Life Skills(Page 8)

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

Latest in Life Skills

Night sky photography is perfect for social distancing. Here’s how to get a great shot.

Night sky photography is perfect for social distancing. Here’s how to get a great shot. Night sky photography is perfect for social distancing. Here’s how to get a great shot.

By Dan Richards

A brown scorpion on a light brown rock during the daytime.

Everything you need to know about scorpion stings and venom Everything you need to know about scorpion stings and venom

By Alisha McDarris

Brown stink bug about to land in a bug trap

3 DIY bug traps that actually work 3 DIY bug traps that actually work

The 360 Chicago observatory and other skyscrapers along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

From Chicagoan to Phoenician, here’s what to call the residents of the biggest US cities From Chicagoan to Phoenician, here’s what to call the residents of the biggest US cities

By Jennifer Billock

three-framed-photos-on-wall

The scientifically best way to create a photo gallery wall The scientifically best way to create a photo gallery wall

By Maridel Reyes

Make DIY cold brew coffee—without fancy equipment

Make DIY cold brew coffee—without fancy equipment Make DIY cold brew coffee—without fancy equipment

By Cassidy Mayeda

Teenager dipping toes into a lake or ocean

Your summer guide to sunscreen, from SPF to not-so-magic pills Your summer guide to sunscreen, from SPF to not-so-magic pills

By Sara Chodosh

The Milky Way at night over mountains.

The best ways to reduce light pollution and improve your quality of life The best ways to reduce light pollution and improve your quality of life

By Alisha McDarris

Hurricane Florence in the Atlantic

How to prepare for a hurricane that’s about to hit How to prepare for a hurricane that’s about to hit

By Sophie Bushwick

Yogurt marinades make meat perfectly tender—here’s why

Yogurt marinades make meat perfectly tender—here’s why Yogurt marinades make meat perfectly tender—here’s why

Frustrated couple in bed

How to share a bed with a restless sleeper How to share a bed with a restless sleeper

By Jennifer Billock

Electrical fan against window

How to stay cool if you lose power during a heatwave How to stay cool if you lose power during a heatwave

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Male red-winged blackbird

How to decode the secret language of birds How to decode the secret language of birds

A swimming pool, from under the water.

It’s surprisingly hard to tell if someone’s drowning, so we made you a guide It’s surprisingly hard to tell if someone’s drowning, so we made you a guide

By Whitson Gordon

A man running shirtless on the side of a road in hot weather.

Know the difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion. One can kill you quickly. Know the difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion. One can kill you quickly.

By Alisha McDarris

A snake plant sitting in an open cardboard box, ready for shipping.

How to ship your beloved houseplants across the country without killing them How to ship your beloved houseplants across the country without killing them

By Ellen Airhart

Teal Yeti cooler and other travel gear on a blue background

Eat and drink well on your road trip with these 5 pointers Eat and drink well on your road trip with these 5 pointers

By Alisha McDarris/Saveur

person-holding-mask

How you and your family can cope with post-COVID anxiety How you and your family can cope with post-COVID anxiety

By Jean Levasseur

scientist injecting turkey

Thirteen science-backed ways to improve your Thanksgiving Thirteen science-backed ways to improve your Thanksgiving

By Sophie Bushwick

Hands holding slime with crumbs over a keyboard

This DIY slime can clean the grossest parts of your home and car This DIY slime can clean the grossest parts of your home and car

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

A person grimacing and holding their left shoulder with their right hand.

Perfect posture doesn’t exist—but you can still improve yours Perfect posture doesn’t exist—but you can still improve yours

By Eleanor Cummins

person's hand with silver rings

Go full silver alchemist and clean your jewelry with science Go full silver alchemist and clean your jewelry with science

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

One side of a reddish-brown brick building, with 15 windows arranged in a grid on the façade, each containing a separate window air conditioning unit.

How to prevent your window AC unit from falling out, and other cool tips How to prevent your window AC unit from falling out, and other cool tips

By Lauren Leffer

Two kids with blond and red hair sitting on a washer in a laundry room

Yes, little kids should do chores. Here’s how to get them started. Yes, little kids should do chores. Here’s how to get them started.

By Jean Levasseur

How to choose the perfect workout routine

How to choose the perfect workout routine How to choose the perfect workout routine

By Harry Guinness

How to recycle plastic at home

How to recycle plastic at home How to recycle plastic at home

By Meaghan Lee Callaghan

The 4 body parts you’re probably forgetting to protect from the sun

The 4 body parts you’re probably forgetting to protect from the sun The 4 body parts you’re probably forgetting to protect from the sun

By John Kennedy

How to keep jet lag from ruining your vacation How to keep jet lag from ruining your vacation

Beach sign warning of great white shark sightings in Chatham, Massachusetts

You should never have to fight off a shark—but here’s how to do it (just in case) You should never have to fight off a shark—but here’s how to do it (just in case)

By Alisha McDarris

Close up image of a wasp

The most effective ways to avoid bee, wasp, and hornet stings The most effective ways to avoid bee, wasp, and hornet stings

By Alisha McDarris

How to find a bank that shares your commitment to the environment

How to find a bank that shares your commitment to the environment How to find a bank that shares your commitment to the environment

By Sara Kiley Watson

Wildfires could hit your hometown. Here’s how to prepare.

Wildfires could hit your hometown. Here’s how to prepare. Wildfires could hit your hometown. Here’s how to prepare.

By Sara Kiley Watson

A person wearing a long-sleeved white shirt while holding a baby.

Stay cool this summer by making the right wardrobe choices Stay cool this summer by making the right wardrobe choices

Assorted vegetables and fruit in a farmer's market

Simple tips to help you eat enough fruits and veggies every day Simple tips to help you eat enough fruits and veggies every day

By Nadia Bajuelo

a portrait photo of a woman

6 common photography mistakes to avoid 6 common photography mistakes to avoid

By Harry Guinness

lightning bolt in the middle of the countryside

How to prevent getting struck by lightning How to prevent getting struck by lightning

By Alisha McDarris

hand holding a phone

Tips and tricks to help you take better smartphone photos Tips and tricks to help you take better smartphone photos

A burning pile of magnesium expelling white smoke against a dark blue background, with a fire extinguisher nozzle nearby setting it on fire.

Let burning metals lie Let burning metals lie

By Theodore Gray

man celebrating on the phone

How to strike a better deal with your cable company How to strike a better deal with your cable company

By Whitson Gordon

a turkey dinner on a plate

How to cook and eat a turkey without dying How to cook and eat a turkey without dying

By Rachel Feltman

One notebook could replace all the productivity apps that have failed you One notebook could replace all the productivity apps that have failed you

By Amy Schellenbaum

Declawing cats is harmful. Do this instead. Declawing cats is harmful. Do this instead.

A person standing on a sidewalk outside while using their phone.

How to avoid common phone-related injuries How to avoid common phone-related injuries

A man sitting and holding an electric fan in front of his face.

4 ways to keep cool when the temperature spikes 4 ways to keep cool when the temperature spikes

By Claire Maldarelli

hands-typing-on-keyboard

A writer’s guide to overcoming procrastination A writer’s guide to overcoming procrastination

By Harry Guinness

Ants climbing on an electrical wire.

Fight ant infestations with these expert tips Fight ant infestations with these expert tips

By Mary Beth Griggs

An alligator resting on a grassy bank near a body of water.

How to avoid an alligator encounter—and what to do if you can’t How to avoid an alligator encounter—and what to do if you can’t

By Alisha McDarris

A Muslim woman daydreaming while sitting in front of a laptop outdoors.

Daydreaming can have loads of benefits—if you do it right Daydreaming can have loads of benefits—if you do it right

By Nadia Bajuelo

Two people walking on a trail in the wilderness, heading toward a body of water and some mountains

Tips for picking the best hiking trail Tips for picking the best hiking trail

By Nadia Bajuelo

How to declutter your kids’ artwork while keeping what matters

How to declutter your kids’ artwork while keeping what matters How to declutter your kids’ artwork while keeping what matters

By Jean Levasseur

couple waking up to alarm

Choose an alarm app that will actually wake you up Choose an alarm app that will actually wake you up

cleaning stain on carpet

How to remove stains of any kind How to remove stains of any kind

Weird things you didn’t know you could recycle Weird things you didn’t know you could recycle

A person lying on a white mattress in dim light, with one arm across their forehead, one arm on their stomach, and a phone next to them.

The best way to prevent arm pain from using your phone too much The best way to prevent arm pain from using your phone too much

Hand in rubber gloves with a cleaning product sprayer

Master odor removal with a little help from science Master odor removal with a little help from science

A woman in a blue dress looking away and down to the side, as eight hands reach out to her from the edge of the frame.

How to break free of the bystander effect and help someone in trouble How to break free of the bystander effect and help someone in trouble

By Tyler Santora

A lean to shelter built on a rock side.

Three ways to build a winter survival shelter Three ways to build a winter survival shelter

By Jim Baird/Field & Stream

Person holding a clock

Tech tips for working with people in different time zones Tech tips for working with people in different time zones

Orange flames on wood

Everything you need to know to start a fire Everything you need to know to start a fire

By Popular Science Team

Fomes fomentarius fungus

The two types of fungi you want in your fire-starting kit The two types of fungi you want in your fire-starting kit

By Tim MacWelch/ Outdoor Life

Bearded man wearing a surgical mask on the street

5 must-know tips for safely wearing a mask over facial hair 5 must-know tips for safely wearing a mask over facial hair

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Green camping tent in the middle of a snowy mountain

How to stay warm while sleeping in the frigid outdoors How to stay warm while sleeping in the frigid outdoors

By Alisha McDarris

A person spraying a can of WD40 in a garage.

20 ingenious uses for WD-40 20 ingenious uses for WD-40

By Bill Heavey/Field & Stream

A man in a gray t-shirt removing or putting on a surgical face mask by only touching the ear loops.

Why you shouldn’t ever wear your mask around your neck Why you shouldn’t ever wear your mask around your neck

By Erin Fennessy