If you're anything like me, you love a good life hack. From food to organization to everything in between, there's nothing quite like learning a super easy way to do something you never would've come up with on your own.
I'm not personally someone with kids, but sometimes, I'll be scrolling on TikTok, and the algorithm will toss me a good ole parenting life hack. And sometimes, I'm like, "Huh, that's actually a really helpful tip to use for myself." So, I asked parents in the BuzzFeed Community to share the life hacks they learned from having kids that they've applied to their own adult life. As always, I certainly learned a thing or two. Here are 16 of their very best tips and tricks:
1. Always pack a snack and water.
"I never did this pre-kids and would always get hangry between meals or wouldn’t have water when I was thirsty. When I had kids, I started taking snacks for them when we’d be out and about and started keeping some around for me. Makes a huge difference to have a tiny granola bar or something to tide me over!"
2. When dealing with indecisive people, give them a few options you're OK with instead of simply asking what they want.
"When my nieces and nephew were young, I learned the mom trick of guiding their choices when it was something they didn't want to do. For example, instead of asking what vegetable they wanted and giving them unlimited options, I'd say, 'We have green beans, peas, or carrots. Which do you want with dinner?' Now, when I deal with anyone wishy-washy or demanding that won't admit what they want, I offer two options I'm willing to accommodate. They either feel they had the last word, or it forces them to vocalize what they actually want, and we can go from there."
3. Have a pack of wet wipes in your bathroom at home and a to-go pack in your bag.
"I never grew up learning the importance of wet wipes for a trip to the bathroom. So happy my kid taught me to carry a pack always!"
—Anonymous
4. Make doing chores fun by making it a game. For example, play music and challenge yourself to get a task done before the song ends.
"When I need my kids to pick something up, I put on a song (“Shake It Off” and “Butter” are crowd-pleasers at my house) and challenge them to get it done before the song is over. I used to use a timer, but a song is more fun and better motivation. And because they’re singing along, there’s less bickering! Lately, I’ve been doing the same thing to motivate myself. I put on some '90s pop and tell myself that I’m going to finish, say, emptying the dishwasher before the song is over. It keeps me focused, and I get stuff done so much faster."
5. Hiding vegetables in food works just as well on adults as it does on kids.
"You can hide extra vegetables in so many foods — pasta sauces, desserts, fried goodies, etc. It’s crazy what you can mask! My chocolate pudding is 85% avocado now!"
—Anonymous
6. Do at least one load of laundry every day.
"Wash, dry, fold, and put away. Then, you’re never behind, and it’s just part of your daily rhythm. I put a load in the wash before work. My husband, who works from home, usually transfers to the dryer during the day. One of us folds in the evening, and each family member puts theirs away."
7. Communicating with difficult people is a lot like communicating with a kid — and the same rules apply to both.
"I’ve learned to communicate with my 75-year-old father similarly to how I communicate with my 4-year-old. Once I had kids and my parents got older, I realized there are some wild similarities. Don’t argue with their one sided logic, especially when they’re tired, it’s not worth it. Be clear and to the point, firm but polite. Hold boundaries and, of course, offer a snack in a tense situation."
8. Make your lunch and lay out your clothes the night before.
"Set yourself up for the morning before you go to bed. That way, if you sleep in or are having a rough morning, you don't have to think about what you want to wear or worry about putting together a lunch. You just throw your clothes on and grab your lunch and off you go. It also helps if you need something specific for work because you won't be scrambling to find it in the morning."
—Anonymous
9. Don’t over schedule yourself.
"Doing too much just makes everyone tired and hungry — adults included. It’s a good thing to have some downtime."
10. Have over the counter lidocaine cream or spray with you wherever you go.
"I like carrying a small amount of cream with me at all times, because I can just throw it into my pocket without it bothering me. I’d use it on my kids for bites, cuts, and anything that bothers them enough to throw a tantrum. Now, I use it when say I’m at a patio having a drink and get stung, too."
—Anonymous
11. Run the dishwasher every night.
"Even if it’s not 'completely full' or 'has room for tomorrow.' This started when I was pumping my breast milk and needed to wash and sterilize the pump parts every night, but we’ve held on to it in our everyday life because it’s always easier to wake up to clean dishes that just need to be put away."
12. Always keep a roll of masking tape in the house and in the car.
"I keep a roll of regular masking tape from the dollar store around. Always. You spill something that’s tiny and would take too long to pick up? Masking tape. What picks up the darn glitter? Masking tape. Dogs hair on your kids clothes or bibs? Masking tape. Need to keep a drawer closed? Masking tape. I use it to get hair off my clothes now, too. If I randomly decide to buy something and I need to secure it? Masking tape! Don’t want to lose pieces of a broken toy/your jewelry? Masking tape! Best part? No residue! LOVE IT."
—Anonymous
13. Have a bedtime, as well as a bedtime routine you follow every night.
"Giving yourself a solid bedtime routine helps send the signal to your brain that it is time for bed. Personally, I get ready for bed, put my phone away, then read for 10 to 20 minutes before bed. It helps me wind down at the end of the day, and has made a huge difference in my ability to fall asleep."
—Anonymous
14. Give yourself little breaks while doing work, too.
"I give my kids a 15-minute break every 30 minutes of homework. I've started doing the same for myself when doing something big, and it makes it so much easier."
—Anonymous
15. Have a designated space — like a cubby — to keep your essentials.
"Having a cubby to put my stuff in has been a game-changer. Keys, shoes, cellphone charger, everything. I always know where it is now."
—Anonymous
16. And finally, always have a mini first aid kit on you.
"100% of the time. It started when I had a toddler that would fall and scratch their knee a lot, but now that my kid is not a toddler anymore, I'm using the first aid kit more than they are. It's the best decision I ever made."
—Anonymous
Do you have an adult-friendly "parenting" life hack you use in your daily life? If so, tell us about it in the comments below or via this anonymous form.
Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.