When we think of TikTok, we think of laughing endlessly at funny videos (and then, of course, forwarding all those videos on to our friends). But in reality, the app is good for a lot more than just funny videos and viral dances — it's also somewhere we can learn things that are seriously useful to us in our real lives — you know, like when we're not scrolling through our phones!
A platform like this one is the perfect way to learn something in small, digestible bites (and yep, they're usually very entertaining at the same time). We might not have enough time to sit down and watch a thorough YouTube video, but we can definitely dedicate 60 seconds to learning a new skill or a trick that will help make our daily lives a bit easier.
Read on for some of the most amazing things we've learned on TikTok. From time saving hacks to budgeting advice and everything in between, these are skills we'll be using for a long time.
How To Stay Safe at Home
This TikTok brings up a few things that you might want to avoid leaving outside of your house to help avoid someone breaking in, like doormats with your last name or initial, because now, anyone walking by would have your address and your last name, which definitely isn't ideal.
How To Make Elephant Toothpaste
TikTok is full of interesting science experiments that are fun to do with our kids (and even just for ourselves!). Though the elephant toothpaste you'd make at home would be on a much smaller scale than this, it's so fun to see what would happen in such a big way. Pretty amazing!
How Different People Live
People who are open about their differences and willing to answer hard questions are all over TikTok, helping us understand everyone a little better. Case in point: This TikTok user who happens to be blind and is showing us how she can pour a hot drink without scalding herself in the process.
How To Pose for Photos
Anyone else super awkward every time you take a picture? If that sounds familiar, look at the many videos like this one, which offer up posing tips that will help your pictures (even the ones where you're completely alone) look so much better. Never wonder what to do with your hands again!
Helpful Information About Mental Health
From doctors to people who have been there themselves, there are many TikTok videos that can be eye-opening for those who are curious about mental health. As an example, this video shares common habits that might be signs of anxiety — something that could help you decide if it's time to ask your doctor about these feelings.
Money-Saving Tips
In this video alone, learn hacks for saving money on cleaning products, avoiding cancellation fees at hotels, and even buying alcohol in bulk at a lower price — and this is just one video. There are plenty of others out there like this that can help you save big!
Social Media Safety
Videos like this one offer up helpful advice about how to stay safe while posting your exciting news on social media. We never would have thought that it wasn't OK to show off a new key after buying a house, but apparently, there are computer programs out there that can copy them from just a picture.
Psychology Hacks
This video is part of a series of sneaky psychology hacks that might help you defuse some awkward social situations, motivate yourself to do something you don't really want to do, or get a straight answer out of someone when you're really looking for honesty.
How To Remove Stubborn Stickers
Need to get a sticker off of something? Instead of wasting time trying to peel it off and then being left with sticky residue, this video offers a few tips on how to get that stubborn sticker off and leave nothing behind — and it might only involve using things you already have in your house.
How To Fall Asleep Faster
Having trouble falling asleep at night? Then you might find these tips helpful. Aside from the traditional advice to stay off of your phone and avoid screens, this video suggests a breathing exercise that can help calm your body and your mind so you can drift off much faster.
All of Bill Nye's Wisdom
Yep, childhood hero Bill Nye the Science Guy is on TikTok, and he shares his wisdom in bite-sized videos that are very educational (and many of them are perfect for sharing with your kids). It's a dose of nostalgia and a dose of science, all at the same time.
Staying Safe While Traveling
This video offers up some tips on when it's best to lie while traveling for your own safety, like pretending you used to live in the city you're visiting or lying when you're asked where you're staying. Pro tip from the video: Say you're staying at a big hotel chain like Marriott so you won't be easy to find!
How To Jazz Up Your iPhone Home Screen
We use our phones so much, so why shouldn't we make them pretty to look at? This video shows us how to create cool widgets and designs to add our favorite photos to our home screen — and it's easy to change it up anytime you want, too. Prettiest, most organized home screen ever.
Royal Family Knowledge
Most of us know who Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are, but if you live in the US, you probably have no idea how the monarchy works (and a lot of documentaries on the subject are pretty stuffy). This explains it all in an easy to understand way, making The Crown all the more real.
How To Turn a Photo Into Text
Though students (and moms of students) will probably find this trick the most helpful, it can really be useful for anyone. Ever need to include a long quote from a physical book and don't want to spend the time typing? Take a picture of it instead — the rest is like magic!
Decoding Myths About Eye Health
This ophthalmologist shuts down myths about eyes, like whether or not reading in low light or playing video games will hurt your eyesight (spoiler: It won't). Sure, maybe we don't want our kids to have this information when we tell them to get off their phones, but it's good to know.
How To Make Your Computer Faster
Dealing with a slow computer? This hack shows you how to track down what's slowing down your computer the most, and when you delete the stuff, your laptop will move a lot faster. This is a great account to follow for more tips and tricks like this — and they're all short and snappy.
How To Deodorize the Fridge
Our fridges regularly smell kind of bad, and sometimes, baking soda simply will not do the job. So what can we do instead? Recycle coffee grounds, which can be even more efficient at getting rid of those unwanted smells. Yep, that might be a game changer!
How To Budget Your Money
Want to put yourself on a budget but don't know where to start? This video breaks it all down in a simple way with a strategy that's easy to employ to start a savings account: 20% of your money to savings, 30% for wants, and 50% for needs, and then go from there!
Bath Time Hack
Dealing with kids who simply do not want to take a bath? Here's an easy hack that will help make it more fun for them: Stocking up on colorful bath bombs and letting them choose one at bath time! After all, bath bombs make our baths more fun, so why wouldn't it work with a toddler?
