19 October 2020

Life Hacks 202 - #234

0Frameworks

9Insights

Insights & moments

The myth-busts, hot takes, explainers, and tools worth keeping.

Explainer· 1

Explainer09:30

How to Hide Tags on Instagram Stories

To avoid distracting viewers from your call to action, you can hide tagged users on Instagram Stories by shrinking the text until it flies off-screen. The tag still works, but it’s invisible to viewers.

Write out tags, then press and swipe to shrink the text.
Move the text off-screen by continuing to shrink it.
Tag still sends notifications and allows reposting.
Keeps the story clean with one clear call to action.

“If you move that first finger across to the edge of the screen and just keep making the text smaller... it just flies off the…”
Yousef · 10:30

#instagram#social-media#marketing#design

Tool· 4

Tool02:30

Why Sprinkle Nutritional Yeast on Eggs?

Johnny recommends adding nutritional yeast to eggs for a cheesy flavor and extra nutrition. It's a powder rich in B vitamins, zinc, selenium, and all nine essential amino acids, making it a simple way to boost cognitive performance, gut health, and testosterone.

Nutritional yeast is a nutrient-dense powder with B vitamins, zinc, selenium, and amino acids.
Adds a cheesy taste to eggs without dairy.
Supports cognitive function, gut microbiome, and testosterone levels.
Easy to use: just sprinkle on eggs or other foods.

“Nutritional yeast is like very nutrient dense... all nine essential amino acids, b vitamins, trace minerals, zinc, selenium, manganese.”
Johnny · 03:00

#nutrition#supplements#cooking#life-hack

Tool05:00

How to Use iOS 14's Back Tap Feature

Yousef shares how to use iOS 14's 'Back Tap' feature, which lets you trigger actions like opening apps or reading the screen by tapping the back of your phone. It’s a customizable way to make your iPhone more versatile without extra buttons.

Back Tap allows double or triple tap on the phone’s back to trigger actions.
Can open apps, read screen aloud, or start timers.
Found in Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap.
Great for hands-free control during routines like using the bathroom.

“If you tap three times on the back, it reads out what you're saying.”
Yousef · 05:30

#ios#iphone#productivity#tech-hack

Tool31:00

How the ChiliPad Improves Sleep

Johnny uses a ChiliPad, a water-cooled mattress topper, to regulate sleep temperature. It improved his deep sleep by 30% and reduced sleep latency, helping him stay cool at night without affecting his partner.

ChiliPad cools the bed via circulating water in pipes.
Set to 16°C, it significantly improves deep sleep.
No noticeable pipes or noise; easy maintenance.
Ideal for people who sleep hot or have mismatched sleep temps with partners.

“It has like bumped my deep sleep up by like 30%... latency has improved.”
Johnny · 32:00

#sleep#recovery#technology#biohacking

Tool83:00

Put Your Keys in the Fridge to Remember

To remember something important, place your keys on top of it in the fridge. You won’t leave without them, ensuring you take the item with you.

Place keys on top of an item you need to remember.
Works for groceries, leftovers, or anything fridge-bound.
Relies on a physical trigger to prevent forgetting.
Simple, low-tech, and highly effective.

“Put your keys in the fridge so... you can't leave without it.”
Seth · 83:30

#memory#life-hack#productivity#organization

Takeaway· 4

Takeaway17:30

Use a Default Fallback Activity

Seth recommends choosing a low-effort fallback activity—like clearing your downloads folder or tidying a drawer—to do during idle moments instead of defaulting to phone scrolling. This helps chip away at neglected tasks.

Choose a simple, low-effort task as your fallback.
Examples: clearing downloads, organizing photos, tidying a drawer.
Prevents mindless scrolling during downtime.
Builds momentum on long-overdue projects.

“If you have a default one, then you've instantly overcome resistance to things that you normally would never get done.”
Seth · 18:00

#productivity#habits#focus#time-management

Takeaway27:00

Never Take Your Phone to the Toilet

A simple way to reduce screen time is to leave your phone outside the bathroom. This prevents turning a two-minute break into a 10-minute scroll and encourages better habits.

Leaving your phone outside the bathroom reduces mindless scrolling.
Creates a phone-free zone to lower digital dependency.
Can be expanded to other areas like the bedroom.
Simple but effective for cutting daily screen time.

“Never take your phone to the toilet... it turns a two-minute movement into a 10-minute phone hole scroll.”
Chris · 27:30

#digital-detox#mindfulness#habits#productivity

Takeaway55:30

Ask for a Solution, Not Just a Complaint

When someone criticizes, ask 'What would you do?' to shift the conversation from negativity to problem-solving. This works in teams, relationships, and self-talk.

Responding with 'What would you do?' redirects criticism into solutions.
Helps uncover whether the complaint is emotional or well-considered.
Encourages solution-based thinking in teams and relationships.
Recommended by Tim Ferriss for internal complaints too.

“All right, well, what would you do? That moves the conversation... towards a solution-based conversation.”
Seth · 56:00

#communication#leadership#productivity#mindset

Takeaway72:30

Stop Watching TV Before Bed

Chris stopped watching TV at night to improve sleep and read more. He uses a shower as a trigger to start reading, which avoids blue light and boosts melatonin, leading to better sleep quality.

No TV after showering, which acts as a bedtime trigger.
Reading instead improves sleep quality and melatonin release.
E-readers don’t disrupt sleep like phones or TVs.
Doubled book consumption and improved morning energy.

“I wouldn't do that. I tend to have a shower... that's the shower and I set myself a rule that I would not watch TV…”
Chris · 73:00

#sleep#habits#reading#digital-detox