Life Skills(Page 5)

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

Latest in Life Skills

A bald man wearing a dust respirator and earmuffs working in a woodshop and milling his own wood to make it straight.
DIY

Every woodworker should know how to mill their own boards

By Jean Levasseur

Restroom sign with figures in a holding position
DIY

What to do when you’re trying not to poop

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

A young man standing among numerous houseplants and looking at his phone in front of a white wall with an acoustic guitar hung on it.
DIY

A bit of care can keep your houseplants from sheltering harmful mold

By Ellen Airhart

woodshop wall covered in hanging tools
DIY

3 reasons to join your local makerspace

By Jean Levasseur

Serving Turkish coffee cup
DIY

How to enjoy the flavor, history, and science of Turkish coffee

By Alisha McDarris

vehicle with open back doors overlanding outdoors with person laying on the back of the vehicle
DIY

Overlanding is a relaxed blend of camping and road tripping. Here’s how to get started.

By Alisha McDarris

expiration date on covid test
DIY

How to check if your at-home COVID test has expired

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

This week is the last chance to order free at-home COVID tests
Health

This week is the last chance to order free at-home COVID tests

By Laura Baisas

organized desktop
DIY

Teeny desk? Here’s how to make the most of it.

By Anthony Fordham

A glass of water with crystal-clear ice cubes in it on a sunlit wooden table.
DIY

How to make crystal-clear ice cubes

By Hugh Neill

honda element suv in front of welcome to utah sign
DIY

Why and how to convert a Honda Element into a van-life dream

By Nick Hilden

person sleeping on the kitchen floor next to open refrigerator door
DIY

11 ways to sleep better in unbearable heat

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Person kayaking down a river
DIY

4 things you need to know before your first paddling adventure

By Alisha McDarris

Person jumping on a hill with mountains on the background
DIY

7 tips to stay clean and fresh in the outdoors

By Alisha McDarris

A small child standing at a large glass window in an airport, looking out at the planes on the tarmac.
DIY

A parent-tested plan for flying with a toddler

By Mary Kearl

jar of mustard with pitcher of beer in the background
DIY

When the mustard shortage hits, make your own

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

A pot with several different types of succulents growing in it, ripe for propagation.
DIY

Propagation tips for infinite houseplants

By Michelle Mastro

A fanned-out stack of printed photos on a white surface.
DIY

Organize your catastrophic digital photo library

By Harry Guinness

How to pick the perfect seat in a movie theater for sound and picture
DIY

How to pick the perfect seat in a movie theater for sound and picture

By Eric Alt

A van-life van with its back doors open and two camping chairs and a small grill set up behind it.
DIY

5 ways to keep your van-life rig organized

By Nick Hilden

people laughing in the outdoors
DIY

How to make yourself laugh

By Hasan Merali

dining room with plants
DIY

9 nature-inspired decorating tips to make your home a more relaxing space

By Sofia Quaglia

cat sitting on kitchen chair
DIY

How to keep even the fluffiest cats cool this summer

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

A few slices of pepperoni pizza.
DIY

The best way to reheat pizza (and some things you should never do)

By John Kennedy, Sandra Gutierrez G.

A man with a mustache and glasses taking a deep whiff of a coffee drink in front of his nose.
DIY

Your nose can help you form new habits

By Hugh Neill

Plants_Elephant
DIY

How to keep your houseplants from dying this summer

By Ellen Airhart

travelers eating street food laughing
DIY

7 techno-savvy ways travelers can find food to fit their dietary restrictions

By Alisha McDarris

A woman standing at the back of a partially completed van conversion project, holding her arms out wide with a measuring tape held between them.
DIY

Vehicle conversion tips to fit any van-life budget

By Nick Hilden

person enjoying a hot beverage by a campsite
DIY

A camper’s guide to outdoor cocktails

By Alisha McDarris

three glasses of beer on table
DIY

5 essential apps for brewing your own beer

By Justin Pot

Bearded dad holding a newborn baby in a blue onesie and reading a picture book
DIY

The best way to choose a parenting book

By Denise Bodman and Bethany Bustamante Van Vleet

A Honda Element parked off-road in an open area by a large rock
DIY

A beginner’s guide to choosing the perfect van-life vehicle

By Nick Hilden

Yellow citrus home-brewed iced tea with lemon slices and metal straws in front of a black background
DIY

3 quick ways to brew refreshing iced tea at home

By Nissan Haque / Saveur

Hand holding firework and american flag against dark night
DIY

Fireworks can trigger PTSD. Here’s how you can help yourself and others find ease.

By Sofia Quaglia

Black and white portrait of a man
DIY

Make every photo a potential profile pic by learning how to pose

By Harry Guinness

people watching firework show
DIY

Babies and pets might freak out during fireworks shows, but you can help them relax

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Doctor talking to patient in office
DIY

A guide to preventing, spotting, and managing STIs

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

person sitting on airplane looking out the window
DIY

5 tips to soothe your fear of flying

By Natalie Wallington

child jumping in pool with swimming goggles on
DIY

5 things you can do to reduce your child’s drowning risk

By Alexandra Frost

Revenue tracking program on a screen
Gear

Best personal finance software

By Ingrid Alt

person opening faucet with water flowing
DIY

PFAS are toxic and they’re everywhere. Here’s how to stay away from them.

By Sofia Quaglia

A black vacuum cleaner set against blue carpet, with its path a slightly darker, cleaner color than the rest of the floor.
DIY

The germiest places you might not be cleaning

By Ella Weaver

A pantry full of many canned and preserved fruits and vegetables.
DIY

Expert tips for growing food in all four seasons

By Alice Waters

A blonde woman stretching or doing yoga on a yoga mat on a wood floor in front of a couch with a gray Macbook laptop in front of her.
DIY

Tips and apps for finding a virtual personal trainer

By Amanda Svachula

A baby sea turtle on a beach near some sea turtle tracks, and some people in the background.
DIY

Safely share the beach with endangered sea turtles this summer

By Alisha McDarris

hatchback-trunk-with-luggage-for-summer-vacation
DIY

The best way to pack your car for any road trip

By Alisha McDarris

hand-holding-out-a-white-bra-over-blue-background
DIY

It’s time to figure out your real bra size

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

The inside of a parked car on the top floor of a parking garage, baking in the heat.
DIY

How to keep your car from getting butt-burningly hot this summer

By Whitson Gordon

A vegan pulled pork sandwich made with shredded banana peels covered in homemade barbecue sauce.
DIY

Don’t waste banana peels: Turn them into tasty vegan ‘pulled pork’

By Alisha McDarris

hand-watering-plants
DIY

Proper drainage is the key to keeping houseplants alive. These tricks can help.

By Ellen Airhart

A baby in a stroller drinking formula from a bottle held by a woman.
Health

3 solutions for when you can’t find your baby’s formula

By Alexandra Frost

A lot of logs, rough-sawn wood, and assorted planks stacked up in a barn of some kind.
DIY

4 ways to save money on lumber

By Jean Levasseur

four orange candles are in a row with a black background
Environment

How to use candles and incense sustainably

By Ella Weaver

Various types of makeup on a white surface, with some leaves nearby.
DIY

How to tell if your makeup, shampoo, or sunscreen has gone bad

By Alexandra Frost

A woman in hiking attire and a large backpack standing on a cliff in a mountain range.
DIY

Smart tips for travelers looking for a sustainable getaway

By Alisha McDarris

neon sign depicting an instagram like notification bubble with a zero
DIY

5 tips for cutting down on social media

By David Nield

A turtle crossing a road.
DIY

What to do if you find a turtle in the road

By Natalie Wallington

Looking through the windshield of a car driving down a flat road between open fields under blue skies, with one person in the driver's seat and a toddler in a carseat in the passenger seat.
Health

A road-tested guide to long drives with young kids

By Mary Kearl

A person holding a houseplant at the store.
DIY

Learn how to spot a healthy houseplant in the store

By Amber Guetebier / Bob Vila

A man standing at a mirror and yelling at his reflection in the dark.
DIY

How to protect your identity online

By Harry Guinness

person in pajamas trying on dresses in the mirror
DIY

Why you should dress to impress even if you work from home

By Alexandra Frost

Tips for buying and caring for long-lasting fabrics
DIY

Tips for buying and caring for long-lasting fabrics

By Ella Weaver

Don’t stash away your camping gear—it could save the day during a power outage
DIY

Don’t stash away your camping gear—it could save the day during a power outage

By Nadia Bajuelo

Wind turbines against a cloudy sky.
DIY

3 steps for making your rental’s energy bills greener

By Bridget Reed Morawski