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How Did We End Up With So Many Useless Life Hacks?

Life hacks, those little nuggets of wisdom designed to make life easier, have become so ubiquitous that it's hard to scroll through social media without tripping over some new “genius” trick. But let’s be honest for a second: How many of these hacks actually work? The answer, if we're being real, is... not many.

It all started innocently enough. We were introduced to life hacks by the likes of Pinterest and YouTube, and for a while, it felt like a revolution. A more efficient way to fold a shirt. A faster method to peel a potato. These were simple solutions to everyday problems, making us all feel like we were stepping into the realm of genius.

But somewhere along the way, things got out of hand. Suddenly, we had hacks for everything. Making ice cubes in muffin trays (for what, exactly?). Using a spoon to open a soda can? Sure, that’s going to save us, one awkward sip at a time. And don’t even get me started on the endless parade of "life-saving" kitchen hacks that involve 13 steps and tools you don’t even have lying around.

What happened? Is this a result of people just trying to create content or has society truly reached a point where we need a life hack for everything under the sun?

Here's the deal: The problem isn’t necessarily the life hacks themselves, it’s the sheer volume of them. The Internet has turned life hacks into a game of one-upmanship. “Oh, you think that’s a good hack? Check out this one that will completely change your life, just use duct tape to… well, you get the idea.” What started as useful shortcuts has turned into a parody of itself.

But why do we keep trying them? Maybe it’s because, deep down, we all want to believe that there’s some secret to making life easier. Maybe it’s because our attention spans are so short that we’d rather watch a 30-second video than read a manual. Maybe it’s because trying a life hack, even if it’s ultimately pointless, gives us a brief dopamine hit. It’s the modern version of trying to “hack” the system of life itself.

In the end, maybe the only life hack we really need is this: stop falling for life hacks. Instead of trying to use a banana peel to clean your shoes, just admit that life is messy and some things are better left simple. After all, the best life hack might just be learning to live without hacks at all.

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