What are some life hacks that you practice?

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I have a few. None of them involve putting a rubber band around a jar lid, turning it upside down, or whatever nonsense the internet is currently pretending will change your life.

My biggest life hack is avoiding people whenever possible.

I’ve discovered that a surprising amount of life’s bullshit can be avoided simply by not being around people. Fewer conversations. Fewer arguments. Fewer pointless opinions. Fewer situations where somebody says something so incredibly stupid that I have to physically remind myself that prison is generally frowned upon.

My second life hack is listening more than I talk.

People will tell you a lot if you just shut up and listen. They’ll tell you who they are, what they want, what they’re pissed off about, what they’re planning, and sometimes things they probably shouldn’t be telling you at all.

You don’t always have to respond. You don’t have to have an opinion about everything. You don’t have to turn every conversation into a story about yourself.

Just listen.

It’s amazing how much you can learn when you’re not busy waiting for your turn to talk.

So that’s pretty much my system: stay out of unnecessary human traffic, keep my mouth shut when there’s nothing useful to add, and pay attention when somebody is talking.

Not exactly the kind of life hack that sells a $29.99 online course, but it seems to work.