How to Make Your Life More Complicated, Not Less

A satirical guide to terrible lifehacks and the subtle art of wasting your own time

Are you tired of things being too easy? Do you wake up some days thinking, “Wow, life is running so smoothly—I miss chaos”? Well, you’re in luck. We’ve compiled the ultimate anti-lifehacking guide to ensure you spend more time, energy, and brainpower solving problems you didn’t have in the first place.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the most convoluted “lifehacks” out there, so you can learn how not to simplify your life. (And, in the process, maybe spot what actually works.)

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💰1. Replace Your Wallet with a Rubber Band and a Deep Sense of Regret

What they say:

“Minimalism is key! Ditch your wallet for a sleek rubber band that holds just two cards and a folded emergency tissue!”

Why it doesn’t work:

Nothing says I have my life together like dropping all your cards at the checkout counter because you decided your wallet had “bad vibes.” Add in the thrill of fishing out your debit card from your jeans in front of 11 impatient people. Peak efficiency.

What actually works:

Use a slim wallet if bulk bothers you, but keep functionality. A wallet should not double as a Jenga game every time you need to pay for groceries.

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⏰ 2. Wake Up at 4:00 AM Just to Post About Waking Up at 4:00 AM

What they say:

“Successful people wake up early. Join the 4 AM club and journal, meditate, run a marathon, and solve world hunger before sunrise.”

Why it doesn’t work:

Unless your life goal is to hallucinate from sleep deprivation, this isn’t sustainable for most people. You’ll be asleep at your desk by 2 PM, dreaming about the nap you could have had if you weren’t so “optimized.”

What actually works:

Find a sleep schedule that works for your energy levels and commitments. Productivity isn’t about the hour you rise—it’s about what you do while you’re awake.

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🖍️ 3. Color-Code Everything. Even Your Cereal

What they say:

“Organize your life with 37 different colors and a spreadsheet that only a NASA engineer could decode.”

Why it doesn’t work:

You’ll spend more time choosing the right shade of teal for your “light errands” category than doing the actual errands. Also, good luck remembering what “aggressively periwinkle” meant.

What actually works:

Basic systems win. Use 2–3 colors max. If your system needs a legend to decode, it’s not a system—it’s an art project.

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💧 4. Use Toothpaste to Fix Literally Everything

What they say:

“Did you know toothpaste can clean your headlights, whiten your sneakers, fix scratched DVDs, and serve as a grout replacement?”

Why it doesn’t work:

Congratulations, your shoes now smell like spearmint and your DVD still doesn’t play. But hey, at least your headlights are slightly stickier than before!

What actually works:

Use actual cleaning products. The dollar you save now may cost you a full replacement later.

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📥 5. “Inbox Zero” – The Myth, The Legend, The 14-Hour Journey

What they say:

“An empty inbox is the key to peace of mind. Reply to every email instantly. Archive. Label. Delete. Repeat.”

Why it doesn’t work:

You’ll spend your entire day managing your inbox instead of doing, well, work. And surprise—five more emails just arrived.

What actually works:

Batch process your emails 1–2 times a day. Prioritize, respond to what’s urgent, and let the rest breathe. Real productivity is measured in outcomes, not read receipts.

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🌿 Bonus Round: DIY Toothbrush from a Tree Branch

What they say:

“Why buy a toothbrush when nature provides?”

Why it doesn’t work:

Because you’re not in a survival reality show, Karen. And trees don’t come with ADA approval.

What actually works:

Buy a toothbrush. It costs ₹30.

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🕵️‍♀️ So, How Do You Spot a Real Lifehack?

Glad you asked. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

• ✅ It saves you time without needing a PhD to implement.
• 🔁 It’s repeatable and doesn’t depend on moon phases or your rising sign.
• 💸 It doesn’t require buying 15 other things to “simplify” your life.
• 👀 It works for more than one influencer on YouTube.

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🎯 Final Thoughts

Life doesn’t need to be harder. But if you insist on bathing with lemon peels to “absorb energy” while tracking your steps on three devices, who are we to stop you?

Just remember: a true lifehack should give you back time, not steal it.

So the next time someone tells you to “put rice in your phone speaker to improve audio quality,” ask yourself: Is this genius… or is this just complicated for the sake of it?

Happy un-hacking. ✌️

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📢 Join the Conversation

Do you have any lifehacks that you found to be counterproductive?
👇 Share them in the comments below!