Life Skills(Page 6)

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

Latest in Life Skills

A turtle crossing a road.

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.

A road-tested guide to long drives with young kids

A person holding a houseplant at the store.

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.

How to protect your identity online

By Harry Guinness

person in pajamas trying on dresses in the mirror

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

By Alexandra Frost

Tips for buying and caring for long-lasting fabrics

Tips for buying and caring for long-lasting fabrics

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

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.

3 steps for making your rental’s energy bills greener

By Bridget Reed Morawski

traffic signs saying im sorry

A science-based guide to giving a genuine apology

By Sofia Quaglia

Stealthy ways to make your diet more plant-based

Stealthy ways to make your diet more plant-based

By Sara Kiley Watson

Takeout boxes on green backdrop

How to make your takeout order less wasteful

By Carla Delgado

A computer with the title of the video game Fortnite on its screen, in a room lit by blue and purple lights.

A parent’s guide to playing Fortnite with your kids

By Jean Levasseur

A brown-and-white dog laying on a blue-green carpet under a wooden table.

How we vanquished the strong pet odors in our new home

By Jose Mendoza, Mary Kearl

A person reading a newspaper while sitting on a bench outside.

How to read the news without doomscrolling through social media

By Harry Guinness

A man working on a laptop while sitting on a rock overlooking a city at sunset.

Essential tips and tools for working remotely—from anywhere

Survive the great outdoors by making your own drinkable water

Survive the great outdoors by making your own drinkable water

By Alisha McDarris

Person camping in the snow

Winter camping is a great way to see more nature and fewer people

By Alisha McDarris

a residential home with solar panels on the roof

What you need to know about converting your home to solar

By Whitson Gordon

person on bed covering their face in stress

Stress and anxiety wear down your brain. Here’s how to fight back.

A man looking at his phone and leaning against a windowsill next to a potted cactus about the size of a softball.

Plant care apps are more distracting than useful

By Ellen Airhart

Person-writing-on-planner-with-sticky-notes

Get your work life together with one of these time-management apps

A car dashboard showing the gas tank on empty, and all the other dials at zero.

How to save gas without ruining your car

By Kevin Williams

A man standing under some trees outside at sunset, holding his face in his hands because he is stressed out or anxious.

How to manage your mental health as traumatic events pile up

By Alexandra Frost

How to keep ‘chub rub’ from chafing your skin and ruining your summer

How to keep ‘chub rub’ from chafing your skin and ruining your summer

By Rachel Feltman

Half-Popped Popcorn Kernels

Popcorn Too Fluffy? Try Half-Popping Popcorn At Home

By Ryan F. Mandelbaum

bananas in cast iron pan

How to season a cast iron pan

By Sara Chodosh

A man sitting on an airplane at sunset and looking into his backpack.

An experienced backpacker’s guide for flying with camping gear

By Alisha McDarris

a candle in the darkness

Four things to do long before you lose power

By Rachael Zisk

These photo tips will help you get top dollar for the stuff you sell online

These photo tips will help you get top dollar for the stuff you sell online

By Harry Guinness

A cup of tea with a cinnamon stick in it

Get old tea and coffee stains off your mugs

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

a man using his phone on the New York City subway, while other passengers also use their phones

Your smartphone is gross. Learn how to clean it properly.

Legs in a hammock

Can’t get waxed? Remove your hair with sugar at home.

By Rachel Feltman

kid holding their moms hand wearing kn95 mask

Young kids should also wear better masks to protect against COVID. Here’s what to consider.

By Alexandra Frost

A red gasoline can in a garage or shed next to a large gas-powered leafblower.

The safest ways to store gasoline

By Natalie Wallington

person-looking-at-mirror-applying-face-cream

The lowest-effort skincare routine that will still make your skin glow

By Sofia Quaglia

A woman with red lipstick on standing very close to a TV screen that's playing black and white static, as she gently touches the screen with her hand.

How to clean a TV screen

By John Kennedy

A man in a white t-shirt and black pants sitting in a chair talking to a therapist while they both sit in front of large windows with white curtains.

Finding a therapist can be overwhelming, but these tips can help

By Alexandra Frost

A burger with bacon, lettuce, and cheese on a white plate with two plastic containers of condiments and some French fries next to it.

Your food could be better if you salted it at the right time

By Maggie Galloway

Old nokia phones

How to set the right price when selling your old tech

people-outdoors-toasting-with-glasses-of-wine

How to keep wine fresh after opening it

By Dana Rose Falcone

Person with black gloves pouring rock salt over a sidewalk despite environmental pollution

There’s a better way to use rock salt on snow

By Purbita Saha

person on the floor sorting laundry

Sorting your laundry correctly will make your clothes last longer

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

hands putting paper filling inside box

Small business owners can fight carbon emissions without decimating their budget

By Alisha McDarris

Scrambled eggs on some toast with roasted potatoes and cherry tomatoes on a white place.

5 ways cornstarch can change your life, in and out of the kitchen

By Maggie Galloway

Liquid nitrogen vanilla ice cream in a goblet glass with a strawberry on top and water vapor all around it.

Microcrystalline in 30 seconds

By Theodore Gray

bottle and breast pump on a desk

Breast pumps have barely evolved, but you can still make them better

By Alexandra Frost

close up of a diamond ring

A buyer’s guide to ethically sourced diamonds

By Jean Feingold

Winter-Plant-Care

How to help houseplants survive winter

By Ellen Airhart

person doing crossword puzzle

Beat Wordle with these 5 expert tips

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

N95 respirators

The ultimate guide to reusing and buying N95 masks

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

How to enjoy a more sustainable cup of coffee

How to enjoy a more sustainable cup of coffee

By Sara Kiley Watson

A stone building under power lines during a snowstorm.

The safest ways to stay warm during a power outage

By John Kennedy

Kid with short blond hair and gray sports shirt turning away from a sandwich on a white plate on a wooden table because of a diet

Young athletes often feel pressure to under-eat. Here’s what parents can do about it.

By Sumner Brooks and Amee Severson

Person hiking in the snowy mountains with winter gear in their backpack

Go on a magical winter hike without hating every step

By Alisha McDarris

Repairman doing an oil change on car.

What is a tune-up, and when do I need one?

By Hank O'Hop/Car Bibles

Black body builder in a Superman tank yelling as they pull arm weights to keep their New Year's resolution to stay fit

How to trick your brain into keeping a New Year’s resolution

By Sara Chodosh

Man looking at phone on mountain top

4 sustainable New Year’s resolutions to set in 2022

By Sara Kiley Watson

two people safely riding bikes in the city

3 biking rules to keep everyone on the road safe

By Alisha McDarris

Red toy truck carries a small recycled Christmas tree

What’s the most eco-friendly way to dispose of your Christmas tree?

By Charlie Wood

Person sitting under a light in a dark room to store holiday decorations, surrounded by Christmas lights

The best ways to store holiday decorations so your future self doesn’t hate you

By Whitson Gordon

three sets of arms holding clay pots with plants

7 key plant care tips we learned this year

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Pile of holiday cards that can be recycled to reduce waste

4 simple ways to reduce holiday waste

By Eleanor Cummins

long receipt rolled into self

How to escape the wasteful excess of CVS receipts

By Purbita Saha

Blue plate with gingerbread muffins

The best substitutions for milk, eggs, and other baking essentials