Practical Life Hacks We Learned from Movies and TV Shows

Pop culture isn’t just fun; it frequently offers surprisingly useful tips for daily life. Clever ideas from movies and TV – whether for keeping your home safe or organizing your kitchen – can easily become habits that help you save time, money, and reduce stress.

Here are ten useful lessons, drawn from well-known movies and characters. Each lesson is a simple strategy you can start using right away, with easy-to-follow steps, quick results, and tools you likely already have.

‘Home Alone’ (1990)

Make your home less appealing to potential burglars by creating the impression someone is home, even when you’re not. Use timers to turn lights on and off, and leave a radio or TV playing at a normal volume. Outside, use motion-sensor lights at entrances. Reinforce doors and windows with simple, affordable upgrades like security bars, longer screws, and extra locks. Keep bushes trimmed to eliminate hiding places, and arrange for package delivery to a secure location like a locker or hold them at the carrier’s facility.

Before you leave home, quickly double-check a few things: make sure all doors and windows are locked, your alarm is set, and anything valuable isn’t visible from outside. It’s also a good idea to display something that shows people are watching, like a yard sign or security camera. To protect your belongings, take photos of each room and write down the serial numbers of your electronics, then save this information online. While you’re away, ask a neighbor to park in your driveway now and then and pick up your mail, and consider pausing your deliveries to prevent mail from piling up.

‘MacGyver’ (1985–1992)

I’ve been putting together a little kit to help me handle unexpected problems when I’m on the go, and it’s made a huge difference. It’s really simple: just a small roll of duct tape, some zip ties, a compact multitool, a mini flashlight, and a few safety pins. Seriously, these few things can fix so much – I’ve used them for everything from temporarily fixing car parts to replacing broken zipper pulls. I also added some paracord, which is great for tying things down or even making a quick clothesline, and a few bandages for minor cuts. I keep it all in a small pouch that easily moves between my backpack, car, and luggage, so it’s always with me when I need it.

Combine this kit with a habit of resourceful thinking. Before discarding anything, take a moment to see if any parts could be reused – things like strong lids, rubber bands, or containers. When you encounter a problem, first identify any limitations (like time, available tools, or safety concerns) and what materials you have on hand. Then, create a quick, temporary fix that’s safe and easily undone. Practice a few essential repair techniques – like making a hinge with duct tape, bundling with zip ties, or creating a hook with a paperclip – so you can do them quickly when you need to.

‘The Martian’ (2015)

If a task seems too big, break it down into smaller, manageable steps and keep track of your progress. Each day, quickly jot down what you worked on (time spent, resources used), what you accomplished, and any roadblocks you hit. You can use a simple notebook or notes app for this. Review this log weekly to see how things are going and adjust your plans as needed. To get started, use the “next clear step” rule: figure out the smallest thing you can do in under 10 minutes to move towards your goal, and do that first.

Keep track of essential supplies with an easy system. Set daily limits for things like batteries, paper, and food, and monitor how much you’re using each week. Clearly label containers with when you expect them to run out and when to reorder. Before starting a large project, test a small version first to see how it goes, then increase production if it’s successful.

‘Ocean’s Eleven’ (2001)

To avoid being tricked by social engineering, set up ways to confirm someone’s identity beforehand. For example, create a secret code word with your family or team to use when someone asks for money, access to information, or needs a favor urgently over the phone or text. If someone is coming to your home for service, ask for their name and expected arrival time in advance. When they arrive, check their ID badge by calling the official company number listed on their website – don’t use a number provided by the person at your door.

I’m really trying to protect my accounts, so I’ve started separating them out. I use a different email address just for my bank and financial stuff, and I’ve definitely turned on two-factor authentication wherever I can – it’s a huge relief knowing that extra layer of security is there. For anything I buy online, I use a specific credit card and have alerts set up so I know about every transaction. And if anyone ever contacts me unexpectedly asking for info, I immediately hang up and call their official support number, or I’ll reply through the official app if they have one. I’ve learned that anyone who *needs* me to stay on the line while they’re ‘helping’ is a major red flag.

‘The Bourne Identity’ (2002)

Always be aware of your surroundings in a way that’s easy to remember and do consistently. When you enter a room, quickly identify two ways out, the location of any visible first-aid supplies or AED, and something you could use to describe your location in an emergency. Make sure your phone stays charged above 30% and save important emergency numbers for quick access. While in busy places like stations or airports, stand facing a wall or sturdy object when you’re checking your phone or tickets to help keep you safe and aware.

When you travel, pack a simple safety kit with copies of your important documents (either photocopies or digital scans), a small flashlight, a pen, a whistle, and a card listing any allergies and an emergency contact. Let someone you trust know your travel plans and share your location with them, and set reminders to check in regularly, especially on long travel days. If you feel unsafe, move to a public, well-lit area and clearly ask for help from specific people – for example, “You in the blue jacket, please call security.”

‘Cast Away’ (2000)

Keep a small emergency kit in three places: your home, car, and backpack. Each kit should include water, a high-calorie snack, a space blanket, a poncho, a basic first-aid kit, waterproof matches or a lighter, and a portable power bank with its charging cable. A roll of heavy-duty trash bags is also useful – you can use them as a poncho, temporary shelter, or to keep things dry. Remember to check and replace any food or other perishable items in your kits twice a year.

Okay, so let’s talk preparedness. As someone who’s spent a little time outdoors, I always say it’s smart to know the basics. I make sure I’ve got a whistle – three blasts is the universal signal for help – a small signal mirror, and a permanent marker for jotting down important info. I also keep a good old-fashioned paper map in my car, and I try to memorize a few key landmarks just in case. If I’m heading *really* off the grid, I download offline maps on my phone beforehand. And a big tip? Switch to airplane mode to save battery – you want that juice reserved for a real emergency!

‘Moneyball’ (2011)

Want to get better with your money, health, or a new skill? Start by tracking just *one* key thing – like how much you spend on groceries, how many times you exercise each week, or how long you practice. Write it down every day in a simple spreadsheet or note-taking app. First, see where you’re starting from, then set a small, achievable goal for each week. Take a look at your progress every Sunday to see how you’re doing. If you can, use tools like bank notifications or fitness trackers to automatically record data, making it easier and more reliable.

Create simple, pre-set rules to guide your choices. For finances, delay any unexpected large purchases by 24 hours and automatically transfer money to savings each month when you get paid. When it comes to fitness, plan a short, easy workout – even just 10 minutes – so you can stay consistent, even when you’re busy. Review these rules every month: keep the ones that work, change the ones that don’t, and save the rest for later testing.

‘Chef’ (2014)

To cook more efficiently and keep your kitchen tidy, practice ‘mise en place’. This means fully reading the recipe first, then getting all your ingredients ready: wash your fruits and vegetables, measure out spices, and have everything within reach. Make sure your knives are sharp and your countertops are clear, and keep a bowl nearby for scraps. Begin by prepping ingredients that take the longest to cook – like root vegetables – and group together those that cook quickly.

Save time during the week by prepping ingredients in advance! Roast a batch of vegetables, cook a pot of grains, prepare a protein, and make a sauce you can use in lots of different meals. Store everything in clear containers, labeled with the contents and date, so you can easily see what you have. Instead of cooking from scratch every night, just combine these pre-made components. Also, keep a running grocery list on your fridge or phone and always buy the same items in the same order to avoid extra trips to the store.

‘Tidying Up with Marie Kondo’ (2019)

To quickly clear clutter, focus on types of items instead of rooms. Start with things like clothes, books, papers, and general odds and ends, then move on to sentimental items. Gather everything from one category in one place so you can easily decide what to keep. Give every item a specific place to live using matching boxes or drawer organizers, which will help prevent future messes. Whenever you can, store things upright so you can see and reach them without having to search.

Keep things tidy with quick, regular resets. Spend five minutes each evening putting items away, and once a month, get rid of anything you haven’t used by donating or recycling it. Clearly label shelves and containers so everyone knows where things go. And when new items come in-like mail or packages-deal with them immediately: either use them, find a permanent place for them, or throw them away.

‘Apollo 13’ (1995)

Checklists can help prevent mistakes, whether you’re doing everyday tasks or something important. When creating them, list the steps in the order you’ll follow, organize by where you’ll be working or the tools you’ll use, and include boxes to check off each step as it’s completed. For things you do regularly – like preparing for a trip, doing your taxes, or maintaining equipment – save your checklists in a shared place so everyone can update them. For especially critical tasks, try reading each item aloud as you check it off to make sure nothing is missed.

Anticipate potential problems by doing a quick ‘pre-mortem’ – before you begin, brainstorm what could make the project fail. Identify the three biggest risks and plan how to address each one. Also, prepare backups: save files to the cloud, keep extra batteries and cables handy, and have a backup plan for dates or suppliers. Finally, after the project is done, quickly review what worked and what didn’t while the details are still clear.

Share the smartest on-screen hacks you’ve actually tried—or want to try—down in the comments!

2025-09-21 16:46