OT: Your best Life Hacks to share with the board.

I bake a good amount and rather than using white all-purpose flour, I use whole wheat pastry flour, which I think is marginally healthier than the white stuff. In cookies, muffins, and pancakes, there's very little difference in taste and texture. I also add around 1/4 cup ground flaxseed to baked goods, even cookies.

I use carrot juice to cook rice and couscous - just replace all or part of the liquid with the carrot juice. I generally go 3/4 carrot and 1/4 broth or water.

When I make pesto, instead of basil, I use Italian parsley. Huge amounts of vitamin c, and it's available all year round. Blanch it first in boiling water, then shock it in ice water, to keep the bright green color. The parsley pesto goes really well with mushrooms, roasted carrots and cauliflower, too. 

If you’re into hard-boiled eggs, try baking them instead of boiling them. Put the eggs in a muffin tin in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Then put them in an ice bath for 10. I find it easier than actually boiling.

Food stuck to the inside of your microwave?

Get a bowl of water and add lemon juice. Microwave it for a couple mins (creates a lemon steam bath). Wait a couple mins and then wipe down.

My best life hack is to spend as little time as possible on the internet and social media.

Don't get married.

Marriage is the #1 cause of divorce world-wide.

When I order a fountain drink from a drive-through I always request it without ice. The beverage mix must be kept cold in the machine (it's disgusting if not), so you're still getting a refreshing and cold drink. The ice they put in merely occupies volume that allows them to sell you less of what you actually want to drink. 

I remember when these were called "tips."

This sounds dopey, but I swear it can help your reputation at work:  Look busy and dedicated.  If you are heading somewhere, walk quickly.  Occasionally furrow your brow, carry a folder, that kind of thing. 

Of course, I would also say you should put genuine effort into your job.  But don't forget to project your good work ethic to people who may only see you occasionally or briefly during the day.

Prep walls well, wash w/TSP (real stuff to pit existing surface, but wear gloves, stuff is strong), let dry well, fans, err on drying too long bc any residual water will screw up surface, bubble

Quality tinted primer, targeted to deep color paint (get from same paint store)

Quality roller

Use very freshly mixed paint, deep colors tend to settle quickly, so go from paint store and paint immediately

When painting, use shop lights, after painting each coat ventilate w/low air flow-rate fan

Apply each extra coat as soon as recommended

Expect more than two coats, I did a bright red room w/five (ouch), but I’m OCD, and that was pre-tinted primer days

Or, hire a pro.  Expensive, but sometimes worth it. 

When at a fast food restaurant, ask for a slight change to your sandwich (extra pickles, no lettuce, etc.) so they can't give you what's been sitting under the heatlamp for the past hour.

Invest in index funds. Start saving or investing EARLY.

Never be afraid to end a relationship, work or romantic or otherwise. I can think of many that went on too long but none I regretted ending.

Think on the margin.

Remember the Pareto principle, loosely, you get 80% of the benefit of a thing from the first 20% you spend on it.

When you're parenting, effort is everything. Hustle, work, and put in the time.

In almost everything, a little bit every day is far better than a couple huge chunks.

Know your priorities in order - family, faith/philosophy, work, friends, fun - and make decisions accordingly.

1. When shopping for plane tickets, always use an incognito window to avoid having ticket prices increased based on your browsing/searching history.

2. Opening news articles in incognito windows will allow you to bypass almost all "___ articles in a month" restrictions for major newspapers. 

3. When peeling a hard or soft boiled egg, only peel the end. Once you can fit a spoon between the shell and the white, use the spoon to trace the egg white and the entire egg will pop right out.

Face your computer monitor away from the door at your office, so you can check MGoBlog but people will think you're working.

I assume most of the posters on here are an older crowd, but here are some life hacks for incoming college students: 

1.) Never ever resort to the all-nighter. It never ends well.

2.) If your professor has office hours, stop by and visit, even if you have nothing to talk about. 

3.) Be friendly to your RA. As a former RA, I know for a fact that RA's have favorites and they let their favorites get away with a lot. They also have good advice. 

4.) For the most part, make sure you get good sleep. However if you have a big test, I've always found it beneficial to wake up early and do a cram session the day of. The information stays fresh. 

5.) Don't limit your social circle to the people in your dorm. People will go their separate ways at the end of the year, go to different living situations, and it becomes harder to maintain contact with them. Join some kind of club or activity. 

 

Listen up boys - Always Always pull out before the age of 29.You will thank me and yourself later in life. 

I have a coworker who bought Efferdent at a dollar store to clean her coffee mug. It didn't work at all. When I was in vacation, I came back to find my mug was spotless. I was shocked it actually worked. It hasn't been cleaned like that in 3 years.