Everyday Things We’re Consistently Doing Wrong

Brushing teeth

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Everyone has their own take on a daily routine, however there are many common tasks that people do 'wrong', or less efficiently. For example, brushing your teeth is one of the most mundane tasks you can do, but you might be doing it wrong e.g. not brushing long enough, or using improper technique.

Sitting at a desk

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The majority of people sit at a desk for their job, especially if they work from home/within an office environment. There are a range of different desk chairs available, for every possible need, and it is important to have one that suits you. Poor posture and ergonomics can lead to back pain.

Using smartphones

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Everyone uses their smartphone for a range of everyday tasks, and will typically use them to aid them when working. However, excessive screen time and improper posture, can harm your neck and eyes. This is why it is important to set up screen time limits, and prevent bad posture.

Cooking rice

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Cooking rice is one of the most common everyday tasks that people do wrong. The majority of people often get confused with the correct way to measure the ratios of rice-to-water, which leads to either undercooked or mushy rice. Rice cookers are a great investment for the kitchen, and provide you with the correct measurements.

Tying shoelaces

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Tying shoelaces is another mundane task, that people tend to not pay much attention to. It becomes second nature to just tie your shoes, and go about your business. However, incorrect knots can lead to constant retying, and can damage your laces over time.

Pouring milk

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Pouring milk is a typical breakfast task, and it can be quite a messy one. Pouring milk can lead to spills, and this can be due to range of factors e.g. tiredness, being clumsy and allowing young children to pour the milk. In order to prevent spills, you should pour milk from a higher height.

Folding clothes

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Doing laundry is one of the most time-consuming tasks, but it is necessary. Folding clothes is a task that the majority of people do wrong, and leads to clothes becoming wrinkled quicker. Mis-folding clothes also leads to clothes taking up more space, and makes it more difficult for you to find certain items.

Peeling bananas

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Bananas are a popular choice of fruit, and are pretty versatile. Peeling a banana doesn't seem like the most difficult task to complete, but the majority of people actually make a mess of it. Bananas are easier to peel from the bottom, and is actually the natural way of peeling them.

Cutting bread

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Slicing bread is not a common task, as pre-sliced bread is the most popular purchase for families. Unsliced loaves can be purchased from the majority of supermarkets, but are typically bought from bakeries and delis. When cutting bread, it is best to use a serrated knife, for a clean slice.

Holding a steering wheel

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When driving, it is important to have a proper hold on the steering wheel. Surprisingly, this is actually something that a lot of people struggle with, and a lot of people abandon the safest way of holding a steering wheel. The best positions to practice are just above the middle of the wheel, and on either side of the central space.

Using bobby pins

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Bobby pins are one of the many ways that hair can be secured in place, and they are commonly used by girls and women. This style of hairpin has one straight edge, and one wavy edge (with the wavy edge typically being on the outer side of the hair). However, the wavy edge of bobby pin should be alongside the scalp, as this increases grip.

Boiling eggs

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Eggs are a common choice of breakfast food, with boiled eggs being one of the most popular ways of cooking an egg. The majority of people will place their eggs into already boiling water, but this isn't the best way of boiling an egg. You should start with cold water, and bring it to a gentle boil, as this will prevent the egg from cracking.

Wearing earbuds

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Wired and wireless earbuds are a great way of listening to your music on the go e.g. on the commute to work/when you're at the gym. Some people struggle to find earbuds that suit the shape of their ears, and provide a comfortable listening experience. By inserting your earbuds properly, you will greatly improve the sound quality.

Washing hands

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Washing your hands is yet another mundane task, that doesn't seem to take much concentration. However, there is a large majority of people that use improper handwashing techniques. This can include: not washing them for long enough, not using soap/hot water and missing key areas e.g. fingertips and wrists.

Flossing teeth

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Flossing is an important part of any oral hygiene routine, as it helps prevent plaque build-up and improves the health of your gums. Improper flossing can lead to debris being missed in your mouth, an overall build-up worsening. You should always double check each area of your mouth whilst flossing.

Using a plunger

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Plungers are great for unblocking toilets and drains, but many people are using improper technique when it comes to utilizing a plunger. In order to maximise the efficiency of a plunger, you should ensure that the plunger has a tight seal around the blockage.

Wearing a backpack

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Backpacks are typically used my school children and office workers, as they provide enough capacity for the learning/working essentials. Despite this, some people find that their backpack causes them severe neck and back pain, and this is due to poorly adjusted straps. The straps need to be adjusted, so that your backpack isn't pulling on your back.

Tying knots

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Tying knots may not seem like important knowledge to possess, but it is extremely beneficial to know at least a couple of basic knots, in case they're needed within an emergency. You never know when you might need to secure a rope around someone, or use a quick-release knot to help someone.

Microwaving food

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Microwaving food is relatively simple in theory, but people consistently using the wrong technique, leads to unevenly heated (unappetizing) food. The best way to microwave food, whether it's frozen or leftovers, is to cover it and stir it periodically. This will allow the food to be heated evenly.

Loading a dishwasher

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Another typically mundane task is loading the dishwasher. Dishwashers are great for people that may not have the time to wash everything by hand, but improper loading technique prevents this. Overloading or improper stacking within the dishwasher, can lead to inefficient cleaning.

Cutting vegetables

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Cutting vegetables can be one of the more difficult tasks, especially if you're cutting larger vegetables e.g. squash, pumpkin and celeriac. The best way to improve your cutting skills in the kitchen, is by investing in some sharp knives, and practicing proper cutting technique.

Using a can opener

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Manual can openers can be pretty tricky to operate, and take quite a bit of strength to use. Electric can openers are better for certain people e.g. the elderly, but not everyone can afford one. The best way to use a manual can opener, is by ensuring you have a good grip on the handle, and control your movements.

Drinking water

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Drinking water is essential for staying active and healthy, and our recommend daily intake is approximately two litres. Despite this, there are a large majority of people that are not consuming anything near, the recommended daily intake. This lack of intake causes severe dehydration and headaches.

Sleeping position

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Everyone has their preference when it comes to their sleeping position, mattress firmness and choice of pillow(s), but these choices may not be the best for our bodies. Proper pillow support, and sleeping posture matter for a quality night's sleep/improved duration of sleep.

Wearing shoes

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People often wear the wrong shoe size or style for their daily activities, which leads to pain in their feet and ankles. It is important to ensure you have the right shoe size, and you wear appropriate styles of shoes for specific activities e.g. working, going to the gym, walking etc.

Washing hair

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Many people have complex routines when it comes to washing their hair, which involve multiple steps, pre and post wash treatments and oils/ointments. Over-shampooing your hair, and using hot water to wash it, can actually damage your hair. It is best to use lukewarm water when washing your hair.

Charging devices

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Overcharging your electronics can reduce their battery lifespan, as you're not allowing the battery level to reach the lowest point, before charging them. This is important to do, especially when you have a new electronic; as it can severely impact the battery before you've even got proper use out of it.

Applying sunscreen

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Applying sunscreen is typically something people only think about doing during the summer months, but it should be used year-round. This is due to the presence of strong UV rays, that can penetrate through the heaviest of cloud cover. Many people don't use enough and/or forget to reapply it.

Storing food

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With the rising cost of food, it is more important than ever to preserve any food for as long as possible e.g. freezing food, keeping leftovers in the fridge, prolonging shelf life. Incorrect storage of food can lead to spoilage and waste, so it is important to rotate the items within your fridge and freezer.

Peeling garlic

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Peeling garlic can be unnecessarily messy and time-consuming, plus it leaves your hands smelling for days after! There are a couple of different ways to de-skin a garlic clove, but one of the most efficient only requires a plastic bottle. All you have to do, is place the clove(s) into the bottle, close the top and shake it vigorously.