6. Remembering “I Before E” Spellings
Spelling can be tricky, especially with words containing “i” and “e.” The old rule goes, “I before E, except after C, or when sounding like ‘A,’ as in neighbor and weigh.” While it doesn’t apply to every English word, it’s a helpful guide for many common spellings.
7. Estimating Time Until Sunset
Need to know how much daylight you have left? Place your hand under the sun and count how many fingers fit between it and the horizon. Each finger-width represents about 15 minutes. Multiply the number of fingers by 15 to estimate how many minutes until sunset. This trick can help you plan your time when outdoors.
8. Disinfecting Sponges and Fabric
Disinfecting items like sponges doesn’t require special cleaners. An easy, old-school way to sanitize them is to boil the item in water for about 10 minutes. This effectively kills most bacteria, giving you a quick and safe way to keep everyday items clean.
9. Knowing Which Months Have 31 Days
If you ever struggle to remember how many days are in a month, your knuckles can help! Start on one hand with the knuckle of your index finger representing January, the valley between fingers for February, and so on. Knuckles represent months with 31 days, and valleys indicate months with 30 days. Alternatively, use this rhyme: “Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; all the rest have 31.”
10. Estimating Angles with Your Hand
If you’re outside and need to measure an angle, your hand can be an impromptu guide. With your palm facing out and thumb pointing up, the angle between thumb and pinkie is roughly 90 degrees. With fingers slightly spread, the angle from pinkie to ring finger is around 30 degrees, pinkie to middle finger is 45 degrees, and pinkie to index finger is about 60 degrees. This is a quick and useful reference for gauging angles when precision isn’t essential.
Though modern technology can offer all kinds of information instantly, these tried-and-true tricks can be incredibly useful, especially when you don’t have access to your devices. So next time you find yourself without a smartphone or just want to rely on traditional wisdom, remember these old-school hacks to make life a little simpler!
