9 Reasons to Be Cautious About Using Life Hacks
Knowing the pitfalls can help
I’m a sucker for a good life hack. I remove the tops of my strawberries using a straw, I take a photo of my luggage before I fly, and I’ve used the Pomodoro time management system. I’ve even written about my own life hacking methods on occasion. Life hacks can be useful and practical. And if I know the right tools and systems, I can maximize my life, right?
I just finished reading Can’t Hurt Me, David Goggins’ motivational autobiography about transforming his childhood pain into exceptional discipline to become an elite soldier and top endurance athlete. Despite his penchant for calling weak men “vaginas” (vaginas birth children, sir), I found wisdom in Goggins’ words.
Our culture has become hooked on the quick fix, the life hack […]. Even the best…hack is nothing but a temporary fix. It won’t rewire your brain. It won’t amplify your voice or uplift your life. — David Goggins, Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds
He emphasizes that the important things in life can’t be hacked.
He also alludes to life hack culture, which includes more than one-off tips about cooking or organization. For Millenials and Gen Zers, life hackers themselves like Tim Ferriss have a particular allure. Life hackers have…
