Life Skills(Page 2)

Research-backed advice to make your daily life a little better—or at least a little easier.

Latest in Life Skills

a sandwich cut into a y shape

Is the Y cut the best way to slice a sandwich? Is the Y cut the best way to slice a sandwich?

Amsterdam, Netherlands - 10 April, 2021: a chair in front of a book shelf with many books on it and a lamp sitting next to the chair

How to protect your books long term How to protect your books long term

By Debbie Wolfe

oats, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, honey, and aloe vera on a kitchen counter top

11 home remedies for mosquito bites to battle the itch 11 home remedies for mosquito bites to battle the itch

By Debbie Wolfe

How to cram for an exam

How to cram for an exam How to cram for an exam

By Jonathan Firth / The Conversation

A studio shot of a heap of Nintendo games shot from above.

Why you should still buy physical copies of video games Why you should still buy physical copies of video games

A phone with water in the speaker

How to get water out of your phone speaker How to get water out of your phone speaker

By Abby Ferguson

Closeup image of a hand writing down on a white blank notebook on wooden table

Why writing by hand is better for remembering things Why writing by hand is better for remembering things

Redhead girl sitting on green spring grass writing down her thoughts in notebook.

Why you should journal while soaking up nature Why you should journal while soaking up nature

By Alisha McDarris

Used coffee grounds on the paper filter

10 clever ways to reuse coffee grounds 10 clever ways to reuse coffee grounds

By Debbie Wolfe

a bowl of nuts, dried fruit

Chew on trail mix with these 6 crunchy and tasty recipes Chew on trail mix with these 6 crunchy and tasty recipes

a black bike helmet dangles from the handlebars of a bicycle

6 things you didn’t know had expiration dates 6 things you didn’t know had expiration dates

smoke from a fire in front of the sun and over forests

How YOU can prevent wildfires How YOU can prevent wildfires

By Alisha McDarris

Dog sitting in nature in sunglasses

Are you wearing the right sunglasses? How to prevent eye sunburn. Are you wearing the right sunglasses? How to prevent eye sunburn.

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

a couple wearing glasses sits on the grass watching the eclipse

How to look at the eclipse without damaging your eyes How to look at the eclipse without damaging your eyes

By Claire Maldarelli

the ring of the sun during a solar eclipse

How to photograph solar eclipse: The only guide you need How to photograph solar eclipse: The only guide you need

By Stan Horaczek

two sets of legs walking on a wooden boardwalk

The benefits of barefoot shoes: A beginner’s guide The benefits of barefoot shoes: A beginner’s guide

By Alisha McDarris

illustration of two people in bed, one sleeping, one awake

How to fix your sleep schedule without pulling an all-nighter How to fix your sleep schedule without pulling an all-nighter

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

citizen science vacation

How ordinary travelers can become citizen scientists How ordinary travelers can become citizen scientists

By Alisha McDarris

Laundry room with modern appliaces

How to clean your washer and dryer (and why you should) How to clean your washer and dryer (and why you should)

By Abby Ferguson

three stories of round library shelves

Every subscription you can cancel by going to the library Every subscription you can cancel by going to the library

three colored bamboo toothbrushes in a ceramic glass on green background

To rinse or not to rinse? You might be brushing your teeth wrong. To rinse or not to rinse? You might be brushing your teeth wrong.

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

a woman in a pushup position on the floor

A beginner-friendly guide to the perfect push-up A beginner-friendly guide to the perfect push-up

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

a pile of white and brown sweaters

How to store winter clothes during the warmer months How to store winter clothes during the warmer months

By Abby Ferguson

How to Fat Bike

How to Fat Bike How to Fat Bike

By Alisha McDarris

Water bladder on your bike, water reservoir

How to clean your hydration bladder before your next hike or workout How to clean your hydration bladder before your next hike or workout

By Alisha McDarris

Here are a few tips to get you started on your morning.

How to wake up How to wake up

By Abby Ferguson

skiing on a slope

How to learn to ski and snowboard (The right way) How to learn to ski and snowboard (The right way)

By Alisha McDarris

A top row of red Craftman cordless drills, a second row of screwdrivers by Klein Tools, a third row of circular saws by DeWalt, and a fourth row of the Ryobi Multi Tool.

The best gifts for DIYers The best gifts for DIYers

By Bob Beacham, Brandt Ranj, Jen McCaffery, Tony Carrick

Ozempic weight loss drug injectable on red background

The unintended side effects of popular weight loss drugs The unintended side effects of popular weight loss drugs

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Men making friends and fishing together with thermal cups

Our evolving ideas about friendship can help fight loneliness Our evolving ideas about friendship can help fight loneliness

By Jessica D. Ayers / The Conversation

A honey-infused Bee's Knees cocktail on a white plate on a table next to a jar of honey, some lemons, and a honey dipper.

The science behind mixing honey into cocktails The science behind mixing honey into cocktails

By Noah Lederman

A woman wearing ultraviolet makeup or body paint on half her face, standing under a blacklight.

4 science tricks to scare up a better Halloween costume 4 science tricks to scare up a better Halloween costume

Two older men working in a well-lit white room, using two different types of saws to cut wood: a jigsaw and a miter saw.

A woodworker’s guide to choosing the right saw for each cut A woodworker’s guide to choosing the right saw for each cut

By Jean Levasseur

A person holding a smartphone featuring Duolingo, one of the best free language learning apps.

The best free language learning apps for building your vocabulary and conversational skills The best free language learning apps for building your vocabulary and conversational skills

By Stacey L. Nash

A person walking barefoot across a fallen tree trunk in a forest.

How to start hiking barefoot, if you’re into that kind of thing How to start hiking barefoot, if you’re into that kind of thing

By Alisha McDarris

A young Black person with short dyed-blonde hair wearing a yellow jacket and eclipse glasses while looking up at an eclipse in front of some residential buildings.

How to watch Saturday’s ‘ring of fire’ eclipse from wherever you are How to watch Saturday’s ‘ring of fire’ eclipse from wherever you are

By John Kennedy

Person cooking whole pumpkin and roasting pumpkin seeds to get pumpkin health benefits

Why you should be eating more pumpkin this fall Why you should be eating more pumpkin this fall

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A drawer inside a cabinet, after someone has installed the drawer slides to hold it in place.

The fastest way to install drawer slides The fastest way to install drawer slides

By Jean Levasseur

Purple, blue, and white meteors fall at night during October stargazing

A ‘ring of fire’ eclipse and Hunter’s Moon will bring lunar drama to October’s skies A ‘ring of fire’ eclipse and Hunter’s Moon will bring lunar drama to October’s skies

By Laura Baisas

Person talking to a therapist, probably talking about overcoming their fears of therapy.

5 common concerns about therapy and how to overcome them 5 common concerns about therapy and how to overcome them

By Alexandra Frost

Loud concerts are wrecking your ears

Loud concerts are wrecking your ears Loud concerts are wrecking your ears

By Cory Portnuff / The Conversation

A lineup of the best language software on a blue and white background

The best language learning software The best language learning software

By Nicholas Ware

A man wearing a black shirt and a white baseball cap looking down while many dead leaves fall and fly around him, probably as he's trying to get the leaves off his lawn.

The best way to get rid of leaves this fall The best way to get rid of leaves this fall

By Jillian Mock

A woman sitting in her living room looking at her smartphone while sitting on her yoga mat.

The best workout apps for all kinds of exercise The best workout apps for all kinds of exercise

By Stacey L. Nash

A smartphone screen displaying the Google Maps app icon.

How to share your location on Google Maps How to share your location on Google Maps

By Tony Carrick

Someone filling a glass of water probably wondering if there are PFAS in it.

2 ways of knowing if there are PFAS in your drinking water 2 ways of knowing if there are PFAS in your drinking water

Person putting on a fresh knitted sweater

How to get your stale-smelling clothes ready for sweater weather How to get your stale-smelling clothes ready for sweater weather

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Person with curly black hair and brown skin rinsing shampoo off after washing hair

Are you washing your hair too much or not enough? Are you washing your hair too much or not enough?

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Stressed person probably wondering if they're suffering from burnout

Are you burned out? Here’s how your body might be telling you. Are you burned out? Here’s how your body might be telling you.

By Neha Sangwan

Kid with blonde hair wearing a blue COVID mask holding books and a backpack on the first day of school

How to avoid getting COVID again How to avoid getting COVID again

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

person learning how to use trekking poles

Learn how to use trekking poles and improve your time on the trail Learn how to use trekking poles and improve your time on the trail

By Alisha McDarris

A laptop on a desk, probably with Apple apps for Windows installed

You can use many of your Apple apps on Windows. Here’s how. You can use many of your Apple apps on Windows. Here’s how.

Supermoon and full moon closeup

The upcoming ‘blue supermoon’ will be the biggest of the year The upcoming ‘blue supermoon’ will be the biggest of the year

By Rachel Feltman

Person carefully hiking uphill

6 uphill hiking tips to prevent your legs from turning into jelly 6 uphill hiking tips to prevent your legs from turning into jelly

By Alisha McDarris

Person smiling with airpods on

How to clean AirPods and other headphones How to clean AirPods and other headphones

Doxycycline antibiotic pill for STI and STD prevention on a coral background

This ‘morning after’ pill could prevent STIs from unprotected sex This ‘morning after’ pill could prevent STIs from unprotected sex

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Brown-skinned child with black braids at the grocery store holding ripe fruit like pineapple and papaya in arms

Pick the sweetest, ripest fruit with this science-based guide Pick the sweetest, ripest fruit with this science-based guide

By Sara Chodosh

A person sits with their laptop on their legs and Amazon open in their browser to figure out how to cancel Amazon Prime.

How to cancel Amazon Prime in 5 easy steps How to cancel Amazon Prime in 5 easy steps

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

person holds hand to ear, old magazine illustration

This gadget from 1930 let people ‘talk’ to the dead—with a magic trick This gadget from 1930 let people ‘talk’ to the dead—with a magic trick

By Bill Gourgey

best smoke detectors sliced header

The best smoke detectors, according to experts The best smoke detectors, according to experts

By Brandon Russell

A notebook with Spanish verb conjugations, written probably in the process of learning two languages simultaneously

You should learn two languages at once You should learn two languages at once

By Amanda Svachula

Amber tree sap dripping from a branch.

How to keep tree sap from ruining your car’s paint How to keep tree sap from ruining your car’s paint

By Maddi Langweil

antique store furniture

Pro tips for buying high-quality used furniture—and keeping it looking new Pro tips for buying high-quality used furniture—and keeping it looking new

By Carla Delgado

A homemade electrolyte drink that's a pale green lime color, on a cutting board next to some lime slices and sugar.

2 easy homemade electrolyte drinks that actually work 2 easy homemade electrolyte drinks that actually work

By Alisha McDarris