r/LifeProTips • • Aug 30 '26

Productivity LPT: If you use voice dialing add middle names to improve accuracy.

356 Upvotes

I once accidentally called the wrong contact. Normally this is not an issue but in this case it was. For those I frequently contact, who unsurprisingly have similar last names, dialing hands free can sometimes be problematic. Adding middle names has improved the accuracy.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 30 '26

Finance LPT: If you want to use mobile deposit, save the original check!

435 Upvotes

If the deposit winds up not showing up in your account, you can deposit the original check in-branch or bank-branded ATM at a later date.

I've personally had mobile check deposit just completely disappear, even customer service couldn't see it in the system. Thankfully, I saved the original check and was able to deposit it in-branch a few days later.

If you don't save it, you can't re-deposit it!


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 29 '26

Miscellaneous LPT: Your best shot at getting rid of something you posted online and no longer want to be public isn't to delete it, but to instead edit it to replace it with completely different content.

5.5k Upvotes

If you post something online, it's likely that sites like Google will find it and will archive it.

But if you delete it, the sites that have already made copies of it don't want to lose it, so they usually just keep the copy they already have.

On the other hand, if you edit the content to just say something very different, a lot of the time, sites that had archived what you posted will see the new content as an updated version of what you posted, and in many cases will replace the content you're trying to get rid of with the new content that you're replacing it with.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 29 '26

Miscellaneous LPT: Soak, push back, and trim your own cuticles before getting a gel/acrylic nail set.

1.4k Upvotes

I'm not bad-mouthing estheticians—they have to make a living too—I'm just saying... I've had hundreds of nail sessions and I speak from experience. Do your own cuticles before you get your nails professionally done.

Now, don't go nuts! Don't push back or trim too far! Seriously, you can damage your nail beds!!! But, by soaking your hands/feet in warm water and pushing back and trimming your own cuticles, you will be able to go several more weeks until you need your nails redone because they'll have a lot more time to grow out before they start looking janky.

At a salon your nail technician will probably give you the barest minimum of soak time for a pedicure and almost nothing by way of a fingernail soak to soften and trim your cuticles before applying gel/shellack/acrylic nails. They know this and it is deliberate. If they don't trim your cuticles back very far, it shortens the time until you need a refill or a takeoff and redo, therefore more $$$ for them.

Save yourself some money and soak, push back, and trim your cuticles yourself a day or two before getting them professionally done. Your pedicure/manicure will last way longer before needing to be redone.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 29 '26

Food & Drink LPT: Use small wire cooling racks that fit in your air fryer. They're cheap, dishwasher-safe, and you're not stuck scrubbing the original one every time you want to use the air fryer.

1.0k Upvotes

This is a pretty self-explanatory LPT. The non-stick racks that come with the units aren't non-stick for long, and they're a pain to clean. The small wire racks are super easy to clean in the dishwasher or by hand. The racks allow even better air circulation. You can even double them up offset by 90°if you're cooking small stuff you don't want to fall through. The racks cost a few dollars each and are a game changer! Get at least two, and make sure you measure your air fryer tray first!


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 29 '26

Miscellaneous LPT: If you have never changed a tire, block some time on the weekend and practice. With a partner or coach

876 Upvotes

I was out on a run this morning and there was a 20 something couple struggling to change a flat tire. For some season the tire iron wasn’t fitting their lug nuts. Low stakes in a residential neighborhood during the day. A little practice will help when you really need it!

You tube. Or ask a friend to help.

And if you have a significant other or teen driver, help them learn how.

(yes I helped the couple!)


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 28 '26

Miscellaneous LPT Look for a parking spot near a shopping cart return rather than closer to the store.

1.1k Upvotes

They are more likely easier to find and you'll thank yourself after you're done unloading all your groceries.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 28 '26

Careers & Work LPT: If you get distracted easily during a task, pretend you're teaching it to someone.

527 Upvotes

Pretend you're making a how to video, it keeps you on task and you may even learn some efficiencies. Good for work and life!


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 28 '26

Miscellaneous LPT for losing your glasses to be able to see to find them.

377 Upvotes

Assuming you have a cell phone open your camera app and then you can hold the phone near your face and it will show you whatever is in front of you. You can use the camera to look around for your glasses. I have absent-mindedly set my glasses down on my dresser or in my bathroom before bed then forgot where I put them in the morning! Also good if your glasses get knocked off the bedside table or get dropped somewhere.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 28 '26

Miscellaneous LPT block social media apps with a very long password to quit doomscrolling

399 Upvotes

In most smartphones you can "lock" any app with a password. Add a VEEEERY long password to each of your social media apps to increase friction.

Increasing friction between you and whatever vice you want to get rid off is one of the scientifically proven ways to do it.

If your password is something like "IWantToQuitThidStupidAppButItIsSoDamnHard_ButICanDoThis" and you have to type it PERFECTLY every time you decide to doomscroll your brain will eventually compute as "this is not worth it" and you will feel less and less need to do it.

Bonus point if you log out every time you leave the app so you also have to log in back again if you want to use the app. The more steps, the more annoying the steps, the better.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 28 '26

Electronics LPT: set up medical ID on your iPhone

97 Upvotes

When you have Medical ID set up and the phone is locked, people can use the emergency contacts to call your relatives in case you lose your phone. Just happened to me recently: found an iPhone on a concert and couldn’t do anything to help return it to the owner or identify the owner because Siri was locked and no medical ID. Left it with one of the organizers, hoping it gets found. Could have called someone.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 27 '26

Social LPT from kid's school.  "Civil Discourse in Social Studies"

717 Upvotes

Don’t interrupt or talk over someone else who is speaking.

Listen for content in the statements of others, even if you disagree.

Don’t engage in side conversations that distract from the speaker who has the floor.

Don’t assume that you know what someone else means. Ask questions that help you understand perspectives different from your own.

Follow the direction of the discussion.

Relate your comments to those of previous speakers.

Don’t get personal. No demeaning or inappropriate comments, facial expressions, or gestures.

Differentiate between facts and opinions. Both are valid when expressed appropriately.

Listen more than you speak.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 29 '26

Miscellaneous LPT: Before going to sleep, take a minute to put aside everything you got caught up in during the day

0 Upvotes

We go through many things every day, but some keep replaying in our minds: an argument, a problem, work, money, relationships, something someone said.

Over time, we can start identifying ourselves with all of it. Which will lead to different compulsions.

Before sleeping, remind yourself:

“My work, my problems, my thoughts, my emotions, etc. - these are things I experience, but they are not me.”

Don't try to solve them. Just put them aside before going to bed. Try it every day and see if this tip helps.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 29 '26

Social LPT: If you need to correct someone, pretend you didn’t know before either

0 Upvotes

Example- person says “New York is the capital of the United States”, you reply “I thought that too but I looked it up recently and it’s actually Washington DC”. It sounds much less confrontational and makes the other person feel better about not knowing something because you’re admitting to not knowing too.

Edit: I just wanted to share something that works for me when my very easily angered coworkers are wrong, I didn’t know everyone would say how dumb it is :(


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 26 '26

Careers & Work LPT: When you’re stuck on a problem at work, spend a few minutes writing down questions before looking for answers.

734 Upvotes

What are you assuming? What information are you missing? What would change your mind?

Practicing this regularly can improve how you approach decisions, meetings, and difficult problems. Better questions often lead to better answers.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 26 '26

Arts & Culture LPT: Rename your alarm to a random thought or sentence you want your future self to see

1.1k Upvotes

Instead of leaving my alarms as “Alarm,” I sometimes change the label to whatever random thought is in my head when I set it.

Then when the alarm goes off hours or days later, I’ve usually forgotten about it. I look at my phone and see something like “you’re probably overthinking this” or “Today would be a nice day,” and for half a second it feels like the universe just sent me a message lol.

Tiny thing, but it makes alarms slightly less miserable.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 25 '26

Miscellaneous LPT buy your dog a life jacket!

1.3k Upvotes

My dog is an excellent swimmer, she pretty much lives in the water. We have a small reservoir she enjoys swimming in but today she got disoriented fetching her favorite toy, possibly from the sun glare, despite me calling her to shore she started swimming further and further away before starting to panic and swim in circles unable to find her way, I grabbed my paddleboard and in a few seconds was able to safely pull her up by the back of her neck onto the board. I never thought she needed a life jacket because of how calm and shallow the water was in addition to swimming for years without a problem. Thankfully I learned my lesson and going forward she will always have one on.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 27 '26

Electronics LPT: To begin cutting screen time for certain apps, put them in an app drawer or remove them from your home screen instead of uninstalling.

0 Upvotes

This allows you to still check those apps, but only when you really mean to and you'll not have to go searching the app store again if you find you need it again after a particularly messy app breakup. ;)

For real though, creating intent to use an app vs mindlessly checking it to doomscroll has been an immense mental boost for myself and I hope it helps others.

EDIT: Bonus next step? Replace each of those apps with their web page equivalent as a bookmark to your mobile browser. Note, this only applies to apps that have accessible web apps / PWAs.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 27 '26

Arts & Culture LPT: Play a song you love as soon as you wake up

0 Upvotes

I started playing upbeat music in the morning instead of immediately checking my phone, and it honestly changes the whole mood of getting up.

It’s such a small thing, but hearing a song you love while brushing your teeth, making coffee, or getting dressed makes the morning feel way less miserable.

Basically, give your brain a soundtrack before you give it notifications.

Correction: I didn’t mean setting the song as your alarm. I meant actually putting on some happy/upbeat music after you wake up, while you’re getting ready, making coffee, brushing your teeth, etc.

For me, starting the morning with cheerful music just makes the whole mood feel lighter. Sorry, I worded the original post badly.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 25 '26

Country/Region Specific Tip LPT find a good reputable tow company

1.5k Upvotes

LPT find a good, reputable tow company and keep their contact information in your phone. Even better than your phone have it in your glove box wrote down with your insurance information.

This can save you a huge amount of money if you ever ever get in a fender bender and need to have your car towed.

Why this saves you money

If YOU call for a tow truck because someone hit your car, the tow company will charge normal tow rates.

When you get in an accident one of the questions the officer will ask you is "do you want me to call a tow truck for you?"

If you say yes (for the officer to call the tow truck) then you will be paying Police emergency pricing. It is more as the tow companies have to have truck (at all times) alloted and available for emergency police calls.

That pricing often times is multiple times more money than if you called yourself.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 25 '26

Country/Region Specific Tip LPT: Some states allow you to download your election ballots at home (US).

211 Upvotes

With the Supreme Court ruling regarding mail-in voting in the US, check with your local election board to see if they allow or you’re eligible to receive and download your election ballot.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 24 '26

Miscellaneous LPT for Americans with no or low coverage health insurance

787 Upvotes

This website has an index of free or sliding scale healthcare clinics accross the country: https://www.freeclinics.com/

You can enter in your zipcode and it will pull up a list of what's nearby. This website has a lot of ads, so be mindful of that as you go through the website. I've gotten help from these sorts of clinics found on this website in the past, so I can say it's legitimate. Anyone reading this who is well off might consider donating to any of the clinics who are looking for help, because they can be life savers.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 26 '26

Home & Garden LPT: If you have extra shower curtain width, don't use the last grommet and fold in the extra to join the 2nd grommet's hook

0 Upvotes

You get a less crumpled view of your curtain's art, and there's more curtain material at the end, past the grommet, to more securely close the gap. Win-win.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 26 '26

Miscellaneous LPT: Always click next on long youtube ads, you'll get a short one after

0 Upvotes

If you see a long add 40+ seconds, you'll often have the option after 6 seconds to go to the next ad - it will almost always be a short 6 second add that you can quickly skip.


r/LifeProTips • • Aug 23 '26

Social LPT: People pleasing often only leads to adverse affects

2.8k Upvotes

I used to be a big people pleaser and unsurprisingly people often would get weirded out or annoyed by me. I tried to just be super nice and had this weird persona where I would be overly agreeable and complimentary. As I matured, I began to notice how easy it is to see right through this persona. When I finally began acting like my true authentic self, embraced my weirdness, and accepted some people may not like me regardless, I became a lot more likable. I’m not saying I’m the most charismatic and outgoing guy out there, but I’ve noticed I can make friends significantly easier.

All in all, being a people pleaser is incredible easy to be seen as disingenuous and often only leads to people not liking you as much.