Manila—Be kind to yourself. The world is cruel enough. Of the dozens of life hacks that I read about almost daily, my favorite is the one that tells me to pay attention to and care for myself first before anyone and anything else.
Being kind to yourself is a great way to achieve real day-to-day joy or lifelong happiness, according to lifehackers. If you are happy, the world around you will be happy.
Life hacks have become noticeably trendy over the last few years, making their way into social media and individual accounts. I myself post witty and inspirational one-liners from these life hacks.
Even the term “life hacks” is relatively new. Before the internet and social media came into existence, there were advice columns where the author responded to people seeking remedies for their life problems. There were also self-help books.
Before life hacks became a buzzword, my parents talked about Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” It was one of their favorite reads about their version of life hacks in the 60s and 70s. I saw a crumbling copy on their bookshelf when I was a kid. Carnegie also wrote “Stop Worrying and Start Living.” He died before I was born, but his pieces of advice and practical information inspired many people around the world.
There was also "Dear Abby," the popular American advice column that started in the 1950s and spawned countless spin-offs in newspapers and media sites worldwide.
Today, such pieces of advice, tips, tricks and solutions are all grouped into life hacks that can be practical and resourceful methods for people who want to make life easier and simpler. They offer enriching and encouraging approaches to dealing with life's challenges.
Most of the life hacks that I know—and continue to adhere to because they work—are simple yet significant in daily life. For example, “Put out everything that you need the night before.” In grade school, this applied to my uniform and all my school stuff laid out for the next morning. “Make a plan or to-do list for the week.” This tip works even if the list is altered by unforeseen events.
Beyond adopting techniques to make our mundane lives more comfortable are the heavier burdens that overwhelm us. By then, we all cling to our own handbooks of how to go on and move along with our fears, worries and bouts of sadness.
We often realize that the world is muddled, too random, and sometimes illogical. We find ourselves trying to decode its harshness and decrypt its cruelty.
But if we accept the absurdity of this world and take up responsibility, only then can we have the life we desire. By now, I am familiar with the drill. Drink plenty of water. Take a walk. Be kind to yourself.
Diana G. Mendoza is a longtime journalist based in Manila. Send feedback to soltera2040@gmail.com.
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