HowToLiveBetter
CURATED / 50 ACTIONS

Start with these 50 high-value actions

A practical starting set drawn from the original guide, chosen for low cost, strong potential benefit, supporting evidence and clear next steps. Review each one and decide what fits your life.

This is an editorial starting list, not a precise ranking of returns. Check each full entry, source and your circumstances before acting.Explore the book
01 / 05

Safety and health basics

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01
01.01 · A

Always wear seat belts, both front and back

For a front-seat occupant of a passenger car, wearing a seat belt lowers the estimated risk of dying in a crash by more than 40%. For a front-seat occupant of a light truck, the reduction is 60%. Among people killed in passenger vehicles in the United States in 2022 whose restraint use was known, half were not wearing a seat belt.

CostNo cost at all. It only adds about 2 seconds to every trip.

BenefitThe U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury for fron…

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02
01.02 · A

Wearing a helmet and fastening the strap while riding motorcycles or e-bikes

Among motorcyclists involved in accidents, deaths and head injuries are markedly less common in those wearing a helmet with the strap properly fastened. The strap must be tightened; a helmet that simply hangs loosely on the head does not count as being worn.

CostA helmet costs between 100 and 300 yuan. It takes just 5 seconds to put on each time.

BenefitCochrane pooled data from multiple studies. Deaths and head injuries were markedly less common among motorcyclists wearing helmets…

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03
01.03 · B

Install smoke alarms; those heating with coal or gas in winter should also add a carbon monoxide alarm

With a working smoke alarm at home, deaths in residential fires are markedly less common. In 40% of US residential fires that caused deaths, someone was asleep when the fire started. If you burn coal or use gas indoors in winter, add a carbon monoxide alarm. In China, 11,500 people died from carbon monoxide poisoning in 2018; during the three winter months, about 70% of the deaths occurred at home.

CostA smoke alarm costs between 30 and 100 yuan. A carbon monoxide alarm costs between 50 and 150 yuan.…

BenefitA study in North Carolina examined homes that had experienced fires versus those that hadn’t. With a working smoke alarm at home,…

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04
01.06 · A

Electric bicycles must not be pushed into stairwells, elevators, or charged indoors

Parking electric bicycles or charging them in the lobbies, corridors, and stairwells of high-rise residential buildings is explicitly prohibited by the regulations of the China’s Ministry of Emergency Management. For those who do not rectify the behavior, individuals will be fined 500 to 1000 yuan, and businesses will be fined 2000 to 10000 yuan. The fine is a minor matter; the critical issue is that these are the routes needed for evacuation and escape when a fire breaks out.

CostNo direct cost. The tricky part is having to walk a few dozen meters each time to reach the designat…

BenefitThe regulations of the China’s Ministry of Emergency Management explicitly prohibit: "It is forbidden to park electric bicycles or…

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05
01.07 · A

Measuring blood pressure and taking meds to reach target levels

For every 10 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure, the probability of major cardiovascular problems decreases by twenty percent, and the probability of stroke decreases by 27%. Heart failure decreases by 28%, and the probability of death decreases by 13%. Among people in China aged 35 to 75, 44.7% have hypertension, and only 7.2% have truly controlled it.

CostAn electronic sphygmomanometer costs 100–200 RMB. Each measurement takes 1 minute. Most antihyperten…

BenefitData from 123 clinical trials involving over 610,000 participants shows that a 10 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure lowers…

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06
01.09 · B

Drive without speeding, without drunk driving, without looking at your phone, and stop to rest when tired

For every 1% increase in average speed, the probability of a fatal accident increases by approximately 4%. There is no safety line for alcohol where "a little bit is fine." When handling a phone while driving, accident risk is about 3.6 times that of focused driving, and about 12.2 times when dialing. When drowsiness is obvious to others, risk is about 3.4 times as high.

CostIt costs nothing. Driving slower means spending a few extra minutes per trip. The difficult part is…

BenefitAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO): for every 1% increase in average speed, the risk of fatal accidents increases by…

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07
02.02 · A

Don’t smoke at home or in the car, and don’t let guests smoke indoors

In 2004, approximately 600,000 people worldwide died from inhaling others' smoke, nearly 30% of whom were children. People exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to develop hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Inhaling smoke at home is more harmful than exposure away from home.

CostThere is no monetary cost and it takes little time. The challenge is simply having the conversation…

BenefitIn 2004, secondhand smoke caused 603,000 deaths globally, about 1.0% of all deaths, with children accounting for 28%. Pooling 57 s…

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08
02.15 · A

Accumulating brief bouts of strenuous activity like stair climbing or brisk walking to total 4–5 minutes per day

For individuals who do not exercise regularly, performing just three 1–2 minute bouts of strenuous activity each day can reduce their overall risk of death by roughly 40% compared to those who do none at all. Their risk of dying from cardiovascular causes also drops by nearly half. Such strenuous activities include stair climbing and brisk walking.

CostThere is no cost involved, and no extra time needs to be set aside for exercise. The main challenge…

BenefitA study conducted by the UK Biobank involved 25,200 participants who did not engage in regular exercise. After an average follow-u…

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09
02.17 · A

Don’t sit for too long at a time — get up and move every now and then

People who sit the longest have a mortality risk more than 150% higher compared to those who sit the least. Sitting continuously for long stretches adds extra risk on top of that. However, if you get 60–75 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each day, this extra risk from prolonged sitting is largely offset.

CostIt costs nothing; getting up a few times doesn’t take much time at all. The hard part is that once y…

BenefitOne U.S. observational study used accelerometers to measure activity levels without randomly assigning participants. It divided pe…

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10
02.19 · A

Drink less or no alcohol

After consuming 100 g of pure alcohol per week, the more one drinks, the earlier they tend to die. 100 g of pure alcohol is roughly equivalent to 2.5 L of beer. At age 40, people who drink 100–200 g per week lose about half a year of life expectancy; those drinking 200–350 g lose 1–2 years; and those drinking over 350 g lose 4–5 years. Overall, the healthiest amount to consume is none at all.

CostThere is no cost at all — it saves money and time. The only difficulty is handling social pressure t…

BenefitA combined analysis of 83 longitudinal studies involving 600,000 drinkers showed that the lowest mortality risk occurs at consumpt…

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02 / 05

Daily habits and time

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11
02.07 · A

Not drinking sugary drinks — even switching to sugar-free ones doesn’t help

In studies from the United States, people who drink at least two servings of sugary drinks daily have a mortality risk approximately 20% higher than those who drink almost none. Those drinking one to two servings daily also have a risk more than 10% higher. No benefit from sugar-free alternatives was observed in these data: people who drink at least two cups of sugar-substitute drinks daily actually have a risk approximately 25% higher.

CostThere’s no cost involved, nor does it take any extra time. Switching to plain water or sugar-free te…

BenefitTwo large U.S. studies followed large groups of people without any subgroup categorization; together they included around 118,000…

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12
02.18 · A

Eat less processed meat (ham, bacon, sausages, luncheon meat)

People who eat the most ham, bacon, sausages, and similar processed meats have a roughly 20% higher chance of dying during the same period compared to those who eat the least. For every extra serving of processed meat consumed daily, that risk rises by another 20%.

CostIt costs nothing — in fact, it saves money — and doesn’t take extra time. The hard part is simply ea…

BenefitWhen multiple long‑term studies are pooled together (without separating participants into groups), the group eating the most proce…

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13
02.22 · A

Eating a small handful of nuts daily

People who regularly eat nuts have roughly 20% lower mortality rates than those who don’t. Even eating nuts just once a week yields a 10% reduction in risk. The greatest benefit is seen when intake reaches a daily handful.

CostConsuming 28 grams per day costs roughly 200–300 yuan annually. It’s easy to fit into your routine w…

BenefitTwo U.S.-based longitudinal studies tracked 119,000 participants over more than 3 million person-years. Compared to non-nut eaters…

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14
02.24 · A

Swap some refined rice and flour for whole grains

People who eat an extra 90 g of whole grains daily have a roughly 17% lower risk of dying during the same period. That amount equals about three servings. The risk continues to drop when intake rises to around 200 g per day.

CostWhole grain options like brown rice, oats, and whole wheat flour cost slightly more than refined var…

BenefitPooled data from multiple observational studies (no intervention groups used) shows that adding 90 g of whole grains each day lowe…

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15
02.30 · A

Let hot drinks cool down before drinking; avoid tea, soup, and coffee that are piping hot

In a study from a high-incidence area of Iran, very hot tea was associated with about 8 times the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, a type of esophageal cancer, compared with warm tea. Even “hot” tea was associated with about twice the risk. Drinking within two minutes of pouring was associated with about 5 times the risk of waiting at least four minutes.

CostThere’s no monetary cost — you just need to wait two to three extra minutes each time. The hard part…

BenefitIn northern Iran, in an area with high esophageal cancer incidence, 300 patients were compared with 571 people without the disease…

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16
03.04 · A

Avoid caffeine after 2 p.m

Taking 400 mg of caffeine—roughly three to four cups of coffee—6 hours before bed reduced objectively measured sleep by more than an hour that night. Yet participants’ sleep diaries showed no clear difference. A 250 mL cup containing 107 mg should be finished more than 8.8 hours before bed to avoid reducing sleep. For a 23:00 bedtime, that means a cutoff around 14:00.

CostNo cost involved. People accustomed to drinking coffee in the afternoon must summon some willpower t…

BenefitTaking a tablet with 400 mg of caffeine 6 hours before bed, total sleep time measured by instruments was 1.1 to 1.2 hours less tha…

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17
03.06 · B

When doing tasks that require continuous thinking, keep out even brief interruptions

Even a brief interruption lasting 2.8 seconds on average doubles the chance of errors in subsequent steps of a sequential task. An interruption of 4.4 seconds triples that error rate. Field observations also show that it takes an average of 25 minutes to return to the interrupted task, with two other unrelated tasks squeezed in during that time. People who get interrupted do finish tasks faster, but they report higher levels of stress, frustration, effort, and time pressure.

CostNo cost at all. Just close the door, put on headphones, or hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign.

BenefitOn average, a 2.8-second interruption doubles the error rate for sequential tasks, while a 4.4-second interruption triples it. Thi…

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18
04.01 · A

Write “what to do” as “if… then…”

Change “I plan to do this” into “If I sit at my desk at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, I’ll start by writing the introduction.” Across 94 separate studies, people who used this phrasing were far more likely to achieve their goals — this effect is moderate to large. All it requires is rewriting one sentence; there’s no expense and almost no extra effort.

CostNo cost at all. Each step takes just 1–2 minutes — simply write a sentence like “If… then…”. For exa…

BenefitWhen all 94 studies are combined, individuals who expressed their plans as “if… then…” statements had significantly higher success…

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19
04.04 · B

Estimate timelines based on actual time taken in past similar tasks, not on plans

Students who estimated they would finish a paper in 33.9 days actually took 55.5 days to complete it; only 29.7% of them met their own estimates. Another group of students was asked to first recall how long similar tasks had taken them in the past before making their estimates. The proportion of students who finished on time rose from 29.3% to 60.0% in this group.

CostNo cost at all. It only requires a few minutes of review to look up how long similar tasks took prev…

BenefitStudents originally expected to finish their papers in 33.9 days, but the actual time taken was 55.5 days. Only 29.7% of them comp…

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20
04.06 · B

Cut down on meetings – use written asynchronous communication when possible

The more meetings you have in a day, the more exhausted you feel, and the more work seems to pile up on your plate. Canceling even one meeting frees up exactly as much time as the meeting itself lasts – no less, no more.

CostNo monetary cost. Requires cooperation from colleagues and supervisors. The main difficulty is that…

BenefitTwo surveys involved employees working 35+ hours per week – one with 676 participants, the other with 304. How much time meetings…

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03 / 05

Money and risk

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21
05.06 · A

Walk away the moment you see “high returns,” “guaranteed returns,” or “sure profits”

The former Chairman of the CBIRC said in 2018: if the yield exceeds 6%, you should question it; if it exceeds 8%, it is very dangerous; if it is above 10%, you should prepare to lose your entire principal. Regulated wealth management products are no longer allowed to promise guaranteed principal or returns. The money lost by participating in illegal fundraising must, according to regulations, be borne by yourself; if something goes wrong, no one will provide a safety net for you.

CostZero. Just pause for a moment when you encounter these phrases.

BenefitIn 2018, the former chairperson of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission stated at the Lujiazui Forum: “Any produc…

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22
05.15 · A

Infrequent stock trading

US households that traded most frequently in the 1990s earned only 11.4% annually, compared to 17.9% for the entire market during the same period; the gap was mainly due to transaction costs. In China's 2014–2015 period of extreme volatility, the smallest 85% of households traded too frequently. They earned 250 billion yuan less than those who simply held their positions, which is approximately 30% of their initial capital.

CostThere are no monetary costs. The real challenge is resisting the urge to trade whenever you see mark…

BenefitThis study examines 66,465 household accounts of US discount brokers from 1991 to 1996. The group with the most frequent trading s…

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23
05.16 · B

Don’t borrow money to invest, avoid leverage, and never buy assets you don’t understand

Borrowing money to buy stocks means that once the price falls below a certain line and you are unable to top up the funds, you will be subject to a forced sale. The losses on your account instantly become real losses, leaving you without even the opportunity to 'wait for it to rise back.' Regulatory provisions state that individuals who have engaged in securities trading for less than six months or whose average daily assets over the last 20 trading days are less than 500,000 yuan cannot open a margin account. This threshold itself demonstrates that it is not intended for ordinary people.

CostZero expense. The hard part is resisting the urge to “borrow some cash to make extra profits” when t…

BenefitLeverage essentially means borrowing money to make purchases, which also magnifies potential losses. After opening a margin accoun…

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24
05.19 · B

Don’t put all your money into one stock, one platform, or one property

As long as multiple assets don’t all rise or fall in perfect unison, spreading your money across them keeps your average expected returns the same, while reducing the ups and downs of your account balance. Conversely, if you invest all your funds in just one stock, platform, or property, any trouble with it directly impacts your entire portfolio.

CostNo cost at all. The hard part is accepting that you won’t always pick the single most profitable opt…

BenefitWhen several assets do not move in perfect lockstep, diversifying your investments maintains your expected returns while lowering…

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25
05.27 · C

Set aside an emergency fund equal to 3–6 months of living expenses in a readily accessible account

Keep 3 to 6 months of living expenses in a place where they can be withdrawn at any time. This way, in the event of unemployment or illness, you will not need to resort to high-interest debt such as credit card minimum payments, nor will you have to sell your current investments at a loss. Money kept in banks is covered by deposit insurance, with a maximum compensation of 500,000 yuan per bank.

CostThere is no direct monetary cost. The trade-off is forgoing higher returns; the funds must be kept i…

BenefitAn emergency fund eliminates the need to borrow money or sell investments at a loss during unexpected events like job loss or illn…

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26
05.39 · C

Only buy insurance for losses your savings can’t cover; use an emergency fund for losses you can afford

The premiums you pay won’t all be returned to you; a portion goes toward the insurer’s operating costs and profit. Therefore, insurance is worthwhile only for rare events that would otherwise overwhelm your finances — such as serious illness, a car accident causing injury to others, or the death of a primary breadwinner. For smaller losses that your savings can handle, an emergency fund is the better choice.

CostNo money is required. All you need to do is list the major potential losses your household might fac…

BenefitOnly a fraction of the premiums collected by insurers is paid out as claims. The remainder covers sales, administration, and profi…

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27
06.10 · C

Don’t spend a lot of money on health supplements, herbal formulas, or tonics to “improve your health”

Multivitamins, fish oil, vitamin D, and other common ingredients have already been checked one by one in the first six items of this section; none showed a benefit. The line on the pack — “Health food is not a drug and cannot replace drug treatment of disease” — is required by the agency that regulates health foods. If the money is meant as a gift for parents brought to the door, the intention is fine; only the product is the wrong choice.

CostPrices range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of yuan. Once packaged as gifts, the price ofte…

BenefitWhat you get back is the money saved. The reasons are in the first 6 items of this section. The most common ingredients in health…

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28
07.09 · A

Do not miss the annual 400‑yuan payment for basic medical insurance; subsidies are available for low‑income households

Individuals pay from 400 yuan a year; in 2025 finance adds no less than 700 yuan per person. Extremely poor persons get full funding; dibao recipients get a fixed subsidy. Lapsing has a cost: if you did not enroll in the concentrated window, or did not keep continuous payments, after you pay there are 3 months when medical care is not reimbursed, and each extra year interrupted adds another 1 month in principle.

CostEach individual must pay at least 400 yuan per year. This is the national standard for 2024 and 2025…

BenefitBesides the individual share, finance adds a further amount per person. In 2024 it was no less than 670 yuan. In 2025 it rose 30 y…

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29
08.04 · B

Seeing a face on video or hearing a voice on the phone does not count as verification; if a transfer is involved, hang up first and call back using an old number saved in your contacts

Seeing someone’s face or hearing their voice is not reliable proof of identity. Whenever money transfer is mentioned, hang up immediately and call back using an old number stored in your contacts, or ask someone you both know. If the caller claims “poor signal” or “I’m in a meeting” and refuses a live video chat, treat it as a scam.

CostNo cost involved. It only requires making one extra call and waiting a few extra minutes. In general…

BenefitThe Cybersecurity Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security has outlined three key measures. First is motion verification: ask the…

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30
12.01 · B

Only invest money you can afford to lose — never use family savings or borrowed funds

Debts of a sole proprietorship come out of assets in your name. If it's unclear whether the whole family ran the business, creditors can reach family property. A company doesn't fully shield you either: when the company can't pay, what you promised as subscribed capital but haven't paid yet can be called in early. Size your stake by «I could lose it all and still pay the mortgage and medical bills».

CostZero upfront cost. Before you start, set a personal limit: this is the maximum amount you can lose w…

BenefitLosing money isn't the only risk. For a sole proprietorship, if you ran the business alone, debts are paid from property in your n…

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04 / 05

Accounts, rights and property

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08.02 · A

If you realize you’ve been scammed, call 110 or 96110 right away to request a stop‑payment — don’t try to investigate on your own first

The brief period immediately after the money is transferred is the most critical; the police can implement emergency payment stops and rapid freezing, and banks must cooperate. Once the money has been transferred away and dispersed, the chances of recovery become much smaller. Therefore, call 110 or 96110 first; do not attempt to investigate or inquire on your own first. When 96110 calls, it is the police attempting to dissuade you, and you must answer.

CostNo cost at all. Just make one call, clearly stating the time of the transfer, the amount, and the sc…

BenefitLaw enforcement has the authority to instantly query, urgently stop‑pay, and swiftly freeze any funds linked to a scam. Banks and…

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32
08.08 · A

Never lend your bank cards, SIM cards, or payment accounts to anyone — “money laundering” is not a side hustle

Renting, lending, or selling bank cards, SIM cards, and payment accounts to others is illegal in itself. Illegal gains are confiscated, and additional fines range from 1 to 10 times the illegal gains; if there are no illegal gains or they are below 20000 yuan, the maximum fine is 200,000 yuan, and serious cases may result in detention of up to 15 days. If you knowingly assist someone in receiving or transferring money for criminal activities, in serious circumstances it constitutes the crime of assisting information network criminal activities, punishable by up to 3 years in prison.

CostZero. Some people claim “just lend your card for a few transactions and you’ll get a few hundred yua…

BenefitRenting, lending, or buying and selling telephone cards, bank accounts, payment accounts, and internet accounts is illegal in itse…

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33
08.17 · A

Read the document thoroughly before signing; never sign on behalf of others or on blank paper

Once signed, it is valid; a fingerprint is as valid as a signature. Claims of "not seeing clearly" or "thinking it was something else" are difficult to establish in court. Therefore, spend a few extra minutes reading from beginning to end, ask questions on the spot if something is incomprehensible, and take photos for your records. Do not sign for others, do not sign on blank paper, and clearly state the purpose on copies of your ID card.

CostThere is no cost involved. Simply spend a few extra minutes reading contracts, IOUs, guarantee lette…

BenefitLegally executed contracts are protected by law and bind both parties. Once signed, obligations must be fulfilled as agreed. Artic…

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34
08.18 · A

Write a clear loan agreement when lending money; think carefully before agreeing to be a guarantor

The loan agreement must include all key details: who the lender and borrower are, the amount, interest rate, term, and repayment method, plus both signatures. Always use bank transfers instead of cash — this makes it much easier to pursue legal action if needed. Before agreeing to be a guarantor, check whether the contract mentions “joint and several liability.” Under a standard guarantee, creditors must first sue the borrower and exhaust all collection efforts before they can demand repayment from you. But if you sign a joint and several liability guarantee, creditors can demand payment from you directly.

CostThere is no cost involved. Simply use a piece of paper to list the lender, borrower, amount, interes…

BenefitLoan contracts must be in writing, with standard clauses covering the type of loan, currency, intended use, amount, interest rate,…

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35
08.19 · A

Time limits for legal action: 3 years for civil lawsuits, 1 year for labor arbitration; once the deadline passes, a simple “statute of limitations exceeded” claim can block your case

The civil limitation period is 3 years from the day you learn your rights were harmed. Once it expires, the court does not raise it itself, but the other party can defeat recovery simply by pleading expiry. Before the 3 years expire, one documented payment demand can restart the 3-year period. Labour disputes have a separate 1-year arbitration period.

CostZero cost. Don’t just hope for payment in silence — use WeChat, text messages, email, or certified m…

BenefitThe Civil Code stipulates that "the limitation period for requesting the People's Court to protect civil rights is three years." T…

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36
14.01 · A

Enable two-factor authentication on email, payment, and social accounts; prioritize phone pop-ups over SMS codes

Two-step verification means confirming that it is really you in addition to entering a password. A prompt on your phone that you tap to confirm blocked more than 90% of phishing-related account takeovers; SMS codes were easier to steal than phone prompts. Older methods that ask where you last signed in or what your backup email is blocked as little as 10% of phishing attempts.

CostNo cost involved. Each account takes just two to three minutes to set up once.

BenefitGoogle studied 350,000 real account-takeover attempts, also called account hijacking. One category used a device, such as a confir…

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37
14.02 · C

Use a unique password solely for your email

If a password you use elsewhere gets stolen, attackers can use it to log straight into your email account. Once they gain access to your email, they can reset passwords for any other accounts linked to it. Therefore, your email password must be unique and never reused anywhere else.

CostNo cost involved. Storing it in a password manager eliminates the need to memorize it. The real chal…

BenefitTrying account names and passwords leaked elsewhere against other services is called credential stuffing; attackers may try it aga…

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38
14.03 · C

Set a screen lock on your phone and a PIN for the SIM card

The SIM is the small card in your phone that receives SMS verification codes. If you lose your phone, someone may remove the card, insert it into another phone, receive your codes and reset your accounts one by one. A SIM PIN requires that code when the card is powered on in another phone, blocking this route.

CostNo cost at all. You only need to set the screen lock and the SIM PIN once each.

BenefitAfter a phone is lost, one of the quickest routes for the finder is to put its SIM into another phone and receive SMS verification…

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39
15.03 · A

Real estate agents must not collect or remit rent and security deposits; payments go straight to landlords

By rule, rent and deposits must not be collected or paid through an agent — pay the landlord directly. Every time the money passes through the agent, there is one more chance for them to take it and disappear. Before you pay, check that the payee’s name matches the name on the title certificate.

CostNo cost at all. It takes just a few minutes to verify the recipient before paying. The hard part is…

BenefitAdministrative rules explicitly forbid real estate agencies from collecting or remitting rent and security deposits on behalf of l…

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40
19.08 · B

Save pay stubs, attendance records, employment contracts, social insurance documents, and chat logs before leaving your job

In China, employers bear the burden of proof for disputes such as dismissal and pay cuts, but you must first prove overtime, and employers only have to retain wage records for two years. Once the computer and account are returned, you lose access. Pay slips, attendance, social-insurance records and original chats give you evidence when the employer denies your claim.

CostNo expense required. It takes about half an hour to save all these documents. The tricky part is rem…

BenefitOnce you return the computer and accounts, these materials are gone for good. Labor disputes follow “who asserts must prove”: what…

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05 / 05

Emergencies and learning

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41
13.03 · A

Sudden facial drooping, weakness in one arm, and slurred speech — call 120 immediately; don’t wait or drive yourself

Sudden facial drooping, weakness in one arm or unclear speech: any one of these is a reason to call 120 immediately. When a stroke can be treated with clot-dissolving medicine, earlier treatment gives a better chance of recovery. Do not give up emergency care after 4.5 hours or if onset time is unknown; doctors must assess eligibility. Record the onset time. Emergency personnel should take the patient to a hospital that can provide thrombolysis.

CostNo cost at all. These three steps are easy to remember: ask the person to smile, raise both arms str…

BenefitA meta-analysis pooled individual data from 9 randomized trials of intravenous thrombolysis involving 6756 patients with acute isc…

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42
13.07 · B

If chest pain, tightness, or pressure does not subside after more than 15 minutes, or if pain is accompanied by cold sweats, nausea, or shortness of breath, call 120; do not try to endure it alone and do not drive yourself.

If chest pain, tightness, or pressure lasts more than 15 minutes without relief, call 120. For severe pain accompanied by cold sweats or shortness of breath, call even if the pain has only lasted a few minutes. For those whose vessels were dilated within 55 minutes of arriving at the hospital, the 30-day mortality rate was 2.8%. For those exceeding 55 minutes, it was 9.7%. Do not drive yourself to the hospital.

CostNo cost at all.

BenefitA national survey on acute coronary syndrome was conducted in Israel. The subjects analyzed were patients with ST-segment elevatio…

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43
13.13 · A

For dog or cat bites and scratches, rinse the area with soap and running water for 15 minutes, then get vaccinated on the same day

Once rabies symptoms develop, the fatality rate is nearly 100%, so wound washing and vaccination after a bite are both essential. Alternate soap-water washing with running clean water for 15 minutes, then seek vaccination that day, as early as possible. A bite penetrating the skin or saliva licking broken skin is category III exposure and also requires a passive immunization product. Exposure category depends on the type of contact and severity of exposure.

CostWashing costs nothing. A full course of rabies vaccine costs several hundred yuan. For level 3 expos…

BenefitAccording to the 2023 guidelines issued by China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration and Health Commission, “…

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44
13.14 · A

Immediately rinse a burn with cool running water for 20 minutes; avoid applying toothpaste or soy sauce

Children whose burns were cooled under cool running water for 20 minutes within 3 hours needed skin grafts less often. Use cool water, not ice water; ice can worsen the injury. Do not tear off clothing stuck to the wound. After cooling, cover it with a clean damp cloth or plastic wrap and seek hospital care. Do not apply toothpaste or sesame oil. If cooling was delayed, doing it within 3 hours can still help.

CostNo cost involved. It requires 20 minutes of time.

BenefitAustralia tracked 2,495 children with burns. For children who were rinsed with cool running water for 20 minutes within 3 hours of…

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45
13.18 · B

If someone is electrocuted, cut the power first, then use a dry wooden stick to pry the source of electricity away; never pull the victim by hand directly

First, turn off the power, or use a dry wooden stick to move the electrical source away before touching the victim. Pulling them by hand directly can turn one victim into two. If the victim isn’t breathing normally after being freed from the current, immediately perform chest compressions as described in step 1 of this section — don’t hesitate to act just because it’s an electrical injury. Never attempt to handle situations involving downed high-voltage lines or nearby electrical equipment on your own; instead, move to a safe distance and wait for utility workers to cut the power.

CostNo cost involved.

BenefitThis approach prevents rescuers from getting electrocuted as well, avoiding a situation where one victim becomes two. If the perso…

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46
13.19 · B

If a carbon monoxide alarm goes off, or if several people in a room suddenly get headaches, nausea, or dizziness, get everyone outside before calling for help

If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, for example because the alarm sounds or people indoors have headache, dizziness and nausea, take everyone outside first and then call for help. Flu-like symptoms that worsen indoors and improve outside are an important clue. China reported 11523 carbon-monoxide deaths in 2018, most in winter; during the three winter months, about 70% occurred at home.

CostNo cost at all.

BenefitThe US CDC describes CO symptoms as flu-like. NHS states that symptoms worsen in the affected room and improve when the person lea…

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47
13.20 · B

If someone accidentally ingests detergent, pesticides, or medicine, do not induce vomiting — take the container and seek medical help right away; if it splashes into the eyes or onto the skin, rinse thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes

Do not induce vomiting if cleaning agents, pesticides, or medications are accidentally ingested, as vomiting may cause throat injury or choking. For accidental ingestion of strong acid or strong alkali cleaning agents, the China CDC recommends drinking an appropriate amount of milk or egg white first; take the container with you to the hospital immediately. If splashed on the skin or eyes, rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, keeping the eyelids open during eye rinsing and avoiding rubbing. Mixing disinfectant with toilet cleaners produces chlorine gas.

CostNo cost involved. Simply keep detergents, disinfectants, pesticides, and medicines out of children’s…

BenefitThe response protocols provided by the Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control of the China CDC are divided into four…

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48
22.01 · A

Check where the emergency exits are before entering a KTV, bar, or escape room; if they’re locked or blocked, pick another venue

By the rules, while an entertainment venue is open, evacuation routes and emergency exits must stay clear. They must not be blocked, locked, or have objects placed in the way, and the direction signs must not be covered. Internet cafés likewise must not have their doors sealed or their windows locked. Failing to do this is illegal, and you can report it. If the private room is underground, has only one exit, or the corridor is piled with clutter, go to another place.

CostNo cost at all. Just take 10 seconds to look around when you enter.

BenefitEnsuring unobstructed evacuation routes and exits is a mandatory legal obligation for venue operators. Noncompliance is illegal an…

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49
23.14 · A

After studying, close the book and test yourself — don’t just reread it

Compared with reading a section again, closing the book and testing yourself works better. Adding short quizzes in class raises scores by a moderate amount. When ten common study methods are ranked, self-testing sits in the top band. After one section, first write the main points from memory, then open the book and check.

CostThere’s no cost involved, and no extra time is needed. Use the time you’d otherwise spend rereading…

BenefitA meta-analysis of 222 independent studies and 48478 students: classroom quizzes raised academic scores, with a moderate effect si…

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50
23.15 · A

Spread the same study time over several days instead of cramming it all at once

The same time, spread over several days, sticks better than finishing in one sitting. There is also a practical rule: the longer you need to remember something, the longer the review gap should be. The farther the exam, the longer the gap, but research gives no universal number of days.

CostThere’s no extra expense, and the total time required stays the same. The only change is the schedul…

BenefitThis is a meta-analysis that brought together data from 184 papers, 317 experiments, and 839 separate evaluations of distributed p…

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