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Daily lifeUnethical life hacksConversational life hacksDaily habits to boost productivityHouse hacksCooking tips and hacksMumbai HacksBoosting productivity while studyingTravelMaking the best of daily commute timeMaking the best of in-flight timeProfessional lifeTips & tricks for interviewsWorking smarter instead of harderTechnologyWikipediaChrome1.a. Unethical life hacksA. Professional lifeApplying for a position you are not really good at?Add main keywords (related to the role and the industry) to your online resume in "white font". Most HR departments of big companies have a basic screening algorithm that scans the document for such keywords.Is this ethical? NO. Will it help you bypass the first line of defense? LIKELY.No idea about how good/bad your competition is for a particular job?Post an fake ad for a similar role (on any site you choose). This way you will get a good number of resumes you can use to come up with a benchmark.Are you a jackass for wasting people's time? YES. Will it help? YES.B. Making and saving moneyList your item on eBay and any other commerce site that allows bids. Create multiple fake accounts to drive up the asking price.Warning: This could land you in serious trouble with the authoritiesGo to the theater, watch the movie you wanted to, pay for 1 movie ticket, watch multiple moviesGet student discounts even after graduating. A lot of paid online sites have student discounts (can be accessed by using the college or university email). Things like train or flight tickets also have it (and just require your college ID card)As a research scholar, you can access almost all paywalled sites that host academic papers and journalsBut a first class air ticket, eat free for a yearP.S. Doesn't work everywhere1.b. Conversational life hacksEven though you are not really interested in it, ask people to "tell you more". They might ramble on for 2 more minutes, but they will feel welcome and would be more open to you.Fumbling and saying something off-topic, yet hilarious, is good. Occasionally. People can relate more with people they feel are fallible.STAY AWAY FROM YOUR PHONES!(Source: Modern Conversation)1.c. Daily habits to boost productivity#1. Multi-tasking.Before you say, "But true multi-tasking is nigh impossible", hear me out. My idea of multi-tasking is to combine two (and no more) tasks - one passive, and one that requires active participation.If you are on the phone, clean up your place. If you are stuck in traffic (but not driving), catch up on your reading list, listen to a good podcast, or reply to your emails and social media messages. Almost half of my daily reading is done during coffee breaks, while cooking dinner, or on my way to and from office. You can also catch up on the news by switching on your TV or on an audio news app in the morning while working out, eating breakfast, or getting ready.#2. Automate the mundane stuffAnytime you come across an activity that needs to be done on a regular, or semi-regular basis, it is always worth the time and effort to automate it.For example, you can use a host of recipes from IFTTT, to achieve this. Be it syncing and backing up your mails, social media data, and your phone content, or creating a custom news feed for yourself depending on your interest.#3. FILTERSThe current state of things, and primarily information generation, leaves most of us overwhelmed.A few months ago, I spent more than 2 weeks cleaning up my multiple mailboxes. I went through all emails in my inbox, deleted the useless ones, archived and categorized the important ones, blocked and unsubscribed from hundreds of mailing lists, set up rules and filters to auto archive or delete emails that fit the criteria. Granted it took me dozens of hours, but the final result was a clean inbox. Now I do this once every week (takes no more than 10-15 minutes) and only have unread or "to-do" emails in my primary inbox.I did a similar exercise on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Quora and purged my account by un-following multiple people, blogs, groups etc.Try it. Being organized pays off.1.d. House hacksKeep things in their proper place. Takes a little immediate effort but saves a lot of time and effort later on in finding them.Print your wifi password as a QR code and stick it on the wall. That way your guests can easily connect to your wifi and you don't have to tell them your password too.Know about some tips and tricks for a frugal living on: Waste Less-Gain More!DO NOT GET A TV: Saves both precious time and money. Any show that you actually care about can always be watched on the internet.Learn to make stuff. Something like a simple coffee table (wooden) or a small bookshelf.Use CFLs instead of bulbs or tubelights to save energy.Use the AC judiciously. My summer electric bill was 2000/month and in winter (that requires no heating) was only 400 for comparable other uses.Keep everything you need in the morning - handkerchiefs, keys, wallet, change, glasses, ID card, mobile charger - at one place to avoid muckups.Use free apps (like Viber) for calling your parents or SO.Bargain. ALWAYS! I got a sheesah for 500 bucks. The original quoted price was 3000.Better, search for the lowest price online before buying. Search for <"Item Name" lowest price India (or your country)".Works brilliantly for a lot of electronic stuff, especially mobiles and accessories.Always search for coupon codes before buying stuff.Use ThisYaThat.com - a book price comparison website - before buying any book online.Steve Jobs: The Exclusive biography is available for as high as 746 and as low as 521.Page on ThisyathatKeep all medicines in a medicine cabinet, all important documents in a big folder, all bills in a (makeshift) box.Buy handicrafts instead of branded items whenever possible: they look better, more vibrant, are cheaper and also promote the traditional arts industry.Paint your keys different color for easy reference and use. Save 2 minutes of fumbling time every time you open the door.Automate mundane tasks on your laptop - Use AutoHotkey.Keep track of your daily expenses using a expense manager app.Buy groceries and other essential items on a weekly basis. From the supermart. In bulk.Use your common sense.1.e. Cooking tips and hacksIf you are looking at reducing the overall time to cook a meal, including readying raw materials etc, then the most effective way is to treat cooking like scheduling a project with multiple modules.For example, I was making some spaghetti last night. It includes the following activities:Boiling the spaghetti - 20 minsChopping onions - 5 minsFrying onions - 5 minsChopping other vegetables - 10 minsStir-frying onions and vegetables - 10 minsMixing and cooking everything - 10 minsOn the surface it looks like an one-hour activity (20+5+5+10+10+10 = 60 mins).But:1, 3, 5 and 6 do not need active involvement; 2 and 4 do5 can only be done last3 can only be done after 2 is done, 5 can only be done after 3 and 4 are done1, 2 and 4 are independent activities (need no prior activities to be completed)So, in essence, it can be done only in 35 mins.​Simple rules:Anything that is happening on its own - boiling, simmering etc - should be started firstIn case of multiple activities that need manual intervention, start with the one that takes the longest.Do not make too much mess. People spend a lot of time clearing after cooking. I simply spread an old newspaper before starting, and all the waste is simply collected later and dumped (<1 min).Prepare raw material in bulk. Chop up veggies and store half for tomorrow. Having pasta today and tomorrow? Boil double and keep half in the refrigerator.Cook at the optimal temperature. Too low takes too much time; too high risks burning the recipe.Use covered pots and pans as much as possible. Simple 6th grade science - stuff cooks better and faster in a sealed, pressurized container.P.S. Use the last phase (when everything is done, and the meal is getting ready) for other activities like cleaning utensils from before, restocking your fridge, or sit down with your laptop and clean up your mailbox etc. Do not just stand there and wait. :)1.f. Mumbai hacksWhen in need, do not hesitate to ask people for help. Mumbaikars are a bunch of really helpful folks. I have never been ignored or turned down when I approached someone with a request.I guess it is partially because living in such a huge city with 2 million other souls makes everyone realize how small we are.Always factor in traffic conditions when making plans.Need to reach somewhere that usually takes 30 mins? Check the time. If it is from 8-11 am or 6-9 pm, you will encounter some really fucked up traffic. Start 90 mins before.Take the local/metro/monorail.You might have to bear with the crowd for some time, but you will definitely reach your destination on time. The same cannot be said about buses, autos or taxis.While travelling in local, have a map handy on your smartphone.Helps you know how far your station is.(I use this, linked directly on my homescreen)(related to #4) Better, download the m-Indicator app. Useful for knowing info about all modes of transport.Play store: Android Apps on Google PlayApple store: m-IndicatorWhile travelling in a crowded public transport, keep your valuables in your front pockets and your bag on the front side.If you travel regularly, get a pass (monthly, quarterly or annual). Saves you a precious few minutes everyday waiting in the ticketing queue.1.g. Boosting productivity while studyingRemove distractionsEasier said than done. Make sure you have a "DND" sign on the door of your room. Put you phone in silent mode (or if you are expecting a call, turn off all notifications except the ringer). Ensure that you are not signed into any social media/IM service. Ensure there is nothing too bright/contrasting in front of your eyes. Stow away your comics and books.Try and find some sublime, instrumental pieces and put it on at the bare minimum volume. Music has been shown to improve concentration and also helps to relax.(Image credits: reading.ac.ukAvoiding distractions and staying motivated)(Further read: I Listened To Music Designed For Focus By Scientists - And My Productivity Shot Up)Reward yourselfThe age old formula of incentivizing user behaviour works for self too. I love to snack while reading or studying. So I reward myself with a helping whenever I complete a module/chapter.The reward can be non-food too. Want to watch that particular video? Complete 5 modules. Wanna go down for a quick swim? Better speed up and wrap up the course till mid term.Take frequent breaksIt does no good sitting in one spot and poring over large volumes for hours on stretch. Slowly your concentration and efficiency will go down to the point where it's no longer advisable to continue. Also, taking a break just before finishing a task has been shown to improve retention as opposed to completing it in one go.The Zeigarnik effect states that people remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than completed tasks.Take a break. A glass of water. Some stretches maybe. Lie down for 5 minutes. Ensure that you do not overload your visual faculties (so no books/comics/videos).Make the environment conduciveIs the lighting fine?Is the temperature comfortable?Is your posture good?Is your body relaxed?Ask yourself these questions. Be sure that you are not exerting your body or mind any more than it should be.Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and in what time frameExams are a rough time. There is a lot to cover but never enough time. So be prepared with a battle plan. How much there is to study? How much time do you have? What are the most crucial parts? Do you need time for a final revision?Be prepared with a checklist. And a rough timeline. Keep yourself on track with regular checks.2.a. Making the best of daily commute timeYou could read.Best short stories online100s of free literary works from Project GutenbergBest Wikipedia articles75 great online comics to readOr just take a book or your kindle with youYou could learn.Best Youtube channels for learningMust read sites and blogs for MBA studentsYou could have some fun.A few short movies to watchThe best Youtube channels to subscribe toListen to some great podcastsYou could catch up on the news.Or just talk to people, be part of interesting conversations, know others, know yourself.You could work on a hobby of yours - writing, doodling, sketching etc.2.b. Making the best of in-flight timeIf you are going on a business trip, use the time to prepare yourself for the meetings, to send meeting notes, next steps, thank you notes to clients etc.If you are flying for leisure,Read a book: Seriously. That one book you had been putting off for the past few months? Read it. While you are at home, there are a plethora of things to do and other distractions. While you are flying, you are disconnected from the world - no mails, no IMs, no facebook, twitter or quora. So grab that bundle of pages where someone has created a vivid fantasy world, penned a heart-wrenching story, exposed the truth, and give it the time it deserves.I mean, the only reason you are allowed a backpack with you on board is so that you can carry a book or two :)Strike up a conversation: I mean, face it. Not always do you get the opportunity to bore people for hours on end without them having a way to escape :DOn a serious note, you come across a widely interesting array of people while travelling. And each of them has a tale to tell. Something that might stick with you for the remainder of your life, make you laugh when you are feeling blue, or provide the inspiration for your novel when you retire and finally have the time to pen it down.You might end up having a good time and making a good friend or a business acquaintance/future partner.Catch up with people: In today's super-busy lifestyle that plagues most of us, we do not have time to catch up with old friends and acquaintances.Do it when you are flying. Drop them a simple hello. Or a detailed description of how you have been.Develop a hobby or learn a new skill: Always wanted to learn that handy design software? Or learn the basic words of Dothraki or Klingon? Wanted to know the rules of playing Poker? Or bridge?Guess what? You can do it hovering thousand of meters above the ground.Finish all ad-hoc workCatalog and back up all relevant informationChange your iPod playlistCreate the to-do/to-read/to-watch/to-buy list for the next monthRearrange your photographs into albumsWrite your journal or blogDe-clutter your mailboxIntrospectSomething really important which most people ignore in their daily lives. Plug in your headphones, play some Floyd, sit back, close your eyes. And THINK. Think what you want to do. Think where you are right now and is it what you had always wanted? Think and be thankful for everything in life. Think of what problems are plaguing you currently and how you will tackle them and kick them in the nuts when you land.Or don't. Let your mind be blank. Let it wander into the abstract and the surreal. Let it be at harmony with the universe.Inner peace, brother!3.a. Tips & tricks for interviewsFirst impressions are pretty important (Primacy effect).So make sure you are appropriately dressed, well-groomed, and enter the room with a smile and a pleasing countenance.So is the final impression. (Recency effect)Make sure you end the interview on a good note. Do your homework when it comes to the role you are applying for, the company profile, the industry outlook and future trajectory.Most interviews end with the interviewer soliciting questions from the candidate. Try and ask something relevant and interesting.Get some sleep the night before.You want to be well-rested and fully awake the next day. Lack of sleep would mean you are a little foggy, grumpy, and not performing at your best.Be honest.Nobody expects you to be perfect and all-knowing. If you do not know something, admit it. It is better than beating-around-the-bush and trying to cover up, which almost never works. And if you get caught bluffing, it's a sure shot way of getting rejected.Be yourself.Some people try to be nicer. Some try to be more professional. And it backfires a lot of time. You can either come across as a suck-up, or downright rude. Also, if you are not preoccupied with the pretense you are putting up, you can focus more on the things that actually matter.Clean up your social media footprint.A lot of interviewers have started doing background research on candidates by going through their social media profiles.Make sure that your Linkedin profile is updated, there are no objectionable photos on your Instagram account, your retarded, inflammatory, or plain ignorant Facebook posts.Make sure your resume is updated.If the latest item on your resume is something you did more than a year ago, you will come across as either incompetent or just too lazy to even update your profile.Arrive on time.Don't think, "It's just a 15-minute ride. I will start 20 minutes early". Start an hour before instead. Make sure you have factored in any chance unfortunate incidents like an unlikely jam, an accident, the cab breaking down, not being able to find the office or the exact interview location.Also, if you arrive decently early, you have time to do a sanity check. Wash your face, comb your hair, check your documents, be mentally prepared. Make sure your "interview persona" takes over as soon as you enter the company premises. Be polite to everyone starting including the security guard and receptionist. You never know who else is there in the waiting area.Treat it like a date.Make it an interesting conversation rather than a terrifying interrogation. After all, you are there not only for the interviewer to judge your competency, but also for you to evaluate whether the profile, the team, and the company culture is in sync with your personality.3.b. Working smarter instead of harderA. At workBookmark the most visited pages to save the hassle of typing tens of times a dayAutomate regular tasks. Use JS, Python, Macros, Autohotkey, Windows Scheduler etc to set and send reminders, run scripts, backup your data etc.Good AHK (AutoHotKey) tricksScripts Every DayUse RescueTime to manage your time and distractionsLearn Keyboard ShortcutsCreate a To-Do list for the next day before leaving. Start out next day by first finishing all those tasksKeep your mailbox organized. Whenever a new email comes, you either respond and archive, or read and archive (if it does not require anything from you), delete (not relevant), or flag as a "to-do-later"Multi-task: If you are a passive participant on a conference call, take a stroll while on the phone.Make use of Chrome extensionsIf your job requires you to travel frequently, make the best of it.Whenever you finish a task, or a project, archive it in any manner so that you can use it later during your performance and appraisal discussionsB. In school/collegeUse Zotero for managing references and creating bibliographies while working on research papers and reportsIncrease your productivity while studyingMake the best use of WikipediaC. Personal lifeIf it takes less than 5 minutes to complete, do it right awayCall your parents, friends, and family while you are commuting to work/schoolOr, you could readHack your houseMake a personal, 30-40 minute mixtape. Ensure that the tempo increases with each song. Aim to complete all your morning tasks and get ready before the playlist ends. The increasing tempo will make sure you have a rough idea how much time is left4.a. WikipediaPrint a book of selected Wikipedia articles.Go to the Wikipedia main page and click on the "Create a book" link in the left sidebar. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)​Click on "Start Book Creator".After that, you will get the following section on any wiki page you visit.​Just visit the Wikipedia pages you want to collate as a book and keep clicking on the "Add this page to your book" link.After you are done adding, click on "Show Book".You will reach the following page where you can customize the book - add chapters. reorder the articles etc.Download the book in any format you like using the link at the right-bottom.4.b. ChromeXmarks Bookmark Sync : The most user-friendly bookmark manager. Now, never lose the sites you love.Save to Pocket : Read anything interesting? Save it to your personal collection with the clink of a button.uBlock Origin : Annoyed of the ads and the silly pop-ups? Hate waiting. Allow uBlock to care of them while you enjoy a seamless browsing experience. Now that Adblock has been sold to Adblock Plus, it will allow some paid ads to pass through, not uBlock. uBlock is like Gandalf.Honey : Who doesn't like saving while shopping? Be notified of deals, coupons, and promo codes whenever you buy something online.Lazarus: Form Recovery : Hate when you type something and it gets lost due to a browser or laptop crash? Lazarus will remember for you the next time.Google Translate : Translate foreign words on the go.Google Dictionary (by Google) : Simplest online dictionary.Turn Off the Lights : Watching a movie at home, but want the theater experience? Turn off your browser lights.Any.do Extension : Make and sync to-do lists on the go. Plan your day more effectively.ZenMate Security, Privacy & Unblock VPN : Hate when online content is not available in your country or region? Use ZenMate to create your own personal VPN to bypass it.MightyText : Can you type faster on your phone than on a keyboard? If not, MightyText helps you receive and send messages from your laptop.Price Blink : In conjugation with #4 (Honey), save even more by buying from the seller offering the best deal.Wolfram|Alpha (Official) : Your mathematical assistant, now is a tiny extension.WOT: Web of Trust, Website Reputation Ratings : Be more aware of the security risks while visiting a website. The trusted WOT community rates websites as per security threat levels.Project Naptha : Saw an awesome text-on-image that you would love to share but hate typing it? Project Naptha renders the text on images as usable text.