H✳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

0 / 10
01
01.01 · A

Always wear seat belts, both front and back

Wearing a seat belt in the front seat cuts the risk of dying in a crash by roughly half. For drivers and passengers in light trucks, the reduction is about 60%. Among U.S. crash victims in 2022 whose seat belt use was documented, half were not wearing one.

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

BenefitAccording to NHTSA estimates, seat belts lower the risk of fatal injury for front‑seat occupants of cars by 45% and for those in l…

Read full tip and sources
02
01.02 · A

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

Wearing a helmet and fastening the strap properly reduces a motorcyclist’s risk of dying in an accident by roughly 40%. The chance of suffering a head injury drops by about 70%. 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. For motorcyclists wearing helmets, the risk of death fell by 42%. The original odds ra…

Read full tip and sources
03
01.03 · B

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

A properly functioning smoke alarm can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by roughly 60%. Forty percent of fire victims are asleep at the time, so they won’t wake up just from the smell of smoke. For anyone heating their home with coal or gas during winter, adding a carbon monoxide alarm is essential. In China, 11,500 people died from carbon monoxide poisoning in 2018; 70% of those deaths occurred at home during the three winter months.

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. It found that having a working smoke…

Read full tip and sources
04
01.06 · A

Do not push e-bikes into stairwells, elevators, or charge them at home

Pushing an e-bike into a stairwell or elevator, or charging it at home, is strictly prohibited under the Ministry of Emergency Management’s “Regulations on Fire Safety Management in High-Rise Civil Buildings.” Those who violate the rule face fines of 500–1,000 yuan for individuals and 2,000–10,000 yuan for businesses. Even the fines are the lesser concern; the real danger is that a fire could erupt right in your only escape route.

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

BenefitThe regulations explicitly forbid “parking e-bikes or charging them in public lobbies, evacuation corridors, stairwells, or emerge…

Read full tip and sources
05
01.07 · A

Measuring blood pressure and taking meds to reach target levels

For every 10 mmHg drop in blood pressure, the risk of major cardiovascular problems falls by 20%, stroke risk drops 27%, heart failure risk drops 28%, and overall mortality risk declines by 13%. Among Chinese adults aged 35–75, 44.7% have hypertension, but only 7.2% have their blood pressure under proper control.

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…

Read full tip and sources
06
01.09 · B

Don’t speed or drive after drinking

On average, for every 1% increase in speed, the chance of a fatal crash rises by roughly 4%. There is no “safe” level of alcohol consumption when it comes to driving; even very low blood alcohol concentrations already raise the risk of accidents.

CostThere’s no direct cost. Driving a bit slower adds just a few minutes to each trip. The hard part is…

BenefitAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), a 1% rise in average speed translates to a 4% increase in the likelihood of fata…

Read full tip and sources
07
02.02 · A

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

Around 600,000 people worldwide die each year from secondhand smoke exposure, nearly 30% of whom are children. Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke by roughly 30%. Smoke inhaled at home is even more harmful than smoke inhaled outside.

CostThere’s no cost or time involved. The hard part is simply asking family members and guests to refrai…

BenefitIn 2004, secondhand smoke caused 603,000 deaths globally — accounting for about 1.0% of all worldwide deaths, with children making…

Read full tip and sources
08
02.16 · A

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

For individuals who normally do not exercise at all, engaging in three brief bouts of strenuous activity each day—each lasting one to two minutes—reduces their overall risk of death by roughly 40% compared to those who do none. Their risk of cardiovascular death drops by nearly half. Such strenuous activities include stair climbing and brisk walking.

CostThere is no cost involved, nor is any extra workout time required. The challenge lies in remembering…

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

Read full tip and sources
09
02.18 · 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 2.6 times higher chance of dying during the same period compared to those who sit the least. Sitting continuously for long stretches adds an extra layer of risk. However, if you get 60–75 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each day, this extra risk from prolonged sitting is largely offset.

CostThere’s no cost involved; getting up a few times doesn’t take much time at all. The real challenge i…

BenefitA U.S.-based observational study used accelerometers to measure activity levels without grouping participants. It divided people i…

Read full tip and sources
10
02.20 · A

Drink less or no alcohol

After consuming 100 g of pure alcohol per week, the more you drink, the earlier you’re likely to die. 100 g of pure alcohol equals roughly 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 most beneficial amount is to drink none at all.

CostThere is no cost at all — it saves money and time. The only difficulty is feeling a bit awkward when…

BenefitAn analysis of 83 follow-up studies involving 600,000 drinkers showed that the lowest death risk occurs when weekly alcohol intake…

Read full tip and sources
02 / 05

Daily habits and time

0 / 10
11
02.07 · A

Not drinking sugary drinks — switching to sugar-free versions doesn’t help either

People who drink more than two sugary drinks per day have a roughly 20% higher chance of dying during the same period compared to those who rarely drink them. Those who have one to two per day also face a more than 10% higher risk. Switching to sugar-free versions brings no benefit: people who consume two or more sugar-free drinks daily actually have a roughly 25% higher risk of death.

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 assignments; together they included about 118,000 part…

Read full tip and sources
12
02.19 · 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 can save money—and doesn’t take extra time. The hard part is simply cut…

BenefitWhen combining data from multiple long-term studies (without separating participants into groups), the group eating the most proce…

Read full tip and sources
13
02.23 · A

Eating a small handful of nuts each day

People who regularly eat nuts have about 20% lower chances of dying during the same period compared to those who don’t. Even eating nuts just once a week makes a difference — mortality risk drops by roughly 10%. The greatest benefit is seen when nuts are eaten daily.

CostConsuming 28 grams daily costs roughly 200–300 yuan per year. It’s easy to fit into your routine wit…

BenefitTwo large U.S. studies tracked over 119,000 participants for many years, covering more than 3 million person-years. Compared to no…

Read full tip and sources
14
02.25 · A

Swap some refined rice and flour for whole grains

People who consume 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 reaches 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 show that eating an additional 90 g of whole grains each day lowers mortality risk…

Read full tip and sources
15
02.31 · A

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

Drinking tea that is extremely hot raises your risk of esophageal cancer by 8 times compared to drinking lukewarm tea. Even drinking tea that is merely “hot” doubles this risk. If you drink tea less than two minutes after pouring it, your risk is 5 times higher than if you wait at least four minutes to drink it.

CostNo money is required; you just need to wait two to three extra minutes each time. The hard part is r…

BenefitIn a high-risk esophageal cancer region in northern Iran, researchers compared 300 patients with esophageal cancer to 571 healthy…

Read full tip and sources
16
03.04 · A

Avoid caffeine after 2 p.m.

Consuming a large cup of coffee containing 400 mg of caffeine 6 hours before bedtime reduces measured total sleep time by over 1 hour, yet personal sleep logs show no difference. To avoid any impact on sleep, a regular cup of coffee (107 mg of caffeine) must be consumed at least 8.8 hours prior to bedtime; for those going to bed at 11 p.m., 2 p.m. marks the cutoff point.

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

BenefitIntake of 400 mg of caffeine 6 hours before sleep results in a measurable reduction of 1.1–1.2 hours in total sleep time compared…

Read full tip and sources
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…

Read full tip and sources
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…

Read full tip and sources
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…

Read full tip and sources
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…

Read full tip and sources
03 / 05

Money and risk

0 / 10
21
05.06 · A

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

Regulatory authorities themselves state that any return rate above 6% raises red flags, anything over 8% is highly risky, and returns above 10% mean you should expect to lose all your principal. Legitimate financial products are no longer allowed to promise guaranteed returns or principal protection. Any losses incurred from participating in illegal fundraising are your own responsibility per regulations; no one will cover those losses if things go wrong.

CostNo cost at all. Just pause for a moment when you hear these phrases.

BenefitThe former chairperson of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission stated at the Lujiazui Forum in 2018: “Any return…

Read full tip and sources
22
05.15 · A

Infrequent stock trading

Data from 66,465 U.S. household accounts shows that the group trading most frequently still earned just 11.4% per year on average, while the broader market returned 17.9% over the same period. That 6.5% gap is almost entirely due to trading fees and commissions. Without those costs, both groups would have seen similar returns. Every trade you make directly reduces your net earnings. The absolute number of accounts analyzed is 66,000.

CostThere is no direct cost. The real challenge is resisting the urge to trade whenever you see market n…

BenefitThis study analyzed 66,465 household accounts at U.S. discount brokerages from 1991 to 1996. The most active traders earned an ann…

Read full tip and sources
23
05.16 · B

Don’t borrow money to invest, don’t use leverage, and don’t buy things you don’t understand

When you borrow money to buy stocks, any drop below a set threshold means you can’t add more funds to your position, so the shares get sold automatically. The paper losses you see on your account instantly become real losses — there’s no chance to wait for the price to bounce back. Regulatory rules state that people who have held a trading account for less than six months or whose average daily assets over the last 20 trading days are under 500,000 RMB are not allowed to open margin accounts. This threshold alone makes it clear this tool isn’t meant for ordinary investors.

CostThere is no direct cost. The hard part is resisting the urge to “borrow some cash to make more money…

BenefitLeverage essentially means borrowing money to make purchases, which also magnifies any losses. After buying assets using margin fu…

Read full tip and sources
24
05.19 · B

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

As long as several assets don’t all rise or fall together, 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 everything in one stock, platform, or property, any trouble there directly affects your entire portfolio.

CostNo cost at all. The hard part is accepting that you simply won’t be able to pick the single most pro…

BenefitWhen multiple assets don’t move in perfect lockstep, diversifying keeps expected returns unchanged while lowering overall volatili…

Read full tip and sources
25
05.27 · C

Set aside an emergency fund equal to 3–6 months of living expenses, keeping it in an easily accessible account

Save an amount equal to 3–6 months of your regular monthly expenses in an account you can access at any time. This way, if you lose your job or fall ill, you won’t have to borrow money at an 18% annual interest rate, nor will you need to sell your investments at a loss. Deposits in banks are protected by deposit insurance, with a maximum payout of 500,000 RMB per bank for each account holder.

CostThere is no direct monetary cost. The trade-off is that this money cannot earn higher returns; it mu…

BenefitHaving such an emergency fund means you won’t need to take out costly loans or sell investments at a loss when faced with job loss…

Read full tip and sources
26
05.38 · A

Avoid trading during periods of wild market swings — don’t ramp up buying or selling at the peak

Researchers analyzed trading patterns of 40 million accounts on the Shanghai Stock Exchange between July 2014 and December 2015. The bottom 85% of accounts, which traded frequently, ended up earning roughly 250 billion yuan less than those who simply held onto their shares. That figure equals about 30% of the initial market value of those accounts. During a calmer two-and-a-half-year stretch prior to this period, the gap between active and passive investors was only 1% to 3%. On average, these smaller accounts swapped their holdings roughly every three weeks — about 18 times per year. In contrast, American households studied in another study traded only three-quarters as often.

CostNo direct cost. The real challenge is resisting the urge to increase positions when everyone else se…

BenefitThis research draws on daily transaction data from all 40 million accounts on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The study period covers…

Read full tip and sources
27
06.10 · C

Don’t spend a lot of money on health supplements, herbal pastes, or tonics to “rebalance your body”

The agency responsible for regulating health foods mandates that packaging must carry a specific statement: these products are not medicines and cannot replace medical treatment. Even the regulators themselves do not believe they can cure diseases. The most common ingredients — multivitamins, fish oil, vitamin D, antioxidants, glucosamine, and vitamin C — have all been examined in the first six sections of this chapter, and none demonstrate any meaningful effect. Most of the money spent on these products isn’t aimed at any therapeutic benefit; it’s meant as a gift for parents or relatives. The intention behind such gifts is perfectly fine; the problem lies solely in the products themselves.

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

BenefitAccording to regulations set by the State Administration for Market Regulation, at least 20% of the front surface of health food p…

Read full tip and sources
28
07.09 · A

Don’t let your annual dibao payment lapse — it’s only 400 RMB per person. Eligible low‑income households may receive subsidies.

On top of the 400 RMB personal contribution, the government adds roughly 700 RMB per person. The most vulnerable groups get the full amount covered; dibao recipients receive a set government subsidy. Letting the payment lapse carries a penalty: after enrollment outside the window or after a break in payments, there is a mandatory 3‑month waiting period before any benefits apply. For each additional year without continuous coverage, the waiting period increases by one month (starting 2025 nationwide).

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

BenefitApart from the individual contribution, the state provides an extra subsidy of at least 670 RMB in 2024 and at least 700 RMB in 20…

Read full tip and sources
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…

Read full tip and sources
30
12.01 · B

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

Any debts incurred by a sole proprietorship must be repaid using your personal assets and funds. If it’s unclear whether the business was run by the whole family, all family assets become liable. Even forming a corporation does not offer protection: when a company defaults on its debts, creditors may demand immediate payment of any portion of the subscribed registered capital that was promised but not yet paid. Therefore, your investment cap must be determined based on the principle: “I can afford to lose this amount without affecting my mortgage or medical bills.”

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

BenefitLosing money is not the only risk. For sole proprietorships, debts are tied to personal assets if the business is run by one indiv…

Read full tip and sources
04 / 05

Accounts, rights and property

0 / 10
31
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 right after money is sent is the only window of opportunity. During this time police can issue an emergency stop‑payment order and quickly freeze the funds; banks are required to comply. Once the money has been moved through multiple accounts and scattered, it becomes almost impossible to recover. Therefore, call 110 or 96110 immediately — don’t waste time investigating or asking questions on your own. Calls to 96110 come from police officers trying to warn you, so be sure to answer them.

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…

Read full tip and sources
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 your bank cards, SIM cards, or payment accounts is illegal on its own. Penalties include confiscation of all illegal earnings plus a fine of 1 to 10 times that amount; if no earnings were made, the maximum fine is 200,000 yuan. In serious cases, offenders face up to 15 days in detention, a negative credit record, and restrictions on account functionality. If you knowingly assist criminals by receiving or transferring money using these accounts, you could be convicted of aiding 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…

BenefitEngaging in any activity that involves renting, lending, or selling phone cards, bank accounts, payment accounts, or internet acco…

Read full tip and sources
33
08.17 · A

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

Once signed, the document becomes legally binding. Claims such as “I didn’t read it properly” or “I thought it said something else” rarely hold up in court. Therefore, it’s essential to spend those few minutes reading everything, ask for clarification when needed, and document it all with photos. Never sign for someone else, never sign on blank paper, and always specify the intended purpose when providing a copy of your ID. Electronic signatures and facial recognition verification also count as valid signatures.

CostThere is no cost involved. It simply requires a few extra minutes to read contracts, IOUs, guarantee…

BenefitContracts that are legally executed are protected by law and are binding on all parties involved. Once signed, both sides must ful…

Read full tip and sources
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 essential details: who the lender and borrower are, the amount, interest rate, term, and repayment method, plus signatures from both sides. Use a bank transfer instead of cash to make legal enforcement easier. Before agreeing to be a guarantor, check whether the contract mentions “joint and several liability.” Under ordinary guarantee arrangements, creditors must first sue the borrower and exhaust all collection efforts before seeking payment from you. However, if you sign a joint and several liability guarantee, creditors can demand repayment from you directly.

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

BenefitLoan contracts should be in writing and contain information such as the type of loan, currency, purpose, amount, interest rate, te…

Read full tip and sources
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 statute of limitations for civil lawsuits is three years, counted from the day you become aware your rights were violated. Once that period ends, the court won’t act on its own; however, if the debtor simply argues “the deadline has passed,” you lose the right to recover what’s owed. A single documented demand for payment can reset that three‑year clock entirely. Labor disputes follow a different rule: the arbitration deadline is just one year.

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

BenefitThe Civil Code states that “the limitation period for filing a civil lawsuit is three years, calculated from the date the right‑ho…

Read full tip and sources
36
14.01 · A

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

Two-factor authentication means an extra verification step beyond the password when logging in. Using a pop-up prompt on your phone that requires a single tap to confirm blocks over 90% of phishing and account theft attempts. In contrast, older verification methods such as answering questions like “Where did you log in last time?” or “What is your backup email?” only block around 10% of such attacks.

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

BenefitGoogle analyzed 350,000 real-world account hijacking attempts. For authentication methods relying on device verification — such as…

Read full tip and sources
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…

BenefitCredential stuffing is one of the easiest attack methods: attackers simply test stolen passwords against other accounts. If your e…

Read full tip and sources
38
14.03 · C

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

The SIM card is that tiny card inside your phone that receives SMS verification codes. If your phone gets lost, a finder can remove the card and insert it into another phone to receive those codes, then reset all your accounts one by one. Setting a PIN on the SIM card means that whenever the card is moved to another phone, the user must enter that PIN before the phone can be used — effectively blocking that path.

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

BenefitWithout a SIM PIN, a finder can easily move your SIM card to another phone, receive verification codes, and reset all your account…

Read full tip and sources
39
15.03 · A

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

By regulation, real estate agents are prohibited from collecting or remitting rent and security deposits; all payments must go directly to landlords. Any time money passes through an agent’s hands, it creates one extra chance for them to abscond with the funds. If that happens, you lose both your rent payments and your right to stay in the property. Always confirm that the recipient’s name matches the name on the property title before paying.

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…

Read full tip and sources
40
19.08 · C

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

Once you return your computer and work account, you won’t be able to access any of your pay stubs, attendance records, contracts, social insurance documents, or chat logs again. When filing for labor arbitration, you’ll still need these materials to prove your wage amount and whether you worked overtime. What you save are documents related to your own employment; do not take any company source code, client lists, or technical documents with you.

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

BenefitAfter returning your computer and account, you lose access to all these records. While arbitration proceedings may lean slightly i…

Read full tip and sources
05 / 05

Emergencies and learning

0 / 10
41
13.03 · A

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

If someone’s face suddenly droops, they can’t lift one arm, and their speech becomes slurred, call 120 right away. Administering medication within 3 hours of symptom onset can increase the chance of regaining basic independence by about 1.75 times compared to not receiving treatment. Waiting 3 to 4.5 hours reduces this benefit to only 1.26 times. After 4.5 hours, there is virtually no difference. Be sure to note the exact time symptoms first appeared. Do not give water or medicine, and never drive the person to the hospital yourself.

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

BenefitThis conclusion comes from a meta-analysis of 16 randomized trials involving 6,756 patients. Intravenous thrombolysis means delive…

Read full tip and sources
42
13.07 · B

Chest pressure, tightness, or heaviness lasting more than 15 minutes without relief — call 120; do not drive yourself.

If you feel chest pressure, tightness, or heaviness that lasts over 15 minutes without easing up, call 120 right away. For patients treated within 55 minutes of arrival at the hospital, the mortality rate within 30 days is 2.8%. For those treated later than 55 minutes, the rate rises to 9.7%. Every minute of delay means more heart muscle tissue dies. Do not drive yourself — losing consciousness while behind the wheel could lead to a second accident.

CostNo cost at all.

BenefitIsrael conducted a nationwide study on acute coronary syndrome. The research focused on patients experiencing ST-segment elevation…

Read full tip and sources
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 appear, the fatality rate is practically 100%. Rinsing with soap and water followed by vaccination is the sole safeguard. First, rinse the affected area with alternating streams of soap and running water for 15 minutes, then seek medical care on the same day. If the skin is broken and the wound has been licked, this constitutes a category III exposure, requiring the extra passive immunization product. The fact that a pet has been vaccinated does not alter this classification; exposure level is determined solely by the nature of the injury, not by the animal’s background.

CostRinsing requires no expense. The full course of rabies vaccination costs several hundred yuan. For c…

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

Read full tip and sources
44
13.14 · A

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

Rinsing a burn with cool running water for at least 20 minutes within 3 hours of injury reduces the likelihood of needing skin grafts to roughly 60% of the rate for those who do not perform this step. Use cool water, not ice water, as ice application can worsen the damage. If clothing sticks to the wound, do not pull it off forcefully; after rinsing, cover the area with a clean cloth and head to the hospital. Never apply toothpaste, soy sauce, sesame oil, or flour to the burn. Even if you remember to rinse later, doing so within 3 hours still provides benefit.

CostNo cost involved. It requires 20 minutes of time.

BenefitAn Australian study followed 2,495 children with burns. For kids who rinsed the burn with cool running water for 20 minutes within…

Read full tip and sources
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 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. For victims…

Read full tip and sources
46
13.19 · B

If a carbon monoxide alarm goes off, or if everyone in a room suddenly has headaches, nausea, or dizziness, get outside first and then call for help

If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, or if multiple people in the same room start experiencing headaches, nausea, and dizziness, move everyone outdoors right away before calling for emergency assistance. Do not stay inside trying to figure out what’s happening, and do not go back inside to turn off any valves. These symptoms resemble both a common cold and the effects of excessive alcohol consumption. The clearest warning sign is that symptoms improve immediately once people are outside. In the United States, over 400 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning unrelated to fires, and more than 100,000 people require emergency medical treatment.

CostNo cost at all.

BenefitEach year in the US, over 400 people lose their lives to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning that has no link to fires. More than…

Read full tip and sources
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.

If someone swallows detergent, pesticides, or medicine, do not make them vomit — spitting out corrosive liquids would burn the esophagus all over again. Instead, have them drink some milk or egg whites, then head to the hospital right away while bringing the product container and its instructions. If the substance gets into the eyes or onto the skin, rinse with copious amounts of water for a full 15 minutes; for eyes, gently hold the eyelids open while rinsing and avoid rubbing. Mixing disinfectants with toilet cleaners can produce chlorine gas.

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

BenefitThe Chinese CDC provides four distinct response protocols. For ingestion: drink milk or egg whites promptly and, crucially, do not…

Read full tip and sources
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 law, entertainment venues must keep all evacuation routes and emergency exits completely unobstructed during operating hours. They cannot be blocked, locked, used to store items, or covered by anything, nor can any signs indicating their location be hidden. The same rules apply to internet cafés — their doors, windows, evacuation routes, and exits must also remain open at all times. Failing to comply is illegal, and you have the right to file a complaint. If a private room is located underground, has only one exit, or its corridors are cluttered with debris, choose a different venue instead.

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…

Read full tip and sources
49
23.14 · A

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

Rereading a passage makes it feel very familiar, but that doesn’t mean you’ve actually retained it. Closing the book and testing yourself yields noticeably better results. A meta-analysis of 222 classroom studies involving nearly 48,500 students showed that adding brief self-tests raised grades by a moderate amount. In a separate review that ranked ten common study methods, self-testing earned the top rating. Approximately 50,000 students participated in these studies overall.

CostNo money is required, and you won’t need extra time. Use the time you’d otherwise spend rereading to…

BenefitThis meta-analysis of 222 independent studies with 48,478 participants found that classroom self-tests boosted academic performanc…

Read full tip and sources
50
23.15 · A

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

Spending the same amount of time on studying across multiple days helps you retain information far better than cramming it all at once. This conclusion is supported by 317 separate experiments, all of which reached the same result. There is also a practical rule to keep in mind: the longer you want to remember something, the longer the interval between review sessions should be. If a test is tomorrow, review the material that day; if it’s a month away, schedule a review session a few days later.

CostThere is no cost involved, and the total time spent stays the same. The only difference is the sched…

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

Read full tip and sources