As a post-90s graduate who's only been out of school for a few years, I was going crazy with all the little things in life! Renting, working, socializing, financial management - everything feels like a small project. However, after exploring for these few years, I've finally summarized a set of life hacks suitable for young people, which I'd like to share with everyone today.
Life in 2025 moves incredibly fast; I would have broken down long ago if it weren't for these smart devices. Recently, I discovered some amazing AI assistant tricks - it not only helps me handle daily tasks but also learns my behavior patterns. For instance, it knows I need coffee every morning, so it automatically starts the coffee maker before I wake up; it knows I have weekly meetings on Wednesdays, so it reminds me to prepare meeting materials 30 minutes in advance.
Beyond basic schedule management, I use AI for more interesting things. For example, it automatically generates suitable meal plans based on my eating habits and fitness goals, and recommends appropriate rest and exercise times based on my work schedule. With this AI assistant, I feel my life efficiency has at least doubled!
Smart home devices are also my favorite. I've connected my home's lights, air conditioning, and curtains to the smart system. Now when I return home, the room's temperature and lighting automatically adjust to the most comfortable settings without me lifting a finger. Especially in summer, the AI pre-cools the room based on weather forecasts and indoor temperature, saving electricity while maintaining comfort.
Honestly, I was really scared of cooking at first. But since discovering these kitchen hacks, cooking has become an enjoyable activity. First is the spice storage issue - I bought a double-layer rotating storage tray, with frequently used spices on top and less-used ones below. Each spice bottle has a label underneath, and I've color-coded them: red labels for spicy seasonings, yellow for sour ones, and green for herbs.
Kitchen organization also has its tricks. I've categorized all kitchen tools by frequency of use. Daily-use cookware is placed in the most accessible spots, items used several times a week in secondary positions, and rarely used items stored deep in cabinets. To save space, I bought foldable silicone colanders and measuring cups that can be collapsed after use, saving lots of space.
My proudest invention is the "seasoning measurement cards." Each card records the seasoning ratios I commonly use for different dishes, with cooking temperature and time noted on the back. This way, I don't need to check recipes every time, and the taste remains consistent. Gradually, I've found myself able to create new dishes freely based on ingredient characteristics.
Who understands the pain of renters? My apartment is only 35 square meters, but through careful storage planning, it feels like 80! My "3355 Rule" is actually the result of extensive practice.
3-minute quick organization: This is an unshakeable habit. Every morning before leaving and every night before bed, I spend 3 minutes quickly scanning the room and putting obviously out-of-place items back. This prevents clutter from becoming unmanageable.
3-day review: Every 3 days, I spend half an hour doing a deeper organization. Check for laundry that needs washing, garbage that needs disposing, and household items that need replenishing. This frequency is just right - neither too frequent to be annoying nor too infrequent to let problems accumulate.
5 categories of items: I divide all items into five categories: daily necessities, seasonal items, collections, backup items, and items to be processed. Each category has its fixed storage area. For example, daily necessities are placed in the most accessible locations, seasonal items are rotated by season, and collections have their own display area.
5-meter range principle: Though my room is small, the layout is well-thought-out. All daily necessities are within a 5-meter reach. For instance, common medicines and chargers are in the bedside table, office supplies around the desk, and kitchen seasonings and utensils are within easy reach. This not only saves time finding things but also greatly improves the efficiency of space usage.
There are many other storage tricks. For example, I have four wheeled storage boxes under my bed, storing seasonal clothes, collections, backup daily supplies, and storage tools respectively. Each box is clearly labeled, so I can easily find things when needed. In the closet, I use vacuum compression bags for heavy winter clothes, saving nearly 70% space.
When it comes to cleaning, I have a whole basket of secrets! First is the selection of cleaning supplies. I mainly use natural products like baking soda and white vinegar, combined with essential oils - not only effective for cleaning but also keeping the room fragrant.
Bathroom cleaning is the most headache-inducing, but I discovered a particularly effective method: after each shower, use a squeegee to quickly remove water from the walls and floor, then turn on the exhaust fan for 10 minutes. This not only prevents mold growth but also keeps the bathroom consistently dry.
Kitchen smoke is also annoying. My solution is to run the range hood at maximum power for 1 minute before cooking, waiting until it's fully operational before starting to cook. Additionally, I regularly clean the range hood filter with baking soda water to maintain optimal suction.
Floor cleaning also has its tricks. I bought a flat mop that can spray water - first spray to moisten, then use a dry mop to absorb dirt. This ensures cleaning effectiveness without over-wetting the floor. On weekends, I wipe furniture with diluted essential oils, filling the entire room with a subtle fragrance.
Phones have become an indispensable part of our lives, but without proper management, it's easy to get overwhelmed by various information and apps. After multiple attempts, I finally found an efficient digital life management method.
First is APP categorization management. I divide all apps into four categories: work tools, life services, entertainment/social, and learning/improvement. Each category of apps is placed in different folders, and the folder arrangement is also deliberate: most frequently used on the first screen, less frequently used on the second screen, and rarely used apps are archived.
Notification management is also important. I only allow notifications from the most important apps, like work emails and schedule reminders. Notifications from other apps are turned off, avoiding frequent interruptions and improving work efficiency.
Data backup is an easily overlooked but important issue. I now use the "321 backup strategy": important data has at least 3 copies, stored on 2 different media, with 1 off-site backup. This way, data remains safe even if my phone is lost or computer breaks down.
Time management is truly one of the most essential skills for modern young people. I now use a modified version of the Pomodoro Technique, combined with an AI assistant, which works particularly well.
Specifically, I use the AI assistant to plan the next day's work every evening. It automatically arranges suitable time slots based on my habits and work priorities. For instance, I discovered my peak efficiency is between 9-11 AM, so this time is scheduled for the most important work tasks.
To avoid sitting for too long, I insert a 5-minute stretching exercise period after each Pomodoro work session (25 minutes). The AI assistant reminds me when it's time to move and recommends simple office exercises.
Rest time arrangement is also important. I found that continuously focusing on work actually decreases efficiency. So every 2 hours, I schedule a 15-minute deep rest period, which can be used for walking, having coffee, or doing simple relaxation exercises.
Regarding personal growth, I think the most important thing is establishing a continuous learning system. I now use an AI assistant to record daily learning insights and reflections; it automatically analyzes my learning patterns and provides improvement suggestions.
For example, it noticed my learning efficiency is lower in the evening, so it suggested adjusting my study time to noon or afternoon. It also recommends relevant learning resources and courses based on my interests and career development direction.
I've also established a "knowledge review system." Every weekend, the AI assistant helps me organize the new knowledge learned that week and generates a brief review outline. At the end of each month, it summarizes the month's learning content, helping me identify knowledge gaps and areas needing strengthening.
Over these years, I've tried many life hacks - some successful, some not. The most important experience is: don't blindly pursue quantity, but find methods that truly suit yourself.
For example, although there are many high-tech cleaning tools on the market, I found that traditional rags and mops are most practical because they're simple, reliable, and don't need charging. And for time management, while some recommend filling time completely, I discovered leaving some free time actually improves efficiency.
I suggest starting with your most troubling issues when trying new life hacks. For instance, if you feel your room is always messy, start with storage and organization; if you feel you never have enough time, start by learning time management methods.
As technology develops, our lifestyles continue to change. But regardless of new technologies or methods, the most important thing is finding a life rhythm that suits you. I hope these shares help everyone find their own life hacks. After all, life should be relaxed and enjoyable, right?
Previous
