2024 saw a total solar eclipse, a US presidential election, the Paris Olympics, and tons of other major events, but it was also all about some big life hacks we're planning to take into 2025 and beyond. We were today years old when we learned about these tips and tricks for making life a little easier.
We're Sampling Beauty Products Virtually With AI
Love it or hate it, AI seems to be everywhere in 2024, and that includes the beauty industry. Virtually trying on makeup and other beauty products with help from AI is expected to reduce waste (no more ordering the wrong shade of concealer online). We're all about getting it right the first time when it comes to our makeup, so this is one 2024 hack we're totally embracing.
We're More Productive Because of Flexibility
2024 was an incredibly productive year (business output was up 3.5%), and part of that was also due to AI. However, we're also working more hours. The secret here is that a lot of those hours are more flexible than they've been in the past. Hybrid work options and focus windows are letting us balance work and the rest of life better than we have in the past.
The hack here is that we can apply this flexible focus strategy to other areas of our lives. Simply by paying attention to when we work best, we can get more done.
We Can Take Control of the Microstress in Our Lives
Microstressors — small things that cause us angst and take our time —can add up to a feeling of exhaustion and overwhelm, but the good news in 2024 is that we can take action to reduce these hassles. From things that add to our responsibilities or take a lot of time to conflicts that make us more anxious, these little stresses pile up.
The thing is, we learned in 2024 that we can do something about that by tackling one microstressor at a time and making conscious changes in our lives to reduce it. We think this is a game-changing hack.
Related: Four Simple Ways I'm Reducing Microstressors in My Life
Sometimes, the right gadget or product can also help reduce our daily stress. For instance, think about that tangle of cords under your desk that you keep catching your foot in. A couple of cord clips can fix that problem and reduce your frustration. We love it when solving stress can be simple.
We're Turning to Social Media to Improve Our Sleep
Social media is full of tips for helping with just about every aspect of life (even if a lot of them aren't really backed by science). Turns out, 37% of people have tried at least some of 2024's big social media sleep trends, with "bed rotting" topping the list.
While there's no short-term harm involved in staying in bed all day once in a while, the jury is out about whether it helps you feel rested and sleep better. That said, it just might be a self-care hack we can get behind. Everyone needs a break once in a while.
Related: 7 Perfect Self-Care Hobbies & How to Find Your Bliss
The #WaterTok Trend Might Help Us Drink More Water
If you're like us, you don't necessarily drink all the water you should in a day. That's probably why the #WaterTok trend is such a big deal. Basically, it's all about trying different flavorings in your water and even making flavored ice cubes to enhance the whole experience of staying hydrated.
We Can Use Social Media to Feel Less Lonely
This may not sound shocking to anyone who has grown up with social media, but online friendships can contribute to your overall mental well-being. Social media gets a bad rap for reducing our life satisfaction and causing us to compare ourselves to everyone else, but 2024 studies show it can actually help people feel less lonely, too.
The hack here is knowing when and how to use online connections to improve your social well-being. This can involve talking about real things with people online (not just sharing photos of your food) and connecting over shared hobbies or interests.
We're Eating More Protein to Combat Muscle Loss
While protein has been making headlines for a few years now, in 2024 we really started to see it as an essential way to fight age-related muscle loss. As people age, they lose muscle mass, and that starts in our 30s. In addition to strength training, we're increasing our protein intake.
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We're Finally Wearing Comfortable Pants in 2024
After years of skinny jeans and tight-fitting flares, comfy, wide-legged jeans made a serious style statement in 2024. Wearing pants that are actually comfortable may not seem like much of a life hack, but for anyone who has worn skin-tight pants for the past decade or more, it's pretty life-changing. We're definitely carrying the wide-legged jeans trend into 2025.
We're Using More Wearable Tech When We Exercise
Pedometers and heart rate monitors are essential tools for many people when they concentrate on getting fit, and increasing use of wearable tech was one the biggest fitness trends in 2024. It's also predicted to be the number one trend going into 2025. We're all about that since higher daily step counts are associated with lots of positive health results (including losing weight and maintaining cognitive function). This trend is one of our favorite health hacks for 2024.
2024 Life Hacks Focused on Self-Care & Health
A lot of 2024's big life hacks were about getting fit, staying healthy, and taking care of our mental well-being, and we're feeling happier and healthier because of it. Here's hoping 2025 will continue this trend!
