oc
@r_lifeprotips
LPT A tiny thing I wish I’d thought of sooner. Have your loved ones sign their photos.
We chase autographs from celebrities because they feel rare and personal. But looking at an old photo of someone you actually love. Your kid, your mom, your partner and seeing their name written in their own hand? That hits harder than any autograph ever could.
My idea: when you take a special photo with someone you care about, have them sign it. Doesn’t matter if it’s messy or silly or a scribble. Now you don’t just have a picture of them. You have a piece of them. A moment, in their handwriting. I’ve never heard anyone suggest this before and wish I had done it when my kids were young. But imagine having a photo of your kid from when they were little… and they signed it in crayon. Or a snapshot of your parent before they passed… with their name in their handwriting underneath. That’s something to hold on to. I was reading a story about an autograph and I was like “I’d rather have my dad’s autograph than this.” Then realized. Why don’t I get his autograph. He’s not famous, but who cares. Just an idea.
https://redd.it/1m7ihak
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Small Items/ Big Impact
Many users have provided such great tips over the years: Here are a few of mine:
These are all inexpensive but will pay off daily:
1. water flosser- amazing how much food residue comes out even after every brushing. Follow up with brushing again to let the fluoride do its job. You never have to lie to the hygienist again. I even have a second small one for travel.
2. small toolkit for at home and one for your car. Over your lifetime, will save thousands on repairs and you learn skills. Check resources and work safely and methodically.
3. phone case- your phone is a big investment, treat it as such.
4. Emergency kit- basics to keep you going without electricity, water. Adjust contents to your situation.
5. accordion file- all important documents in one place. You can grab and go in seconds. Images of all documents in the cloud.
6. Eisenhower Matrix- (free) many are online and simply adapt to your situation. Do, Decide, Delegate or Delete. Your life is a path of decisions; use this tool daily to get the most out of life.
https://redd.it/1m744y8
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Trick your brain by pretending your to-do list belongs to your best friend.
So hear me out. My brain would straight up ignore a pile of laundry for 3 days…but if a friend texts “I’m overwhelmed”, I immediately turn into a life coach, therapist, and ops manager.
So now I prentend my to-do kist belongs to them. What would I tell them to do first? Probably, “hey, just do one thing and take a break.” So I do that, and weirdly it works.
Turns out, I will move mountains for imaginary people but not for myself. 10/10 coping strategy. No notes.
https://redd.it/1m71mbf
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Even if you know you owe on a bill, never give payment on an inbound call
Scams are nothing new. While many are obvious, it is good practice not to give a card number to someone who called you. Even if you owe a company money, do not pay over the phone if they call you. Either hang up and pay online through their website, or call the number on their website or billing statement to pay - this will guarantee that you have called and paid the actual company, and not some scammer that just got lucky pretending to be your cable company
https://redd.it/1m6u12e
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: In high-pressure conversations or public settings, train yourself to focus on what is being said, not who is saying it. This keeps you grounded, confident, and less likely to freeze up.
In meetings, presentations, or tense discussions, it's common to become emotionally overwhelmed, especially when others appear more confident or authoritative. One way to stay grounded is to consciously shift your focus from the person to the message.
Instead of thinking, “They’re better, smarter, or judging me,” train yourself to evaluate the idea or question they’re raising. This makes it easier to respond calmly and clearly, especially under pressure. Over time, this habit reduces performance anxiety and helps you stay composed without needing to assert dominance or withdraw.
https://redd.it/1m6irp5
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: When in a remote job interview, turn on subtitles so you can always remember the question from the interviewer
https://redd.it/1m6gort
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: If you got a trial from a subscription or streaming service, and forgot to cancel it, just ask customer service to refund it.
Mostly, they check if you've actually used it and when you have not, they refund you stuff. Just did this for something on top of Prime, I cancelled Prime immediately, but forgot to cancel the extra - that charged 3 months and now it's fully refunded.
https://redd.it/1m6culj
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Building execution skills?
Does anyone else resonate with being the person who’s always had creative, great ideas but can’t seem to follow through on execution?
I’ve had a couple business ideas / projects from my early 20s that I never took to completion that still haunt me to this day. I just turned 29. How can I turn this habit around? Is it too late to change?
https://redd.it/1m67yz8
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Don’t just ask what job do I want? ask how do I function best at work?
When I was job hunting, I kept obsessing over what I wanted to do but never thought about how I actually like to work. Totally different thing. I realized way too late that I was just chasing job titles and industries that sounded cool without actually understanding how my brain works. I kept ending up in roles that looked great but left me completely wiped out.
Pro tip that I wish someone had told me: figure out how you actually function first...like do you need tons of structure or does that make you feel trapped? Are you energized by brainstorming with people or does that drain you? How do you make your best decisions? Use that as your guide when you're looking at jobs. The actual work matters but the "how" is what's gonna determine if you're thriving or just surviving.
Even just writing down times when you felt totally in your element at work vs times when everything felt wrong can be super helpful. Sometimes the patterns are more obvious than you think.
https://redd.it/1m87pgd
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Stop asking people “Do you need help?” — instead ask “What can I help with?
“Do you need help?” is easy to say no to. But “What can I help with?” assumes action and makes people more likely to delegate or accept support. Great for workplaces, relationships, and caregiving.
https://redd.it/1m823ee
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Keep a “Brag File” at work — a simple doc where you save every compliment, achievement, or thank-you email. It’ll boost your confidence, help in performance reviews, and make updating your resume way easier.
https://redd.it/1m804f0
@r_lifeprotips
LPT -record conversations with ill loved ones
When a loved one is diagnosed with an illness, we start to cherish the beautiful moments more deeply. We take photos to hold onto those memories — for when a memory is all that’s left.
But voices, mannerisms, inflections — the little features of our communication — often fade. Recording everyday conversations (and maybe even the difficult ones) can be a way to remember someone as they truly were day to day, not just in posed photos from parties or gatherings.
It’s a deeply personal and intimate way to keep them close, even after they’re gone.
https://redd.it/1m7x774
@r_lifeprotips
LPT Use the Roast Setting on Air Fryer Toaster Ovens to Cook Frozen Pizza
I used to think my air fryer was too powerful for frozen pizza and have ignored frozen pizza for years, which is something I love as a comfort food occasionally. Well one day I decided to try to make one again so I did my usual preparation, but was surprised how well it turned out. It wasn't until I was trying to cook another one the next week that I realized I had accidentally used the roast setting at 375 instead of baking at 375 and the pizza was absolutely perfect.
Roast setting will use the top element more with some fan use (apparently) and any time I used Bake, you end up having burnt pizza (black) or have to lower the temperature so much it becomes hard to manage. With the Roast setting, I kind of ignore the instructions on the box and just go for it. Bonus points if you turn off the heating element when your pizza "looks done" on top. I like to give a thicker pizza a little more time at lower heat to make sure it's fully cooked.
Things I still don't fully understand about the air fryer toaster oven I have is still a lot, like when to use the fan setting (it's not a true air fry without it?) or when to use the bake setting (never?). Temperature control is still a foreign language to me, but since I figured this out recently I figured I'd post in case it's not common knowledge. If you use the Pizza button and it works flawlessly for your purposes, then congratulations because that has not been my experience.
https://redd.it/1m7qxgw
@r_lifeprotips
LPT - A Personal Improvement Plan (PIP) is usually just advanced notice you're going to be fired.
Just had a friend's son learn this the hard way. PIPs are often framed as a tool for employee development, but that's mostly bullshit. It's a paper trail to justify an eventual termination. By the time a PIP is issued, leadership has more than likely lost confidence in your ability to meet expectations. Sure, the plan outlines specific, measurable goals.. but often with tight deadlines that may be difficult or even impossible to meet. While there are cases where PIPs lead to retention, in most corporate environments they function less like a lifeline and more like a legally vetted countdown clock.
TLDR: If you get put on a PIP, start looking for a new job.
https://redd.it/1m7n6jl
@r_lifeprotips
LPT - Those who have family members who are terminally ill.
If you have a family member that won't be with you in the next little while, and there are milestones that have yet to be passed for her children and grandchildren - (21st birthday, weddings, etc) have that family member fill out greeting cards to give to those people when the event comes. It will be a cherished keepsake to that person who couldn't have that family member there.
https://redd.it/1m7jvvt
@r_lifeprotips
LPT If you misplace a tool, go buy a new one. The lost one will show up soon after.
It’s almost full proof.
https://redd.it/1m7g70y
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Let People Be As An Act of Love
Let them express their happiness. Let them say weird words. Or if they have odd expressions, let them me.
Let's not be the reason to dull the spark in someone, especially someone we love.
I realized this when I had a past partner that would be called "immature" and "childish" by our other friends. So I also would call him out and tell him to act less childish. Looking back at it, he was just being himself and having fun, I should have let him be.
Don't be the reason why someone will lose their personality and would supress what they wanna say or their ideas, especially when nothing's actually wrong with it.
Be happy that they can show their "weird" side to you.
https://redd.it/1m7420e
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Stack a 1-minute full-body stretch with 2 minutes of mindful deep breathing right before your shower. It resets your nervous system, improves circulation, and makes the shower feel like a spa. Do this daily and you’ll feel calmer, clearer, and more energised in under 3 minutes.
This actually works. The breathing calms your mind, the stretch loosens tight muscles, and the hot water amplifies both effects. It's a tiny ritual that I practice everyday with a massive payoff.
https://redd.it/1m6xjh1
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: If you have applied to a lot of jobs, make sure your voicemail box isn’t full.
Opportunity is calling, allow them to leave a message.
https://redd.it/1m6tcai
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Find 100’s of songs with your favorite chord progression
If you know what your favorite chord progression is and want to make a full playlist of songs that use it, do the following. Works for any music streaming service.
1) Go to: https://www.hooktheory.com/trends
2) On the right side, click on the triads that make up your chord progression. (For example, if your favorite is 1-6-3-7, you could click Cm-Ab-Eb-Bb).
3) A list of songs will appear. Copy this list.
4) Go to: https://www.tunemymusic.com/transfer, and choose the “Free Text” option. Paste the list and follow the instructions.
This process can be repeated, starting from all 12 keys. Hope it is useful!
https://redd.it/1m6ia3s
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: if you live near an event like a concert, Look online after the doors have opened for free or really cheap tickets
I saw John Mulaney last night for free
https://redd.it/1m69akt
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Never mix up your stuff again: left hand for yours, right hand for theirs
I always found myself mixing up my coffee with someone else's when making it, or swopping lunches when carrying them. That stopped when I made the decision to ALWAYS keep my stuff in my left hand, and other people's in my right hand (or on my right side) when carrying or making things.
It works for groups too: If handling multiple items/orders/meals, line them up left-to-right in order of ownership (yours always starts on the left).
Once you train yourself, you’ll never waste brainpower on "whose is whose?" again. Making two coffees? Yours goes left, theirs right. Carrying lunches? Left hand holds yours, right hand theirs.
https://redd.it/1m6a3nz
@r_lifeprotips
LPT: Get rid of kimchi stains on a white shirt by laying it out in the sun (red pepper, tomato stains too)
A laundry hack I learned from my mom. I spilled kimchi on a white t-shirt and washing it wasn’t doing the job…I’d still see an orange spot. But laying out the shirt in the sun for a few hours completely dissolved the stain!
https://redd.it/1m67aum
@r_lifeprotips
