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Our lives have this interesting quirk: They can always be improved in one way or another. Even applying the smallest new habit or so-called hack can make a significant difference, just as a game can be improved with a cheat code.
Today we’re combining these two things and giving you a full-blown list of life cheat codes that you can start using right away. And while they might not fill your pockets full of money, as some game cheats do, they still can improve your life, even if only a little bit.
More info: Reddit
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#2
Don’t put who an email will be sent to until after you have it ready to send so you can’t accidentally send an unedited or unfinished emails.
#3
Admit your mistakes quickly and without undue apologies/ self-flagellation. Not only will people trust you more, you’ll usually move on from the mistake much faster.
If you’re a gamer, it’s likely that you know what a cheat code is. As an example, we could use the well-known game The Sims. Besides its iconic gameplay and storylines, the game is also famous for its popular cheat codes, like “motherlode”, which gives a playing household 50,000 simoleons (Sims money) or “bb.moveobjects on”, which helps the player to move objects wherever they want.
Cheat codes can be implemented either by game developers themselves, third-party software or hardware. At the same time, other games implement measures to disallow these codes, as they don’t want the players to get something by cheating instead of paying for it.
But did you know that cheat codes aren’t only applicable to video games? You can apply them to your life, too! Sounds ridiculous? Well, hear us out.
#5
If you want to change the subject in a conversation, discreetly but noticeably drop something. Make it look accidental. It will break the train of thought of the other person and allow you to restart the conversation. Old dark psychology trick.
Around 6 months ago, Reddit user u/itsliightz asked an interesting question on r/AskReddit: “Which real-life cheat codes do you know?” It showed that people online know many of them, as currently the post stands at 7.8K replies. Basically, a whole handbook of cheat codes.
Since likely no one is going to read through that many replies, we decided to make a list out of the best of them. And that’s what you’re in right now.
Still, you might wonder how a video game quirk can be applied to real life. After all, we aren’t characters with several lives on their hands, we’re real people with only one life.
#7
People like talking about themselves more than they like hearing about you. If you interact with people for work memorize 1 thing about them, could be a kids name, a sport they like, a hobby they do, their job, etc.
Ask them about it every once in a while. People are always surprised and appreciate your interest in them.
Dizzie D 2 weeks ago
This is exactly how I choose new friends since I was young. You ask them about themselves, show interest and sympathise but if this person straight up goes on and on and on without ever asking about how you are or your life when first meeting, you are in for a long ride of simply being a new shoulder to offload on. Choose friends based on mutual interest and respect. It's absolutely exhausting having anyone in your life who constantly talks about themselves and their problems. Who needs that extra stress? Works both ways. They should be there for you and you should always be there for them. Weedle the bad ones out in the beginning.
#8
Automated phone systems don’t understand nonsense. If you need to speak to a person answer the prompts with things like “chicken nuggets”. Or “ shoelace”. It will assume an error in its language system and route you to a person.
#9
A fluorescent jacket, a bogus lanyard and a clipboard will get you access to 2/3 of the places that usually aren't accessible.
Well, in reality, these cheatcodes maybe aren’t as drastic as in some games; there isn’t a “motherlode” you can type into your life (but imagine if you could, how fun would that be?). The real hacks are on a smaller scale, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make a big difference in the long run. Or just simply improve your minor day-to-day activities. As long as it’s useful, why not try it, right?
For instance, taking sugary drinks out of your everyday rotation for weight loss. Plus, doing so not only helps to lose weight, but saves your health too, as it is a well-known fact that sodas and other similar beverages can lead to diabetes, heart, kidney and many other diseases.
#10
**Managers:** give your employees the credit they deserve for everything they do, especially talk them up to *your* bosses.
This is a literal win/win. Your employees love you for respecting them, and your boss loves you for successfully managing a great team.
Too many times I see bad managers bring their own egos into the mix, feeling like they need to compete with their own employees to take credit for jobs well done. This does not have the effect they think it has.
#11
When your alarm goes off in the morning, do not think. Only react. If you sit up immidiately and start getting out of bed, it becomes a reflex. No more lying in bed for hours "trying to wake up". Now I hear my alarm and brain is alert and ready.
Bean Driller 2 weeks ago
Here's some depressing info: After 53 years of loving to sleep in, I can no longer sleep past 6am. The worst part, I was a night shift nurse for 17 years and I can't fall asleep until after 11 or 12.
#12
Confidence can get you super far. Like, if you just act extremely confident and normal and totally fine about whatever it is you're doing, anything nearly, people wont question it. You're supposed to be here, just walk on in. Or out, or whatever. That's the attitude to have. I cannot believe how well this works for some of the nicest people as well as the biggest jerks alive. It works.
This article alone provides 50 additional cheat codes, like learning a new language by watching kids' shows, bringing a healthy snack to work or not comparing yourself to others. Then, there are Reddit threads like the one discussed today. If you want, you can surely find a hack that you would like to try out yourself.
As you can see, real-life cheat codes can vary from serious to completely silly ones. It’s up to each person to see how any of them fit into their life and (hopefully) improve it.
Do you know any real-life cheat codes that weren’t mentioned in this list? Share them with us in the comments!
#13
Do a little bit every day.
Sue 2 weeks ago
I do a lot of housework like this. Walk in my room? Put away at least 3 pieces of clothing. Walk in the kitchen? Unload at least 3 dishes? Walk in the living room, take out 3 things that don't below & put them away. I usually end up doing the whole thing, but because I know I don't have to all of it now, it's easier to just say, "Ooooh, one more."
#14
I got a job as security at a concert venue because ticket prices were getting to be insane and I wanted to see some shows. Turns out I also got to meet some rock stars!
Geoffrey Scott 1 week ago
Daughter was security at the local Casino. She saw a lot of acts, was goofed on by Sinbad, was respected by the ones who weren't ashholes,and got us primo seats and meet and greets.
#15
Diarrhea is the best excuse to get out of anything. No one questions it and no one expects you to go to a doctor for it.
R Dennis 2 weeks ago
No. I very nearly had an issue in the car. I started speeding up and was pulled over. I was nauseous, sweating, and almost in tears. The cop who wrote me the ticket took his time. I got off at the next stop and just barely made it into the McDonald's. (That was the closest bathroom, so that was where I was trying to go.) Maybe people tell him that all the time, but I wasn't lying...
#16
Obeying the rules when you drive dramatically reduces your chances of crashing.
#17
Cutting out daily drinks with sugar like sodas or frappacinos really helps with weight loss if you do nothing else.
#18
Make people laugh within a minute of meeting them. They will remember you and help you.
#19
Very hot water temporarily takes away the itchiness of bug bites and poison oak/ivy/sumac.
Just listening to people is almost as good as being able to read minds. Most people will cheerfully reveal exactly what they're thinking if you just listen quietly. It could be through what they say, what they don't say, or their body language.
Your own ego causes 99% of the trouble you face.
#21
Always play dumb, always. Don’t let them know your moves.
#22
Being willing to show up and work is more valuable than being the most knowledgeable or skillful.
#23
The more you understand, the less you have to memorize. Understanding is a knowledge compression algorithm.
ex: pythagorean theorem = distance formula = formula for a circle.
Bean Driller 2 weeks ago
I get into trouble for always asking why. It is how I remember things-why I am doing them. Why it works that way. Mindless memorization is so hard for me.
#24
For me it was “maintain a healthy weight” which most people think is to help your overall health, and yes that’s very true, but from a pain standpoint it’s really great.
Like several of you (I’m sure) I’m just in pain all the time. Maybe it’s my back, or my neck, or my knees, but god damn if getting from the beginning of the day to the end of the day doesn’t hurt.
Turns out, losing weight and keeping that under control (which means adding in the gym a few times a week and watching what I eat for 4-5 days a week) makes all that pain go away. And in hindsight I knew this but to actually feel it was a world of difference.
Someone once told me “you suffer alone” and it’s true. You also feel good alone. So, better to have the latter of the two options.
Tabitha 2 weeks ago (edited)
Plus, if you diet and exercise like crazy but can’t seem to lose weight, get your thyroid checked. Avoid endocrinologists, as they’re more concerned with diabetes, and really not up to snuff for hypo- or hyper- thyroidism. Try a hormone specialist instead. The endo will only do a TSH test, which is a joke and doesn’t really tell them (or anyone) anything. The hormone specialist will do the full range of thyroid tests, and will get a more accurate picture of what’s going on. I have hypothyroidism, which was epigenetically triggered by menopause. The endo I went to first actually f****d up, gave me the worst wrong meds, made everything way way worse to the point where I was in so much pain and so exhausted all the time that I just wanted to curl up and die—-and their only solution was to increase the dosage of those wrong meds! Doctors should be in the business of making you feel better, not so much worse that death would be preferable! So I fired them and went to a hormone specialist, who absolutely saved me, by accurately diagnosing my issue and putting me on the only thyroid meds that worked. I’m 64 now, and have been on them for almost ten years now. I’m at the right weight for my height without starving myself, there’s no real pressure on my joints, any old age aches and pains are minimal (and I had tendon surgery on my left knee several years ago, plus fractured that ankle when I was a teenager), and I honestly feel better than I did when I was in my forties. Sometimes weight issues are not just a matter of eating less and exercising, but are a legitimate medical condition.
#25
When reheating rice in the microwave, put a little bit of water in the bowl so it heats up fluffy again.
#26
To learn something repeat it to yourself three times on the day you learn it, two more times the next day, once the day after that, and you know it (most of the time).
Shelby Moonheart 2 weeks ago
My husband tells me every morning, "Good Morning, I love you." Three times. Faith comes by hearing. What you hear, you have faith in. So be careful what you listen to.
#27
When someone's wrong on the internet, type out what you want to say, then delete it once you've got it out of your system. It's incredibly cathartic; As you organize your sources and logic, you get the time to sort out what you think and why, and you can calm down a bit as you let reason take the wheel instead of your emotions, which lets you realize that nothing you say matters to them anyway.
If you find that your finished product is particularly well-written, feel free to save it off to the side as a sort of personal study, if you want.
Excellent zen hack.
#28
Worked at a call center for a credit card company. If you ever get hit with a late fee, politely call customer service and ask if there’s a possibility of getting it waived. We didn’t have to ask a supervisor or anything, just pushed it through.
Have done this multiple times now for my own cards. Don’t pay late fees!
Editing to add: if you do call customer service and they help you out PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stay on the line and fill out the survey and give them all perfect scores. We got big bonuses on our scores and it really meant a lot when people took the time to do it.
If you want to complain do it in the comments box not on the actual scores. One bad score can tank the bonuses even if it was a bad rating on the product and not the service provided by the agent.
Tabitha 2 weeks ago (edited)
Also, don’t yell and cuss and be nasty—-especially if you cross the line into personal verbal abuse. You really don’t get as far with that kind of behavior than you do if you’re calm and polite, but still firm in what you need. Plus, if you understand that the first person you speak to has the least authority, then you’ll also understand that your satisfaction may not be immediate. If they can’t help you, then nicely ask if there’s a supervisor available—but be sure to let them know it’s nothing they did but that you understand they can only do so much, so someone higher might have just enough authorization to do more to solve your problem. Please, please, please do NOT vent all your anger at that front line person, then have it all out of your system by the time you talk to their boss! You’re abusing the wrong person. Yell at the damned boss, ffs, as they’re probably more involved in whatever f**k up you’re complaining about than the poor kid who just answers the phone for a living. Save your anger for the person at fault, ffs!
Bat cat in a hat 1 week ago
If I feel I'm getting too exasperated, I say "look, I know it's not your fault and you're just doing your job, but I'm really frustrated so I apologise in advance if I get a bit b****y". Probably not very helpful for the poor customer service person but at least they know I'm aware of my actions
Load More Replies...
Kathy Brooke 1 week ago
Also remember if you have a problem with something it's with the Company, not the assistant on the phone. I often even say "I'm not cross at you, it's know this isn't your fault". Surprisingly that makes them want to help you!
Manana Man 1 week ago
Used to work at a help line. I would say "well, that language doesn't bother me but some people here would have already hung up on you by now." They don't feel confronted and you've left them an out. They always apologized.
Sue 2 weeks ago
Same with credit cards charging monthly fees. First year was free, so I went to cancel the next year, but they took off the charges. The problem is you had to do this every 6 months, so once my credit was better, I cancelled that card permanently. They made it difficult though.
#29
Saying "hello" in an unexpected way knocks the person you're talking to out of their groove and changes how they interact with you. Instead of "how's it going?" I say "how's life treating you?" and get a more engaged interaction.
#30
Learnt this today in first aid: use a syringe to suction out a splinter.
#31
Get enough sleep:.
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 2 weeks ago
Sure, unless you have a sleep disorder. Some of us would love to get enough sleep but the body isn't cooperating.
#32
The Infinite yogurt glitch:
All you need to make more yogurt is milk and a little yogurt. Repeat as necessary.
What do you think ?
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 2 weeks ago
Be like Scotty (Star Trek): when giving an estimate of how long the task will take, double the time. If you get it done in half the time you're a hero, and if something happens then you have extra time already built in.
Lost Panda 1 week ago
We always referred to this as "Give them a blanket and yourself a pillow"
Load More Replies... ANTIVICTORIA 6 days ago
The only remotely useful life-hack I saw here was to put a little water in your food(rice) when you microwave it. Which I already knew.
Ron Man 2 weeks ago
What was the cheating here? Maybe I'm just seeing the top ones
Load More Replies... LonelyLittleLeafSheep 2 weeks ago
Be like Scotty (Star Trek): when giving an estimate of how long the task will take, double the time. If you get it done in half the time you're a hero, and if something happens then you have extra time already built in.
Lost Panda 1 week ago
We always referred to this as "Give them a blanket and yourself a pillow"
Load More Replies... ANTIVICTORIA 6 days ago
The only remotely useful life-hack I saw here was to put a little water in your food(rice) when you microwave it. Which I already knew.
Ron Man 2 weeks ago
What was the cheating here? Maybe I'm just seeing the top ones
Load More Replies... You May Like 30 Life Hacks People Have Used Since They Discovered Them Because They Actually Work 30 Harsh Life Realities 20-Somethings Don’t Realize Yet, According To People In Their 40s
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