Life hacks are everywhere on TikTok. From fixing your sleep to faking confidence with a smile, the app is a goldmine of quick tricks. But are these hacks actually useful? Or, are they just digital candy for a bored brain?
TikTok has got millions hooked with videos promising instant solutions. Want whiter teeth? Rub a banana peel on them. Stressed? Drink this “cortisol cocktail.” Tired? Tape your mouth shut. The big question is: do any of these actually work?
Some life hacks sound brilliant. They seem to make daily struggles vanish in under 30 seconds. But many of these so-called tips lack science. What you are really seeing is a highly edited highlight reel with dramatic before-and-after shots and upbeat music. It feels convincing. But real change doesn’t come in a 20-second clip.
Experts say this kind of content can trick your brain. You feel a short burst of motivation just by watching. That tiny rush is addictive. But once you try the hack and it fails, you are left disappointed, or worse, wasting time and money on trends that never had proof to begin with.
Brainrot in the Name of Self-Help?
Watching hack after hack creates what experts now call “brainrot.” It is not a medical term, but it hits a nerve. The Oxford 2024 Word of the Year made it official. This nonstop flood of short videos rewires how we think, focus, and feel. Everything offline starts to seem slow and boring.
Olly / Pexels / Dr. Ekta Patel says when you overconsume a nonstop flood of short videos, the brain’s reward system gets thrown off.
Simple stuff like reading, talking, or even working becomes harder to enjoy. The brain expects constant stimulation, and anything less feels like a letdown.
Bed Rotting vs. Real Rest
Another viral “hack” is bed rotting, lying in bed all day, scrolling and calling it self-care. For burned-out teens and 20-somethings, it feels like rebellion.
Dr. Karen Dobkins warns that disconnecting like this too often can mess with how we understand our own bodies. You stop noticing stress, hunger, or the need to move. Eventually, you just feel stuck, both physically and emotionally. Rest is good. But hiding in your bed for days? Not so much.
The Sleepmaxxing Trap
Trying to “hack” sleep is another big one. People tape their mouths, blackout their rooms, and pop kiwi slices like pills. Sleepmaxxing promises better rest through layers of small tricks. But it can backfire.
Cotton Bro / Pexels / Experts say that Sleepmaxxing (trying to hack sleep) doesn’t work.
Dr. Michael McCarthy says stacking too many strategies can lead to worse sleep, not better. Overdoing it might cut into REM sleep, which is key for emotional health. Plus, once your body gets used to a trick, it stops working. Sleep needs consistency, not chaos.
Can a Drink Lower Stress?
TikTok’s famous “cortisol cocktail” claims to reduce stress just by drinking a mix of orange juice, coconut water, sea salt, and magnesium. It looks refreshing and sounds science-y. But experts are skeptical.
Dr. Jodi Nagelberg says there is no real proof that this drink reduces cortisol. It might make you feel better because you think it is helping. That is called the placebo effect. And while magnesium is legit, the rest? Not so much. You would be better off managing stress with real tools like exercise, rest, and therapy.
Does Manifesting Make Your Dreams Come True?
Manifesting is another TikTok favorite. The idea is that thinking hard enough about your goals will make them come true. While a positive mindset is helpful, it is only part of the equation.
Psychologist Nathaniel Chapman says dreaming big is great, but action matters more. You can visualize your dream life all day, but unless you work toward it, nothing changes.
The danger is that people start to believe thoughts alone create results. When they don’t, frustration hits hard.
