I Tried These 7 Popular Self-Improvement Hacks and Said ‘No, Thanks’

Here’s what works for me instead

Michelle Loucadoux
Forge

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Photo: We Are/Getty Images

I’m all down for self-improvement and productivity hacking, so I have tried practically everything. Some tactics have changed my life and I have kept them in my routine for years. Some self-improvement hacks were useful for a while but weren’t sustainable for me in the long term. And some just plain didn’t work.

There seems to be no end to the advice on self-improvement hacking, so I’m here to help you decide how to use your time wisely…by telling you what doesn’t work. For me, at least. Everyone is different. You might think these self-improvement hacks are the bee’s knees, but if you’re looking to whittle down your choices, I’m here to help out.

Here are seven self-improvement hacks that didn’t work for me…and what to do instead.

The coffee/nap hack

Some people say that if you chug coffee directly before taking a nap, you’ll wake up 20 minutes later refreshed and ready to go. Apparently, coffee takes a little while (20 minutes-ish) to get you going. So, chug a lug, snooze, and then wake up with your coffee buzz in full gear.

Not for me. I went in full force on trying this one. I chugged a full pint of iced coffee around 2:30 pm, put…

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