We Learned These Tricks at School, and They Still Work: Timeless Tips That Make Life Easier
School isn’t just about textbooks, exams, and group projects—it’s also where many of us picked up some of the most surprisingly useful life hacks. Whether it was a clever way to remember math formulas, a trick for staying organized, or a sneaky study method that helped us ace a test, school was full of little strategies that have stuck with us for years.
Even though we’ve long since traded in our backpacks and cafeteria lunches for offices and real-world responsibilities, many of those school-day tricks still come in handy today. Here are some of the best tricks we learned back in school that continue to work wonders in everyday life.
1. The “PEMDAS” Rule for Order of Operations
Remember that odd little acronym—PEMDAS? It stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction. This simple memory aid helped us solve math problems in the right order and is still incredibly useful.
Even as adults, we sometimes need to calculate something on paper or explain basic math to kids. Whether it’s budgeting, doubling a recipe, or working through taxes, PEMDAS keeps calculations in check. It’s one of those foundational math rules that’s basically timeless.
2. The “ROYGBIV” Rainbow Reminder
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet — ROYGBIV. This colorful acronym taught us the sequence of colors in the visible light spectrum and helped us draw rainbows in art class. Today, it’s still a great go-to for remembering the order of colors, whether you’re organizing files, planning a graphic design, or even coordinating outfits or decor.
3. The “I Before E” Spelling Rule
This classic rule—“I before E, except after C”—might not cover every single English word (hello, “weird” and “science”), but it still helps more often than not. It’s especially helpful when typing quickly or second-guessing your spelling. Bonus points if you remember the full version: “I before E, except after C, or when sounding like A, as in neighbor and weigh.”
4. The Hand Trick for Multiplying by 9
One of the coolest math hacks taught in elementary school is the hand trick for multiplying by 9. If you hold out your ten fingers and fold down the finger that represents the number you’re multiplying by, the remaining fingers give you the answer. For example, to solve 9×4, fold down your fourth finger: 3 fingers to the left and 6 to the right = 36.
Even in the age of calculators, this trick is oddly satisfying and makes you look like a math wizard.
5. Color-Coding Notes for Better Memory
Many of us used colored pens or highlighters to organize our notes—and science backs it up! Studies show that color-coding can boost memory retention, which is why this method still works in adult life. From organizing to-do lists to tracking goals or categorizing work projects, color-coded systems make it easier to stay on top of everything.
6. Mnemonic Devices for Memorizing Lists
Who could forget “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge” (E-G-B-D-F) to remember the lines of the treble clef, or “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos” for the planets?
Mnemonic devices are powerful memory tools we learned in school, and they still help us memorize things like passwords, important lists, and step-by-step processes. If you need to retain a series of unrelated items, making up a catchy phrase or sentence still works like magic.
7. The Two-Minute Rule for Getting Started
Okay, maybe this one wasn’t taught explicitly in school, but we definitely practiced it. The trick? Start with something easy for two minutes to build momentum. Whether it was writing the name and date on a test paper or just reading the first paragraph of an assignment, getting started was always the hardest part.
Now, as adults, this trick helps break procrastination. Want to clean the kitchen or send that dreaded email? Tell yourself you’ll do it for just two minutes. Often, that’s all it takes to keep going.
8. The Fold-Your-Paper Method to Stay Organized
Folding your paper into sections—one side for notes, one for questions, one for summaries—was a genius method some teachers taught to improve studying. Known as the Cornell Note-Taking System, this method is still incredibly effective for learning and organizing ideas, whether you’re in a lecture, meeting, or working on a new project.
This structured format helps you break down big chunks of information and makes reviewing later a lot easier.
9. Sticky Notes: The Original Productivity Hack
Who didn’t love a colorful sticky note for reminders and quick to-dos? Back then, we used them to remember homework assignments. Now, we use them for everything—grocery lists, inspirational quotes on the mirror, reminders on our laptops, and even mood boards.
Sticky notes are the OG of productivity hacks, and their simplicity is what makes them timeless.
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