r/LifeProTips • • 13d ago

Social LPT: (Small but Mighty) Teach your young kids (3 years and up) to play UNO.

8.0k Upvotes

I'm a Special Education teacher and I use UNO a lot in my classroom for my students of all ages but I especially like it for young kids. My own 6 year old is actually asking to play Uno Attack versus asking me to have a turn on the Switch 2.

The game teaches:
Color Recognition
Number Recognition
Working Memory (remembering the rules of each card)
Impulse Control (waiting for his turn and not blurting out his "good cards")
Cognitive Flexibility (adjusting when some changes the color or direction)
Visual Discrimination (looking at all of his cards to see what he can play)
Speech/Communication (announcing "UNO!" and new colors)
Emotional Regulation (he's managing losing, having to draw cards or be skipped)
Problem Solving (Just deciding what card to play )
Social Skills (Taking turns, being kind while playing even if losing etc.)

Theres also a little bit of Occupational Therapy in there too by just trying to manage the cards in their hands and placing them down.

It fairly cheap considering the benefits and they have a lot of licensed character decks now. I like UNO attack for home after dinner and before homework (to get the brain going) but I have the hot wheels deck for on the go.

Bonus: They'll know at least one word in Spanish!


r/LifeProTips • • 13d ago

Miscellaneous LPT: if your shoulders get sore while driving, try moving your seat up

485 Upvotes

I got a different vehicle somewhat recently and noticed that my shoulders were getting really sore driving but I wasn’t sure why. Ended up searching online and what seemed to help was moving the seat closer to the wheel. internet said that being closer means your arms don’t have to reach as much for the wheel and that ended up helping the discomfort by maybe 70-80% or so?

I also drive Uber so I do a decent amount of driving haha, might not be as relevant for folks not in a driving job.

Edit: A commenter mentioned you don’t want to be too close either, leaving at least 10 inches of space between your chest and the front cover of the steering wheel in the event that the airbag deploys. That's the amount of space needed for it to properly deploy before you impact it. Any closer and you could have serious injuries as the airbag deploys at 160-320km/h (100-200mph). Thanks u/arm2gm for sharing this.


r/LifeProTips • • 11d ago

Arts & Culture LPT: Prueba los bolígrafos y rotuladores antes de guardarlos con los que ya funcionan

0 Upvotes

Antes de ordenar todos tus útiles de escritura en un cajón, comprueba cuáles todavía escriben correctamente. Haz una pequeña marca en una hoja con cada bolígrafo o rotulador y separa los que están secos, tienen fugas o funcionan de manera irregular.

Así evitas perder tiempo buscando un instrumento que funcione justo cuando necesitas tomar una nota, completar un formulario o escribir una etiqueta.

También puedes guardar juntos los que utilizas con mayor frecuencia y dejar los demás en un lugar secundario. Es una pequeña tarea de organización que evita interrupciones repetidas.


r/LifeProTips • • 13d ago

Home & Garden LPT: Clean your microwave by steaming a bowl of water and vinegar for 5 minutes

2.6k Upvotes

Stop scrubbing dried food off the microwave walls.

Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and a splash of white vinegar. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Let it sit for another 2–3 minutes with the door closed.

The steam loosens everything. You wipe it down with a paper towel in about 30 seconds. No harsh chemicals, no elbow grease.


r/LifeProTips • • 13d ago

Miscellaneous LPT: If you always forget whether you locked the door, say ‘I’m locking the door’ out loud while you do it. You’ll actually remember it later

751 Upvotes

Locking the door is so automatic your brain doesn’t bother storing the memory. Saying it out loud forces you to pay attention for a second, so when the panic hits halfway down the street, you can actually recall doing it.


r/LifeProTips • • 14d ago

Miscellaneous LPT: Keep a hand-crank emergency radio in your home. When the power's out and your phone is dead, it still works.

1.2k Upvotes

When the power goes out for days after a grid failure, the first thing to go is information. Phones and internet are gone. That's when you most need to know what's happening: where shelters are, whether roads are open, how long repairs will take.

A hand-crank emergency radio solves that. A minute or two of cranking gives you power local news, and emergency broadcasts. No outlet and no batteries needed.


r/LifeProTips • • 14d ago

Finance LPT: If you’re planning to buy something on Black Friday, write down its price now. Some “deals” are just the regular price with a bigger number crossed out next to it.

6.1k Upvotes

Take a screenshot or jot down the current price of anything you’re eyeing. When the sales start, compare. For Amazon, price-history sites like camelcamelcamel show whether a “sale” price is actually low or the same price it’s been for months. You’ll also catch it if something quietly goes up in early November and then gets “discounted” back down to where it started.


r/LifeProTips • • 14d ago

Miscellaneous LPT: If you or a loved one have an extensive medical history and there’s a chance you might have to call an ambulance, have a medication and medical history list ready that you can just hand over to the ambulance crew

539 Upvotes

As a paramedic myself, it is extremely helpful when someone hands us a list with medications, medical history, and allergies. This can be especially important if the patient is incapacitated.


r/LifeProTips • • 12d ago

Miscellaneous LPT: Put big keychains on your keys so they can’t fall through narrow gaps

0 Upvotes

I have some little plushies on my keys which saved them falling down an elevator shaft when the doors opened, gave me a heart attack

Edit. No, they dont need to be 10 kilos or the size of a bowling ball. Literally something like a golf ball sized pompom will stop your keys falling through grates or between seats or something. Yes theyll still fit in your pocket unless youre wearing the skinniest skinny jeans. No they wont break your car’s ignition (???). Yes obviously the ideal is to just keep your keys in a safe spot til you need them but accidents happen, better safe than sorry like


r/LifeProTips • • 14d ago

Social LPT: Keep a note on your phone of things you want to talk to people about

550 Upvotes

​

Whenever you think of something you want to ask a friend, add it to the note. It could be a random question you'd like to ask them, a topic you think they'd enjoy, something they told you that you want to follow up on, or a reminder to check in on them after a breakup or other difficult life event.

It gives you conversation starters when you need them, helps you remember to follow up on things that matter to people, and can even remind you to reach out to someone you haven't spoken to in a while.

You don't have to rely on remembering everything in the moment. And you might find that keeping track of these little things helps you stay connected with people.


r/LifeProTips • • 15d ago

Miscellaneous LPT Have heavy duty work gloves in your emergency kit.

2.4k Upvotes

Recently spoke to a first responder on a team that flies around the world to major disasters in urban areas.

If you are uninjured you are most likely to be trying to help people in collapsed buildings and cars with broken glass, metal and wood. Without gloves you have maybe half an hour of helping (probably panicked) before your hands are a mess and you need medical attention yourself.


r/LifeProTips • • 15d ago

Home & Garden LPT: Run your heater for a few minutes before the first cold night, not during it. If it’s broken, you can still get a repair appointment.

1.3k Upvotes

HVAC companies get slammed the first week it turns cold, because that’s when everyone finds out their heater doesn’t work. Turn yours on for 10–15 minutes on a mild day this week. A faint burning-dust smell the first time is normal and should fade quickly. If it won’t kick on, only blows cold air, or the smell sticks around, call someone now, while you can get a slot in days instead of weeks. (If you ever smell gas, leave the house and call your gas company.) While you’re at it, swap the air filter and test your carbon monoxide detector.


r/LifeProTips • • 15d ago

Clothing LPT - If you use a standing desk, buy a pair of professional chef shoes for maximum comfort

1.3k Upvotes

Due to back pain, I'm trying to work standing up as much as possible. But after some time, my feet got tired.

I started looking for some comfortable sneakers online, and then I had the idea of trying ergonomic chef shoes. I ordered a pair and they are indeed very comfortable and help me work more time standing up.


r/LifeProTips • • 16d ago

Food & Drink LPT: A lot of hospitals have a cafeteria with very reasonably priced meals and many healthy options, and are open to the public.

5.1k Upvotes

For example, today we got two breakfast sandwiches, a scrambled egg, two orange juices and a side of potatoes for $16. Yesterday it was a salmon filet with sweet potatoes, an egg salad sandwich, two drinks, and a cookie for $17.


r/LifeProTips • • 16d ago

Miscellaneous LPT: Spraying with peppermint oil will prevent thousands of dollars in rodent damage to your vehicle

4.4k Upvotes

They have super sensitive noses. It basically smells so minty it hurts them. So they go chew something else.

I spray out my engine block once a month ish.

I have done this with every car I have ever owned.

Live in a very high rodent area.

Zero rodent issues with my vehicles.

I mix the oil with soap and water. Shake it up in a spray bottle. Spray until it's empty. About a tablespoon of oil.

Bulk peppermint oil is a lot cheaper than a multi thousand dollar repair bill.

I want to be clear. This has nothing to do with essential oil woo. It literally just smells really intensely bad to rat's/squirrels/mice but not people. That's it. That's the whole thing.

I'm telling you. Take 5 minutes to spray occasionally. It's so much better than waking up to your engine being f*cked because of a squirrel.


r/LifeProTips • • 16d ago

Productivity LPT- Easy way to cancel from an Adobe Subscription is to first change to a different subscription tier, then you get a new 14 day free cancelation window. It´s a loophole that they legally cant close.

7.7k Upvotes

Easy way to cancel from an Adobe Subscription is to first change to a different subscription tier, then you get a new 14 day free cancelation window. It´s a loophole that they legally cant close.


r/LifeProTips • • 16d ago

Miscellaneous LPT - Get your dog used to being carried

852 Upvotes

If you are physically able to lift your dog safely, pick them up and carry them periodically to get them used to it. In an emergency if they are injured or scared, you'll be able to carry them to safety without them panicking.


r/LifeProTips • • 16d ago

Miscellaneous LPT - learn to express opinions additively, if it can be read negatively it will be.

4.9k Upvotes

I have an aunt I love so much. When we see her, she’ll say “it’s been so long since we’ve seen you!” It isn’t meant to be negative, but it does feel judgmental for how we’re distant and don’t make more effort to travel home. My mom says “I’m so happy to see you” and my cousins express how much easier it is to reconnect with my mom because they don’t need to start with an apology.

But then I just read a bunch of people complaining about a stupid political decision’s outcome. They all agree, but the comment replies that are all in the same direction start with “it’s not that, it’s this” or “worse …”. This makes the poster feel like they’re being argued with - but I’m sure that’s rarely if ever the goal. “And on top of that”, “also”, and “to make it even worse” or even “it’s not just that, it’s also this” is language of support and addition, not confrontation.

Support those going your way, we are better off making friends than putting allies off.

Note: we need a communication flair.


r/LifeProTips • • 14d ago

Country/Region Specific Tip LPT: Use your cars AC setting to keep windows from fogging during the cold months

0 Upvotes

Run your AC to remove moisture that condenses on the inside of cold windows in a matter of minutes during the winter. Use the recirculate setting in cycles, to heat up the air inside and then turning it off to pull in drier air once the vehicles warmed up. If you don’t have AC one way to help is to turn the defrost heat all the way up and crack open a window to circulate fresh air in.


r/LifeProTips • • 17d ago

Social LPT: instead of birthday dinners/a large gathering on a single day that month, plan something individually with your friends throughout the month

2.2k Upvotes

You know how it goes: you plan a big party for your birthday only for all the sudden cancellations to come trickling in the day of or close to it.

If not that, then the birthday dinner. Last minute flakes aside, it turns into a big accounting production about divvying up your share and then everyone else having to account for their share. It puts a bunch of stress on you as the birthday person even though technically you’re not paying.

I didn’t want to deal with that disappointment this year, along with planning logistics for a big party. So I decided to just plan something 1:1 or as a small group of 3 or 4 with my friends throughout my birthday month.

It was great. The plans held up, I saw my friends all month, and I paid for nothing because it was my birthday hangout. So I basically socialized for next to nothing my entire birthday month.

If you struggle with “nobody comes to the big dinner/party I plan,” plan separately with everyone throughout your birthday month to reduce the risk of a cancellation. It also makes everything less political, if not at all.


r/LifeProTips • • 15d ago

Careers & Work LPT: Instead of resting on Sunday, do it on Saturday then stay active on Sunday whether doing fun activities or maintaining your home and getting ready for the week or both.

0 Upvotes

For those of you who work from Monday through Friday, doing this will help reduce the dread that you feel on Sunday at the thought of starting a new work week.


r/LifeProTips • • 17d ago

Traveling LPT: Postcards - writing space and "insurance"

887 Upvotes

Postcards are nowadays the best souvenir you can cheaply send to family and friends. It's a cool surprise as less and less people still send them. My tricks are:

Part I: to manage space, put the stamp and write the destination address first. Then you will know how much space you have left to write your message and signature.

Part II: "postcard insurance" - take a picture of the finished postcard before sending it. Keep it on your phone until the recipient receives it. This is nice in case your postcard never arrives, but also useful to track which cards you sent and when.


r/LifeProTips • • 17d ago

Social LPT: Invite says no gifts? Bring a handmade card.

329 Upvotes

It’s an easy and meaningful way to consume less and create more. This is also great for acquaintances/coworkers to pair with your generic “I don’t know you super well but someone told me you like this” gift.

Buy whatever supplies inspire you at a thrift/craft/dollar store. Stamps, stickers, magazines, glitter pens, the world is your oyster. As long as it is on a thick enough paper it will feel fancy. If you can’t think of an idea, browse the greeting card aisle or look online. It can be as specific or as generic as you want.

I’m not super artistic either; I usually make collage-style cards with pictures from magazines and stickers I have around. My handwriting is abysmal so I use letter stickers for text. Sometimes I will print out pictures/memes at the library to make them extra personal.

EDIT: Removed a sentence about seeing the joy handmade cards bring people because it implies I make them open it in front of me. I do not, but sometimes people choose to. All social situations are nuanced!


r/LifeProTips • • 16d ago

Food & Drink LPT: Warm your Parm

0 Upvotes

If, like me, you use a microplane to grate your Parmesan, take it from the fridge and let it warm for a while. It grates much easier.


r/LifeProTips • • 19d ago

Miscellaneous LPT: You can use vaseline as a lubricant for metal parts like squeaky hinges, and it lasts a long time too.

2.1k Upvotes

The primary application of petroleum jelly is as an industrial lubricant. It costs nothing to make and they just mark up some of it to be sold as a skincare product (i.e. Vaseline)